Which Carlisle are you drinking?

WINE TALK
2241

I drink a lot of Carlisle Zinfandel and this 2016 Papera stands out as the best bottle in recent memory. Great nose, intensity but balanced, great fruit. A bit of astringency night one. I knew it was special as soon as I took the first taste.

I opened the 2018 Derivative two days ago. Not that interesting the first night, but really picked up night two. While I almost always drink a bottle of wine in three days, somehow this one only lasted two.

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2242

Opened a 2018 Syrah Papa’s Block Saturday night. Very enjoyable but still a fair amount of tannin to resolve. Still needs a few years before peak.

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2243

I like to get 8+ years on these. They’ve been drinking really well!

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2244

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Just getting this going. Glorious in a glass.

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2245

16 Pagani - The most pure essence of black raspberry as a fruit descriptor I can recall from recent memory. Lots of other goodies as well. Ready to go now. I hope MO continues to offer this vineyard for the precious few vintages we have left.

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2246

2013 James Berry Vineyard Syrah. This…was excellent. And I’m not even a huge syrah fan! Violets, purple fruits, pepper, and a savory/meaty element that adds interest but does not overpower the wine (which is key for me with syrah). The fruit is the focus but the acidity creates a perfect balance and a very nice mouth-feel with the full bodied frame. Makes me wish I would have bought this wine every vintage!

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2247

2022 looks like a great vintage based on the AVA syrah.

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2248

The 10 year rule stillworks for me. Every time I fool myself into thining how much things have changed, I regret it.

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2249

Drank a 2015 Derivative this evening. Wondered if it might be tired but no issues at all. Even out of subpar glasses, this was still fresh figgy goodness.

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2250

Are you saying you also opened a 2022 Sonoma County syrah and you think it needs 10 yrs?

2251

No, actually it was a 2019.

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2252

Mike does have the 2022 going to 2040 :partying_face:

2253

I opened 2022 Sonoma Syrah. Double decant and frothed in glass. Absolutely delicious. Not waiting 10 years on it.

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2254

Posted from CellarTracker

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2255

I dont have a note on a recent Carlisle though I’ve had a few, both zin and syrah. But i do want to say i cant remember opening a Carlisle that I wasn’ extremely glad to have bought. Very good/great at a minimum each and every time.

With all of the wines and vineyards they cavort in, over 15 years of buying, that is quite a feat!!

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2256

In honor of the upcoming release this week and the fact that I wanted Pinot and this was the oldest vintage I had at the house, I popped one of Mike’s “Unicorn” wines from the 2019 release.

  • 2017 Carlisle Pinot Noir Martaella Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (1/12/2025)
    Was fortunate enough to receive this single bottle via allocation from Mike when he made one-off "Unicorn" bottlings of one Pinot and one Cabernet during the 2017 vintage (his 20th commercial vintage produced). A total of 65 cases of this Pinot were made.

    Per Mike's offer, Martaella Vineyard is situated half way between Montafi Ranch and Papera Ranch in the Russian River Valley. The wine used two clones of Pinot, the tiny-berried Clone 96, originating from a vineyard near Chambertin, and the ever popular Pommard clone. The Pommard portion was fermented with 50% whole cluster while the 96 was fully destemmed.

    To me, this wine is all about texture and freshness as it was really fun to drink; somewhat reticent nose with cherry and wild strawberry; on the palate, sun-drenched wild strawberry, cinnamon, nutmeg, maybe a little pine forest floor; incredible mouthfeel, just a super smooth, medium weight full or fresh strawberry and spice that glides across the palate; as the wine warms to room temp, the flavors intensify; while a good portion of the grapes had 50% stem-inclusion, there was not a trace of "green" or the "steminess" I have found in some wines made similarly; my guess is this was just the right amount to provide structure and depth to the juice; mild tannins but there seemed to be enough to allow the wine to age for several more years ; nice amount of acid on the back end; really beautifully made!

    I'm grateful to have been able to enjoy the only commercially-made Pinot from Mike.

Posted from CellarTracker

Posted from CellarTracker

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2257

Offer is open to buy. Order in for 30 bottles.

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2258

I’m theoretically only buying on BD this month, but I had to grab a few of these since it’s the last hurrah.

Edit: folks pointed out on the ‘January save the date’ thread that there are still a couple of years of releases forthcoming, so this isn’t the last hurrah. Nonetheless, no regrets!

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2259

I was going to limit myself, but being there will be a limited supply of these wines in the future went in for two cases

2260
  • 2011 Carlisle Syrah James Berry Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles (1/31/2025)
    wo things have has been self evident for quite some time as related to this wine" 1). James Barry is a Rhone Varietal National Treasure. 2). Mike O’s secret super power is what he does with Syrah, and this is a big IF you give them a decade plus to settle in. This 11 James Berry was absolutely in full flight last night. Gorgeous floral tones that bounces beautifully off some green tobacco notes, perhaps even a dabble of soil. But at its core, its all about that JB fruit, which is rich, deep and fresh, and at this juncture, long and very layered on the finish. Dynamite. (94 points)

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