Expert articles and wine tasting videos profiling wines from California, California wine regions, Napa Valley, Sonoma County, & more.

2015 Carlisle Petite Sirah, USA, California, Sonoma County, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$35.00USD

In a recent tasting of Carlisle wines, this was the overwhelming favorite.  Clearly, this is in a great place at age 10.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is big with a sweet, briar quality.  Also black raspberries and char.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is deep and delicious.  Flavors of boysenberries, black cherries with char and gravel.  Long finish.  This is great on its own and would work nicely with grilled foods.  Drink over the next five to ten years.  

2019 Carlisle Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley, USA, California, Sonoma, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$33.00USD

This was the lightest wine at a recent tasting of Carlisle wines.  Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose has cinnamon, black cherries and other spices.  light to medium bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, black cherry fruit with a slight cough syrup note.  Moderate finish.  More of a "Claret" styled Zinfandel.  This is nice on its own but would be better with food.  A yellow curry dish would work well.  Drink over the next five to eight years.  

2017 Carlisle Syrah Papa's Block, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley,Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$53.00USD

Purple/ruby in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with dust, black raspberries, black olives and spice.  Lovely texture.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, raspberries, black raspberries, some char and a really interesting "sourdough bread" note.  Some warmth on the finish.  This is drinking well but should still improve with good cellaring.  It is great on its own and will works with many foods.  Grilled Eggplant would be nice but it would work with peppercorn encrusted steak or even tuna.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  

2019 Sine Qua Non Syrah Distenta I, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
98
Grade: 
Current Price: 
$240.00USD

This drank very well considering how young it is.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is deep with black raspberries, cedar, black olives, slight violets and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Great texture.  On the palate, this is big and tasty.  Concentrated.  ll no doubt improve a bit as it matures, it offers up plenty of black raspberries, spice, roasted herbs and slight blueberries.  Long finish.  This should go another twenty years.  It is great on its own but needs big food for now.  It worked well with pizza but would also be nice  with Roasted Squash.  

2021 Tench Estate Sauvignon Blanc Tench Vineyard, USA, California, Napa

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

I am a big fan of Tench wines, but this is the first Sauvignon Blanc of theirs that I can recall tasting.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is a bit quiet but has  some tropical fruits along with a slight pear note.  Medium bodied.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is a bit more expressive.  Flavors of Guava and pair with just the slightest grassiness.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  This is drinking well now and  should continue for another three to five years.  It is nice on its own and will work well with lighter foods. A nice pairing would be stuffed peppers.  

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