Zinfandel

This is this excellent Zinfandel producer's basic wine.  It is a very nice value.  In terms of style, it is middle of the road between a fruit bomb and a claret styled Zin.  Purple in color with some ruby swirls.  The nose is nice with cherries, black cherries, slight char and bramble.  On the palate, the cherries come thru.  This drinks easy with a slight complexity.  Some cough syrupy notes on the finish.  This probably should be consumed over the next three to five years.  Nice on its own, this will work well with burgers or ribs off the grill.  

This is my favorite wine from all of the Carlisle offerings.  And, it seems that Mike Officer really seems to excel in "off" vintages such as 2011 or 2017.  While still very young, this is a beautiful wine.  Deep purple in color, a thin ruby rim.  The nose has black cherries, plums, slight cedar/bramble and just a hint of roasted herbs.  On the palate, the texture is the thing.  Almost seamless.  Of course, it is also delicious, if still young.  Firmer tannins for a Zin.  It takes about an hour or two to open.  This went great with some homemade pizza.  It should continue to improve for the

Always one of my favorite Zin's, in part for its uniqueness, it was wonderful concentration.  Made from vines that getting close to 100 years old.  This vineyard had been abandoned and then resurrected in the 1980's.  Style wise it is middle of the road for Zin.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose has cherries, black cherries, baking spices and just a bit of char.  On the palate, this is full bodied.  At 14.8% Alc, this is not super high for a Zin.  Lots of cherry and some charred cherry fruit.  Very concentrated.  Lighter tannins.  Nice finish.  This drinks well young but does age nice with goo

This is a reasonably priced Napa Zin that is fairly available.  Not a big wine at all.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  Mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has some bramble and some cherries.  On the palate, this is medium bodied with cherries and bitter cherries.  No tannins to speak of.  Easy drinking.  A nice wine with a burger or pizza.  Probably best drunk in the next few years.  

What a great showing for this wine.  Gorgeous.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, black raspberries, char, bramble and baking spices.  Full bodied.  Lush and luxurious texture.  Lots of energy though.  It drinks (too) easily.  Delicious but also has a depth and complexity.  Lots of black cherries, black raspberries and black pepper on the palate.  Long finish.  This should continue to drink well for ten years at least but it will lose its vibrancy and be replaced with more complexity.  It would be a shame to miss it now.  It will work great with grille

I was expecting this to be a much bigger wine.  Perhaps it is the vintage as 2017 was a thinner vintage in much of Napa.  In any event, it is an excellent wine styled in more of a claret styled Zin.  As it is the first vintage I have had, I am curious if this is representative of other vintages.  Deep ruby in color with purple swirls.  The nose has red berries, some cedar and a ton of black pepper.  On the palate, the red fruit and the black pepper come thru.  Good acidity.  The drinks almost too easily.  Very good on its own, this would work with steaks of burgers too.  t seems like it sho

This project of Joel Petterson has been at it for a while now and the wines are getting a certain style to them which is very nice.  That is, robust, but just barely (for Zin).  This wine is  80% Zinfandel with the rest Alicante and old-vine Carignan.   Purple in color with ruby swirls.  Mostly clear and bright.  The nose has black cherries, raspberries, roasted herbs (sage?), and dust.  Medium bodied with light tannins.  On the palate, this is delicious.  It drinks easy.  Raspberry fruit with some underlying black pepper and bramble.  Good energy.  Nice finish.  This should drink at this l

This is a solid wine and a nice value in Sonoma Zinfandel.  A blend of 77% Zinfandel, 21% Petit Verdot & 2% Carignane.   Ruby in color with purple swirls.  The nose has raspberries, spice and dust.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is slightly brawny with red fruits.  Easy drinking.  Light tannins.  Best to drink now or in the next few years.  Works well with pizza or burgers.  A nice wine for a party.  Shop around as its MSRP is $26 but its widely available ranging from $15 and up.  

Nice to revisit this wine.  It was quite rambunctious on release and while still more of a brawny Zin it has started the evolution to more claret in style.  Purple in color with ruby swirls.  The nose has raspberries, black cherries, some spice and black pepper.  On the palate, this is medium bodied.  Plenty of raspberries and cherries with some dry charred earthiness.  There is some warmth on the finish but not enough to be a concern.  There does seem to be enough fruit to last, so the question is what you are looking for in a Zinfandel.  If you want big and bold drink now, but if claret s

Carlisle makes a variety of Zinfandels.  This is one of my favorites.  Great vineyard.  Purple in color with ruby swirls.  The  nose has black rasoberries, bramble, and black cherries.  Also a bit of char.  Great texture.   A nice complexity with layers of black raspberry fruit, black pepper and woodiness/sticks.  Nice finish.  This is just passing the exuberant stage for a Zin but should continue to evolve for the next ten to twelve years.  It worked great with a chocolate molten cake dessert.