Which Carlisle are you drinking?

[JeremyMullman]

I am also under belief that the 2018 Carlisle- Carlisle vineyards will be on this offering. That is the one I’m especially excited about.

This was confirmed to me by Mike in an email a few weeks ago

Mike talked about this on his WB Zoom event, too. He said he was eager to give a few wines more bottle age before releasing.

Curious if having CVZ and JB in this release pushes any of the usual staples back to summer. I’d assume so.

[Jeff_M.]

Release out, order in.

[Sherri S h a p i r o]

Opened a 2014 Carlisle Zinfandel Limerick Lane Vineyard last night. Fresh, loaded with fruit, so easy to drink.

[JeremyMullman]

Order in as well.

Grabbed all the CVZ and Sonoma County wines they offered.

[cjsavino]

Odd, never got the email but went in an ordered today.

[JeremyMullman]

Allocations we’re definitely a bit tighter. Based on the release letter it sounds like they are pacing the releases to manage cashflow given how little 2020 vintage wine they’ll have to sell.

[William Segui]

Order in. My favorite Carlisle offer of the year, so many great wines. Looking forward to trying the Cab for the first time.

[Tom Chen]

I'm relatively new to Carlisle.

Any suggestions on "must-buys"?

I know that's a broad question, but I do like pretty much all their red varietal offerings.

Only wines not being offered to me are the Montecillo Cab and their White Wine.

Thanks in advance.

[Paul Miller]

First time I can remember not being offered the Compagni Portis white.

[Steve Gautier]

Order in. I guess I need to go find the how long will you last in 2021 until you buy wine thread.

[Rodrigo B]

Haven't had much Carlisle, ordered a few

[ClydeUnderwood]

Allocations we’re definitely a bit tighter. Based on the release letter it sounds like they are pacing the releases to manage cashflow given how little 2020 vintage wine they’ll have to sell.

Do you have a working link to the release letter?

I ordered on the website before the release email arrived and the only link I see on the website is this one:
https://www.carlislewinery-store.com/as ... 033002.pdf

which doesn't work.

[Mich@el Ch@ng]

I got 9 bottles and wishlisted 3, allocations were indeed pretty tight.

[Douglas Breen]

Carlisle is doing a good job at keeping their prices stable. Carlisle Vineyard 40.00 and Rossi/Bedrock at 39.50. Excited in a few years to drink 2018 zins. In for a case.

[Rodrigo B]

On a related note, noticed some of the current wines are missing their tech specs and tasting notes on the website.

[Anthony V]

I'm excited for the Mouvedre, especially after reading Galloni's glowing review.

"The 2018 Mourvèdre Radiant Ridge Vineyard is even better than the Syrah! More than that, it is one of the very finest wines I have tasted from Mike Officer in a decade of following Carlisle. Wow! Outrageously vivid and delicious in the glass, the 2018 dazzles with complexity and layers of nuance that unfold in the glass. Inky dark fruit, chocolate, wild flowers, spice and a good deal of whole-cluster savoriness give the Radiant Ridge Mourvèdre its beguiling exoticism. Previously, the Mourvèdre was used for the Integral bottling, but my sense is its real personality is expressed like this, on its own. Readers will not want to miss this exceptional wine from Mike Officer and Carlisle."

[Steve Gautier]

Allocations we’re definitely a bit tighter. Based on the release letter it sounds like they are pacing the releases to manage cashflow given how little 2020 vintage wine they’ll have to sell.

Do you have a working link to the release letter?

I ordered on the website before the release email arrived and the only link I see on the website is this one:
https://www.carlislewinery-store.com/as ... 033002.pdf

which doesn't work.

I left the newsletter up in a separate browser to read later and when I went back to it, I got an error message.

[cjsavino]

I'm relatively new to Carlisle.

Any suggestions on "must-buys"?

I know that's a broad question, but I do like pretty much all their red varietal offerings.

Only wines not being offered to me are the Montecillo Cab and their White Wine.

Thanks in advance.

Get the basic Sonoma’s. I mainly get the Syrah and Zin. James Berry and Bedrock must buys.

[Tom Chen]

Thanks Chris and Anthony.

Definitely helps.

Tom

[S teve R edenbaugh]

Sitting on so much Carlisle...tempted to cut, but every time we open an older one, I'm feeling like a new convert again. But only ordered 6 out of 24 bottle allocation. 2 Mourvedre, 2 Carlisle Zin, 2 Bedrock Zin. Much props to Mike and group, particularly for keeping their pricing inline. Overall one of California's great values.

