2017 Carlisle Zinfandel Dupratt Vineyard, USA, California, Mendocino Ridge, Wine Review

From an old vineyard with vines planted in 1920. Cool climate. The wine is ruby in color, mostly clear and bright. The nose is different but good. There are baking spices, black cherries, cherries and what I can best describe as pickling spices (in a good way). Medium bodied with a very nice almost gelatinous texture. Flavors of black raspberries, anise, and char. The finish again has a "sour briny" note that is interesting and not bad at all. More of a claret styled Zin but really an interesting wine. It is nice on its own but probably better with food. It would be nice with Sichuan food. Drink over the next five years.

Grade:

A-

Score:

Vintage:

2017

Top Ten California Zinfandels - 2016

I tend to taste and drink a lot of wine over the course of a year. I am in a few tasting groups, sometimes the wines are consumed at various local wine store tastings and a number drunk with friends and family.

Read full article

Dashe Cellars: Making Zinfandel in Oakland

The wine business is a fickle mistress. Winery owners and winemakers chase elusive scores, the public makes buying decisions based on movies, hype and price, and critics seem to applaud fruit laden, high octane wines. So where does that leave Dashe Cellars in Oakland, CA? Right where they want to be.

Read full article

2015 Carlisle Zinfandel Carlisle Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage:

2015

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$47.00USD

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

2012 Carlisle Zinfandel Carlisle Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River, Wine Review

Vintage:

2012

Score:

Grade:

Just a beautiful wine. Drinking youthfully but showing some development. Open for business. Purple in color. The nose has leather, bramble, black raspberries. Very deep. With air, some graphite. On the palate, black raspberries with an underlayer of charred earth. A lovely texture; both velvety and intense. great finish. This would pair with heartier foods and certainly spicy foods. This may not get better but has five to seven years left at peak easily and probably more as it morphs into more of a claret styled Zin. So good right now though.

2018 Carlisle Zinfandel Carlisle Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage:

2018

Score:

Grade:

A+

Current Price:

$50.00USD

From Mike Officer's home vineyard, the Carlisle Zin is great in every vintage but in 2018 they continued to exceed expectations. A blend of mostly Zinfandel (86%) and 14% mixed "black" grapes including Alicante Bouschet and Cinsault from 91-year-old vines. Inky purple swirls with deep ruby hues make for a very attractive appearance. Opaque and bright. The nose is concentrated with raspberries, black cherries, slight pine and spice. A seamless texture that makes this so accessible even while being so young. On the palate, black raspberries, slight blueberries, black cherries with underl

2017 Carlisle Zinfandel Dupratt Vineyard, USA, California, Mendocino Ridge, Wine Review

Food and Wine Pairing Tool

Related Articles

Top Ten California Zinfandels - 2016

Dashe Cellars: Making Zinfandel in Oakland

2015 Carlisle Zinfandel Carlisle Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

2012 Carlisle Zinfandel Carlisle Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River, Wine Review

2018 Carlisle Zinfandel Carlisle Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Wine Review