2015 Carlisle Zinfandel Pagani Ranch
Loaded with dark, brambly fruit and drinking really well. This wine was so balanced and just delicious!
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Anyone know what the usual summer offering is? (Website doesn’t appear to have a preview.) Bracing for some tough calls between this and Bedrock tomorrow.
Had a 2010 Two Acres yesterday. Still good but I would say past peak. Drink up.
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Offer is live on the website. Exercised extreme restraint to keep it to six bottles - 1 each of Rosella’s Syrah, Two Acres, Carlisle, Bedrock, Saitone, and Pagani.
I enjoyed the 2017 Two Acres over a couple night. Peppery red fruit aromas, a bit richer and creamy on the palate relative to the savory aromas, just lovely CA red that’s young yet.
In our house there is no such thing as a bad bottle of Carlisle. Restraint is gone, big order in 34 bottles with 2 wishlisted. Thanks Mike!
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Part two
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I’ve never ordered from Carlisle but I am adding them after letting some other producers fall off. What should I be buying today? Looks like as a first timer I’ve only got access to about half the options.
The zins are his best. Not sure what you got offered. Great deal on the Dry Creek, Saitone and of course Carlisle & Pagani are no brainers. Old Hill another one to try. Will be fun to do side by sides with Bedrock and Carlisle versions from the same vineyard and vintage.
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I asked this exact question on this board probably 10 years ago. 
Not very helpful to say “you can’t go wrong,” but just consistently very good across the board. Throw darts at the zins and you’ll pick a winner. I am a big fan of the derivative white, too.
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This is my 23rd vintage with Mike. It was easier to decide back then. I would echo what others have said and recommend ordering a bottle of The Derivative (so you sample a white), one of the Syrahs and Two Acres, and as many of the Zinfandels as you can (but especially the Carlisle Vineyard, Montafi, and Papera, although the latter two are not in this offering). All of these benefit from at least a few years age, but this will give you a sense of the wines.
Good luck, and there are no bad choices.
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Huge scores from Jeb D. today.
Jeb is really giving Suckles a run for his money these days.
(Not a dig at Carlisle)
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Yes but Jeb wasn’t the taster. Audrey Frick was.
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17 Limerick Lane uncorked for marinade Arrachera today on BBQ.
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Had the 19 Carlisle Bedrock Vineyard - absolutely worth the early look, but this seems destined for a very long life ahead.
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‘21 Carlisle Sierra Mar. I literally can’t keep my grubby hands off of it. I rarely post which one I’m drinking out of sheer laziness as I consume more Carlisle in a year than wine from any other producer. However, ‘21 is so far the best vintage yet from this amazing winery that we all love. Also, with the heightened focus on texture and elegance, along with Mother Nature, we have something special on our hands. Stock up! There’s nay a dud in the bunch.
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The hot weather led me to open my oldest Derivatives the last couple of weeks. The 2016 had minerality in spades, not something I usually appreciate but did this time. The 2014 was at or maybe a bit past its prime, but still enjoyable. My one word summary- mellow. Blend the two together and you get the 2015, which I found more aromatic than the other two.
This convinced me to order the four bottles of 2021 in this release (and ordering fewer Zinfandels to keep my order at a case). I’ll try to wait three or four years to open one.
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Has anyone seen anything related to wish list requests for the Carlisle Summer Release? I know that it is normally a few weeks but I am curious if anyone has heard anything.
Think the buy period is 3 weeks. So maybe next week they’ll approve the wish list requests.
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