2015 Papera Ranch
Went very well with burgers on the grill
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2015 Carlisle Vineyard. At peak for me (and should hold a few years). Probably on early side for some others. Either way, very nice. @Rich_Brown @J_a_y_H_a_c_k
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I bet that wine is singing right now!! Great pull and thanks for the update!
‘16 Rossi Zinfandel:
Red cherries, garrigue, anise, wet leather and a slight earthy element. Long and very deep, with layers of flavor and profile. Drinking fantastic and very open, yet this still has years left of wonderful enjoyment. This unfolds with very slight, silky tannins. There’s lift along with the depth. The body is very close to full. Optimal. Drink now - 2031.
94 points
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The ‘21 Rosella’s Syrah is a mere baby, but a knockout! This is very Cornas-like. The last vintage ended up being the best!
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Serendipitously, I’m drinking the 2018 Rosella’s tonight, the only vintage of the 14 made that I bought (based on Mike’s release notes and the reputation of the vintage). I’m enjoying it more tonight than yesterday when I opened it, as its richness is coming through tonight. I’ll wait four years to open my last bottle. FWIW, I find myself drinking the Carlisle Zinfandels earlier than I used to and the Syrahs later, most of them closer to the end of Mike’s drinking windows. Drinking this wine at six years of age is an exception for me.
David
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Bingo. Aging the Syrahs for 10+ years has a proven track record of excellence.
17yrs seems to be about right. ‘07 Papas Block Syrah is still fruit dominated. Blueberry and blackberry but with a load of iron notes. Really tasty.
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2018 Mancini Zinfandel.
Wow, this is excellent! Beautiful red fruits with a bit of bramble all washed down in a medium - bodied frame with loads of acidity. This is complex yet almost refreshing at the same time…which is not an easy thing to pull off. Absolutely delicous and one of the better Carlisle’s that ive had in a while. I just pulled the trigger on 3 more - it’s that good!
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I feel like Mancini has been his best bottling the past several years.
Will have to follow to see who picks up this fruit after Carlisle lets it go.
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I totally agree! Mancini has definitely shot up into that top Carlisle tier the past handful of years!
Check out Reichwage winery if you haven’t already. These are the peeps who bought/started improving the vineyard in 2015 and are also making some great wines from it 
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Thanks Rich! How does this compare Mike’s version?
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So far I’ve only had the 16. I liked it but found it a bit more ‘rustic’ than Mikes version. I need to try a more recent vintage soon though, but the Carlisle bottling is pretty hard to beat (would be a fun side/side though! ).
I also opened the 16 Reichwage Mancini Carignane the other day and enjoyed it. First vintage they produced i believe. My quick note was:
‘Really pretty wine with light red fruits and a slight rusticity to the finish. Prime-time drinking right now!’
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This house greatly prefers Carlisle versions of same vineyards so when Mike finally does stop producing it will be a very tough transition for us even with 200+ Carlisle bottles in the cellar. I will do my best to max buy until he is done.
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The ‘16 is just luscious. Last year I had this with the ‘18 and ‘21 as a gift from a good friend, and the ‘18 was my favorite. However, this is killer and drinking quite well. Meaty. I see no reason to rush nor to wait.
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2014 Papa’s Block - pop and pour a small taste. Also pour out a small bottle for the next day. First taste, nice but simple. Not much nose, no heat - nice but just that. Brought bottle to my cousin’s 1 hour later. First glass slightly better with better nose. We gabbed and sipped. An hour later, last glass 1/2 way gone and we both looked at each other. Man this really blossomed! Incredible nose, and wonderful complexity. Can’t believe how often this happens with Mike’s wines. Most often need to let them breathe! Boston bottle two days later was just gorgeous though it really left me wanting more. 94 pts and one of the top Carlisle Syrahs I have had.
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- 2013 Carlisle Syrah Sierra Mar Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands (9/15/2024)
et another example of why Carlisle Syrah’s not only improve with age, but really is required for the true enjoyment and expression of the wines. The 13 Sierra Mar is in splendid form, moving past primary fruit descriptors and into the secondary stage with layers of blue and black fruits, floral oils, and a respectively expansive and a strong finish. My take is drink this now and over the next 5 years. (94 points)
Posted from CellarTracker
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19 Carlisle Piner-Olivet Ranches. Woo this wine paired with smoked chicken extremely well. Classic Carlisle jammy finish. Kind of sad to open these bottles knowing there is an end date somewhere in the near future.
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