The 2016 Bedrock Carlisle vineyard was my top, by a long shot for current deliciousness, although the 2019 Bedrock Bedrock tasted out of 375 may eventually surpass it. Honorable mention goes to a 2007 radio-coteau Von Weidlich.
Nice list as usual Tom!
ZOTY - 2011 Ridge Pagani Ranch
Runner up - 2018 Fields Stampede Vineyard Zinfandel
2019 Bedrock Papera
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I adore the Carlisle vineyard and am especially fond of Carlisle’s own version. It is a very special place. It has such purity of zin fruit that I think it tends to come off as less robust/big but it’s that very clean and elegant fruit that gets me very time. Cheers
For me, it was the 1996 Ravenswood Sonoma County Old Vines from the zin case I received recently from Joel.
Simply delicious!
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I had answered on your page before you posted this but the best one for me as of today is the 2018 Carlisle Papera Ranch. It is just a beautiful, layered, beguiling bottle of zin.
I scored it the same as the 2018 Ridge Geyserville but I think it edges that one out by a hair. I’ve said before that Ridge Geyserville is the quintessential American wine, and I stand by those words. But the work Mike Officer does at Carlisle is inspiring.
I hasten to add that I did not have any Bedrock single vineyard bottles (yes OVZ), though I now have seen the error of my ways and have many stored for the future. I do want to try Sky and Fields Family since they keep being mentioned here.
I will also say that the worst Zinfandel I had was the 2019 Martinelli Giuseppe & Luisa, which to me tasted like canned tomatoes and blueberry jam. shudder
If there’s one wine I will leave to its fans it’s that one.
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Only added one bottle (at least so far) to my wine Hall of Fame and it was a 2015 Once & Future Teldeschi Vineyard Franks Block Zinfandel (with a little field Carignane and Alicante Bouchet mixed in). Just stellar!
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I had 3 bottles this year. I think all 3 with you too. gotta agree with you on your impressions too.
- 2018 Carlisle Zinfandel Mancini Ranch - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (5/14/2021)
Opened yesterday, when it showed as well as the bottle several weeks ago. Took the remnants home from dinner last night, retrying tonight at room temp (71f). The aromatics on this stuff are crazy. Floral, some pepper and red fruits, it’s just got this beautiful perfumed quality that is a joy. Tonight, the wine is plush and has a vein on tannin running through it, ensuring the structure to join the fruit. There is a creamy kind of note to this wine, which gives the cherry, blood orange and raspberry a sexy quality. Yet, as I found with the bottle from several weeks ago, this wine never gets heavy nor boozy. The wine finishes with a zippy acidity, yet the remarkable thing for me about this vintage of Mancini Ranch is the balance. Exquisite balance, memorable in that way. And that’s with absolutely no chill on this wine, nothing to cover up nor cloak any flaws. It’s really a Zin without flaw and I’ve never scored a wine in any of my notes but for me, this is about as close to Zinfandel perfection as it gets for me. Bottled joy here, and a real bravo to Mike Officer here. And as a parting comment, for those who may want to adhere to the school of thought that you need to put these wines away and let them age, don’t fall into that trap. This wine is firing now and for all the challenges, division and hurdles life seems to have thrown at many of us the past several years, it’s a wine like this that can make us forget those conditions and instead realize how good wine, made like this and for us, can bring us the joy we need.
Posted from CellarTracker
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Wow Frank, you must really like the wines on your signature if this one didn’t make it on the list despite that amazing note.
Yeah, that was me not paying attention. I fixed that up. ![[thankyou.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/d/df165fe9c1593d19166ae7e1ffe5e272089cc07b.gif "thankyou"){kind=small}
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I spite of the fact that I prefer Carlisle with some age, the 18 Carlisle Carlisle was magical several months ago.
I have a few cases of Gamba (ranging from ‘14-‘18 in storage in CA. Been debating whether to have delivered or send to auction to free up some cash. I don’t see them posted about on this board ever but I loved my visit there. Any advice?
They aren’t talked about much here like BeeKeeper mentioned earlier. I’ve always enjoyed the Gamba Zins so I’d be inclined to drink them.
Tom
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I just went to CellarTracker to see my Zins consumed in 2021. To my horror I have only drunk 14 varietally labeled Zins so far this year, and only 8 “Zin blends.”
WTF!?!?
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Very, VERY disappointing David 
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2012 Bedrock Heritage
2013 Bedrock Carlisle
Turley Fredericks 2014
Porter Creek Timbervine 2013
Witching Stick Fashauer 2017
A light Zin year for me but each one was super! Also liked Sandlands Kirschenmann 2018 quite a bit
Couple new ones for me - not familiar with Porter Creek or Witching Stick (cool name btw).
I’ll have to check them out - thanks for the reco!
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Both very small operations. Porter creek distributes a tiny bit and WS none at all. Both on the leaner end of the Zin spectrum. PC Carignan is something (to me) and all of the WS the wines are solid. He made Zin for Edmeades for about 20 years prior to its sale to Jackson family and now does a handful of pinots, Syrah, Zin, GW, and Chardonnay. Class act guy too!
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I haven’t had as many Zins as some in here, but the 2018 Bedrock Pagani Ranch was absolutely incredible and takes my top spot. I am very excited for my stash of the 2019s.
A few other thoughts from top bottles in 2021:
- The 2018 Ridge Geyserville didn’t do as much for me as I’d hoped. I think it needs more time in the bottle, IMO.
- I was also expecting a lot out of the 2018 Carlisle Zinfandel Pagani Ranch, but compared to the Bedrock, it didn’t seem nearly as opulent (bordering on brooding).