2010 Carlisle Syrah Papa’s Block- USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (3/24/2012)
Felt justified in cracking this one, as Mike recommended trying it sooner than later. This one cranks the yum factor to 11, no doubt. While not especially complex, it dishes up nice blackberry, salumi, and espresso aromas, and pours on the rich berry, spice, and faint earthy flavors in a balanced but lush style. A touch of grip and stemmy quality on the back end, but nothing that would keep me from opening it again soon. Doubt these will last long at all. Not a cerebral wine per se, but hugely enjoyable, balanced, and well-made.
I think $45 is the release price, so yes - that is good. I haven’t personally had a Wind Gap, but from my reading, I got the impression they are opposing styles.
Yes, the Papa’s Block and Wind Gap would be in my view different in the spectrum. I own both producers and these wines. Wind Gap is much more cool climate, hig stem inclusion, savory. Papa’s is darker, headier but also quite ageworthy and very good. I like them both and what would be very instructive would be to pour them side by side. Awesome study in style and approach by two really talented syrah makers.
That is what I thought but never had Carlisle. My wife really liked the Wind Gap and asked me to get another bottle.
I liked it too but I have a feeling Carlisle is more my style and would like to try it, but she would probably not be happy if I brought that home instead.
Maybe the solution is to get both.
Also recently had the lower priced Anthill SC and while I can appreciate the style it was just too savory and under ripe for me.
2010 Carlisle Syrah Papa’s Block- USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (4/2/2012)
This was decanted an hour before drinking. Nice nose of blackberries and French oak. Agreed with other notes, there is a serious yum factor here with lush blackberries, plums, mid-palate transitioning to dark chocolate, and finishing with a smokiness and exotic spice. This could use some time for the oak to integrate and become less obtrusive, but I don’t know how to comment on the age-worthiness of a wine like this, as this begs to be drunk and my remaining bottles will be gone within the next couple years…
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Item Item #: Price
2004 Carlisle; Syrah; DryCreek Valley 440189 $44.95
2005 Carlisle; Syrah; Sonoma County 440203 $44.95
2005 Carlisle; Syrah; Bennett Valley 440194 $44.95
2005 Carlisle; Syrah; Papa’s Block 440202 $44.95
2005 Carlisle; Syrah; Pelkan Ranch 440201 $44.95
2005 Carlisle; Two Acres 440204 $44.95
2006 Carlisle; Syrah; Cardiac Hill; Sonoma Cty. 440213 $44.95
2006 Carlisle; Syrah; Russian River Valley 440207 $44.95
2006 Carlisle; Syrah; DryCreek Valley 440208 $49.95
2006 Carlisle; Syrah; Papa’s Block 440199 $59.95
2006 Carlisle; Syrah; Pelkan Ranch 440211 $44.95
2006 Carlisle; Two Acres 440214 $49.95
2007 Carlisle; Syrah; Russian River Valley 440216 $44.95
Also Lagier Meredith for $45 I think.
I am currently going through a palate shift from simple fruity wines to less sweet more complex wines.
I am probably somewhere in the middle of spectrum right now.
Any thoughts on which of the above would be a good match?
You can go to the Carlisle web site for notes on these wines. In general, I think the 2005’s and 2007 would be more to your new tastes than the 2006’s, although I haven’t tasted anything from 2006 in quite a while. At the end of the month, I’ll be tasting the the wines from Cardiac, Papa’s and Pelkan and could probably give you a better answer then.
Also, the Two Acres is quite differnt than the Syrahs, and the 2005 is classic. That would be my first choice.
Mr Brown (forgive the formal greeting, don’t know your name!), one place you can go for more recommendations is Cellartracker, where you will be able to look at diverse reviews/ This is just a suggestion to help you.
From my own perspective and given my own notes in Cellartracker and having tasted what I think is all of the wines in your list before, some several times, I would offer the following based on what you say your palate is doing:
2005 Bennett Valley
2005 Papa’s
2006 Cardiac Hill–*
2006 Dry Creek
2007 Russian River–*
I put a star next to my Top 2, in the event you have to pick.
Thanks for the suggestions.
I do read CT notes but because of my limited experience they can be vague or use terms that I can’t yet relate to.
For example i don’t have a good idea of what iron smells or taste like, but I think If I drank the wine while reading the notes it might help.
I believe the Wind Gap was 2008 Sonoma Coast.
I think I mentioned that I also have had the Anthill SC which I found a bit too savory.
Would like to hear how Lagier Meredith compares as it is in the same price range and seems to get high marks on CT but it looks like you have not posted any notes on it.
Joel - at risk of stating the obvious here, notes are helpful but let me recommend you’ll learn the most by tasting yourself (as much as your budget allows). If you’re curious about Lagier Meredith, then get a bottle and try it.
Obvious, yes.
And I do taste as much as I can.
But I am finding as my taste is adjusting and changing I am becoming more discriminating and finding I don’t want to waste my time and money with wines that I probably won’t like.
Of course the price keeps drifting up and so before spending $45 on a bottle I would like to have some idea that it is a wine I will appreciate.
This is where I find value in sites like this and CT, and I think as I learn more they will be of more value and possibly become a virtual tasting if there is such a thing.
I think I can say I would rather drink a $45 bottle that is really good than two $25 bottles that are just ok.
I am always going to have $10 to $15 bottles for those days when ok is fine.