[ClydeUnderwood]

Allocations we’re definitely a bit tighter. Based on the release letter it sounds like they are pacing the releases to manage cashflow given how little 2020 vintage wine they’ll have to sell.

Do you have a working link to the release letter?

I ordered on the website before the release email arrived and the only link I see on the website is this one:
https://www.carlislewinery-store.com/as ... 033002.pdf

which doesn't work.

I left the newsletter up in a separate browser to read later and when I went back to it, I got an error message.

I emailed Mike and he fixed the link:
https://www.carlislewinery-store.com/as ... _33002.pdf

[A. Mishaan]

I just ordered an excessive amount. Couldn't resist. I did pass 5 or 6 bottles of the allocation. So much for my pandemic buying spree abating in the new year....

[Alex G]

Much props to Mike and group, particularly for keeping their pricing inline. Overall one of California's great values.

Totally agree with this!

[MikeHill]

In for a mixed case. Excited for the Mourvedre and James Berry, along with the Carlisle vineyard. The SC Syrah/Zin remain crazy value. Left the cab, it sounds delicious, but I'm already getting that vineyard from other producers.

[Keith Koshk!n]

Does anyone know if these allocations are guaranteed? I was hoping to put off ordering for a week or so (if they're guaranteed) but would order now if they are not.

[Bryce K]

This is my first time, and I dipped my toes in for a mixed 6-pack (or 5-pack, if the wishlist doesn't come in). Gruner Veltliner, Petite Sirah, and Bedrock. Looking forward to trying their wine out for the first time!

[JeremyMullman]

Allocations we’re definitely a bit tighter. Based on the release letter it sounds like they are pacing the releases to manage cashflow given how little 2020 vintage wine they’ll have to sell.

Do you have a working link to the release letter?

I ordered on the website before the release email arrived and the only link I see on the website is this one:
https://www.carlislewinery-store.com/as ... 033002.pdf

which doesn't work.

I left the newsletter up in a separate browser to read later and when I went back to it, I got an error message.

https://www.carlislewinery-store.com/as ... _33002.pdf

[JeremyMullman]

I'm relatively new to Carlisle.

Any suggestions on "must-buys"?

I know that's a broad question, but I do like pretty much all their red varietal offerings.

Only wines not being offered to me are the Montecillo Cab and their White Wine.

Thanks in advance.

Hi Tom,

I agree the Sonoma’s are a must. Crazy values.

To me, the Russian River zins are the heart of the project. Everything they make is good, but those wines are singular. There’s nothing else quite like them.

[Tom Chen]

Thanks Jeremy.

The bottles are adding up, but after dropping some "cult" Napa Cab lists, lots more room in the wine budget. Crazy to think that one bottle of that cult cab gets me 6-12 bottles of Carlisle.

[Steve Gautier]

Do you have a working link to the release letter?

I ordered on the website before the release email arrived and the only link I see on the website is this one:
https://www.carlislewinery-store.com/as ... 033002.pdf

which doesn't work.

I left the newsletter up in a separate browser to read later and when I went back to it, I got an error message.

I emailed Mike and he fixed the link:
https://www.carlislewinery-store.com/as ... _33002.pdf

Thanks

[Jake B.]

Can anyone give a POV on style similarities/differences between this and Bedrock and recommendations for a first time buyer?

I’m a long time purchaser of Bedrock (love all Sonoma heritage zins), but excitedly dipping my toe in here and wondering which Carlisle offerings are staples/must try’s.

[Scott Brunson]

In for a case

[JeremyMullman]

Thanks Jeremy.

The bottles are adding up, but after dropping some "cult" Napa Cab lists, lots more room in the wine budget. Crazy to think that one bottle of that cult cab gets me 6-12 bottles of Carlisle.

Indeed.

And, while many Carlisles reward aging, you can drink these a lot sooner, too, in most cases.

[Ethan H]

Thanks Chris and Anthony.

Definitely helps.

Tom

You would be remiss to pass on the Carlisle Vnyd Zin. It's their estate vineyard and perennially great, but reportedly hit new highs in 2018. Mike is touting it as such, and while I try not to buy on scores, it's notable that Galloni gave it a 97, which I think is his highest ever for a Carlisle. Also, it's a field blend, chock full of an astonishing 40 different varieties of vitis vinifera.

[Ethan H]

Does anyone know if these allocations are guaranteed? I was hoping to put off ordering for a week or so (if they're guaranteed) but would order now if they are not.

Not guaranteed, but usually well calibrated so that nothing sells out for at least 7-10 days, with most offerings available til the end of the pre-release pricing period. YMMV however, especially this year when quantities are considerably down.

