Wanted to treat the couple that brought me into my current tasting group. My son tagged along so I pulled this birthyear Syrah for dinner at our free corkage burger spot.
Out of small mason jars this was so purple, deep, and fresh I’d have guessed a year or two old on blind look. Taste was refined but sweet blue/black fruit. Fantastic with fare, which includes well done papas fritas.
What was interesting was we killed 2/3rds of the bottle and then drank some Bedrock late harvest Semillon. Upon returning to Mike’s Syrah it exploded with smoked meats and bacon. We all noticed it immediately.
(2015 Carlisle) We had this last week and I was somewhat underwhelmed. Usually love these. Improved somewhat with air but still only in the 90pt range as opposed to 93+. I do have one more bottle and figured I would give it a few years to see what develops. It was good just not great.
2015 Carlisle Grüner Veltliner Steiner Vineyard - Light gold in color, inviting nose of tropical fruits. I get lime, grapefruit and maybe pineapple. Flavors follow nose with some green apple and honeydew thrown in the mix. Lingering finish. Just beautiful. Probably at peak though no obvious signs of decline. Age only showing on the harmony of the package. Popped and poured and great from the get-go. Read some other notes posted several years ago saying needed more time and I think that was spot on. 94pt. Sure wish I had more! Love the way Mike’s white wines age!
Did not plan this out. Had a flank steak in tapenade with arugula in a dressing and heirloom tomatoes in a vinaigrette. Reach for a Syrah and came across a Carlisle 2018 papa block. This was perfect. Fruity. Light berry fruit. Touch of undertones. Long. Long. Long finish. Pulled the whole meal together. @Mike_Officer worked magic on this and this was young. Can hold much longer but perfect tonight.
In drinking and enjoying Carlisle over the last 20 years, one self evident truth is the Syrah’s will really reward aging. Much more so than one might initially think. This reminds me that I do want to check in on a Rosella soon, thanks for the early look at the Papas.
A visit to my grandparents always means raiding their Carlisle stash. I got to the party late, so I missed the 2019 Rosella’s Vineyard Syrah that was reportedly delicious, but I enjoyed the following two wines with barbecue chicken.
I got the last glass of the beautifully textured 2018 Derivative whose floral and lemony nose was relatively quiet but very pretty. Mike’s drinking window for this ends at 2026, but I say that these are nowhere near decline.
Next, I moved on to the 2019 Piner-Olivet Ranches Zinfandel, which showed lovely tobacco, pepper, strawberry, and a classic Zinfandel aroma that always reminds me of hay or freshly cut straw. Soft and smooth and phenomenal lift and length.
For Zinfandel Day, I just opened a 2010 Bedrock Vineyard, and damn, it looks, smells and tastes wonderful. Considering the 2010 heat spike (August?) in Sonoma I thought this could be pruny, porty and drying out.
Tonight with arroz con pollo the Piner-Olivet Ranches zinfandel sang and the Old Hill Ranch rumbled. Lots of pretty strawberry preserves, light tobacco, and cinnamon-y spice on the P-O, happily mid-weight with satisfying acidity. The Old Hill Ranch is quieter and darker on the nose and considerably denser on the palate, but I can feel something lighter and sweeter trying to push to the surface.
Still going strong! Deep puple/cloudy in color and plenty of Russian river fruit and spice left. Tiny bit of heat on the finish tells me that these need to be consumed in the near-term before that becomes more prominent. Gotta love Carlisle!
This is already so good. Intensely aromatic, and on the palate, pure raspberry goodness with some garrigue. Has the potential to be a wow wine in a few years.
Forgot to snap a picture but had the 2021 Saitone Ranch Zinfandel on Thanksgiving. It was great. Open and inviting with lots of acid and red fruit. Just enough bite and crunch to hold it all together. My first time with that vineyard and it was a big crowd pleaser.
The Old Hill signature/family resemblance is there for sure. Last night this reminded me more of Will’s rendition, with the intense perfume and fruit. I’ve found Morgan’s take on the vineyard to be more structured. Only had the O&F version once so can’t comment on those really.
2018 Mancini - good but pretty darn youthful and coiled. I think last time I said open one if you’ve got it and this time I’d say leave it for a few more years. Goes to show the variability of bottles. This one shows quite young with a surprising amount of oak influence. But still tons of spicy Zin character, not a bad wine in any instance.
The 2014 Papa’s Syrah, drunk over three nights and showing well each night. Showed its richness upon opening, which was balanced by the structure as it developed in the glass. A beautiful wine probably at its peak, but not in danger of an imminent decline.