[Tom Chen]

Ending up getting a mix and match case:
4 Carlisle Vineyard Zin
3 Mourvedre
2 Sonoma Zin
1 each of James Berry, Bedrock, and Sonoma Syrah.

[Paul Miller]

Ordered 11 and wished for Compagni Portis to round it out

[Ed Steinway]

Paul Miller wrote:
Ordered 11 and wished for Compagni Portis to round it out

All of Mike's white wines are consistently good. When I told my wife yesterday that the ordering window was open for Carlisle, she said 'order all the white wine we are allocated'. And I agree on the comments about the Carlisle Vineyard Zin. One of my favorite Zin's!

Ed

[tpetty]

1/2 case for me. 3 mouvedre & 3 zins

[Scott E.]

Can anyone give a POV on style similarities/differences between this and Bedrock and recommendations for a first time buyer?

I’m a long time purchaser of Bedrock (love all Sonoma heritage zins), but excitedly dipping my toe in here and wondering which Carlisle offerings are staples/must try’s.

Welcome to the board! My can't miss yearly purchases include Carlisle, Papera, Pagani and Montafi Zins. Most folks that post here about Carlisle love the Syrahs too, but I spend most of my Syrah budget on WA wines. The Petite Sirahs are usually pretty darn good too. Comparing Carlisle and Bedrock, I find the Carlisle to show more of a classic Zin profile as compared to the Bedrock field blends, but both are yummy, layered, fruit forward wines. Cheers!

[JeremyMullman]

If you limited me to one six pack a year, I’d buy:

Sonoma County Syrah
Piner-Olivet Zin
Papa’s Block Syrah
Papera Ranch Zin
Carlisle Vineyard Zin
Mantafi Ranch Zin

[Scott E.]

Can anyone give a POV on style similarities/differences between this and Bedrock and recommendations for a first time buyer?

I’m a long time purchaser of Bedrock (love all Sonoma heritage zins), but excitedly dipping my toe in here and wondering which Carlisle offerings are staples/must try’s.

Use the search function for "Bedrock v Carlisle" and you'll find a bunch of comparison opinions.

[William Segui]

18 bottles + 18 bottle wish. I drink a lot of Carlisle.

[Dave H.]

Can anyone give a POV on style similarities/differences between this and Bedrock and recommendations for a first time buyer?

I’m a long time purchaser of Bedrock (love all Sonoma heritage zins), but excitedly dipping my toe in here and wondering which Carlisle offerings are staples/must try’s.

Use the search function for "Bedrock v Carlisle" and you'll find a bunch of comparison opinions.

Definitely a well-trod topic for maybe the two most beloved domestic producers on the board. Others will describe better, but to be hamhanded, bedrock reds are more perfumey and “fresher”. Carlisle deeper and richer. Whites are exceptional at both houses. Great, singular wines across the board.

[Scott Stewart]

T Welch: How was the 2008 Cardiac Hill Syrah.
I had a bottle this fall that was absolutely great. These are my notes. Perfect balance, beautiful black fruit with a hint of meat carries the nose. Absolutely seamless black and blue fruits, medium plus body with enough acid a tannins to carry it. Quite possibly the best American Syrah I have had. Solid 94 points.

[P Turk]

And we now return to the original thread topic ... ‘15 Carlisle Carlisle that was zintastic.

[Albert R]

An excellent Carlisle Friday Night! The Two Acres was my favorite but all were excellent.

[MikeMy]

Unfortunately the ole cellar is packed to the gills at this time so I'm going to have to pass on my allocations.

[Ian Alper]

2004 Carlisle Knights Valley Pelkan Ranch Syrah

Never know what you will get when you pop a cork on an older Carlisle. More often than not it leaves me smiling.

Pop and pour. Dark color, no bricking. Muted nose. First taste, no heat or prune. Tastes promising. One dimensional - one note that is pleasing but not more.

1hr later - wow, so glad this was not a pop and pour at a party where it would never have been given the love it deserves.
Nose has opened up with a mix of red and black fruit. Still wonderful balance and little heat but it is now bursting with fruit that lingers on the palate. Multi-dimensional cascade of changing flavors with tannin and fruit lingering on tongue. Deep red and blue/black fruit. Intense mouth coating flavors. Really enjoyable. Love it when lower expectations are far surpassed.

1.5 hrs – flavors continue to explode on plate with waves of fruit. Very little heat, lingering flavors with just enough acidity to keep it exploding on the palate. Not subtle but wonderful balance and flavors.

[Dale McClaran]

I had the 18 Mancini with a cool 2 hr decant. First Mancini and very impressed, wide open and will drink well early, generous generous zin fruit. Typical Carlisle balance and energy. A very fun Zin.