Last week we tasted at Pig+Fig the new release Carlisle Zins:
1. Carlisle Zin ManciniVnyd/RRV/SonomaCnty (15.0%; Plntd: 1922; + Carignan/PetiteSirah/Abouriou/GrandNoir; 225 cs) 2020: Med.dark color; very bright raspberry/Zin/very spicy some pencilly/oak some dusty/OV quite pretty nose; fairly tart very bright/raspberry/very spicy/Zin bit dusty/OV light toasty/oak very pleasant flavor w/ modest wirey tannins; very long very spicy/raspberry/Zin/bright finish w/ modest tannins; lots of very spicy raspberry Zin fruit more like a DCV Zin than RRV; quite a pretty very spicy Zin. $42.50
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2. Carlisle Zin SaitoneVnyd/RRV/SonomaCnty (15.0%; Plntd: 1895 by Antonio Saitone; 195 cs) 2020: Med.dark color; lots of spicy raspberry/blackberry/Zin fairly toasty/Fr.oak some peppery/RRV Zin fairly complex nose; lightly tart/tangy strong raspberry/blackberry/RRV peppery/Zin bit boysenberry some toasty/oak bit complex flavor w/ modest tangy tannins; very long/lingering lightly tart/tangy strong blackberry/peppery RRV Zin/spicy/ripe some complex finish w/ modest tannins; similar to the Mancini but more depth & speaks more of RRV peppery Zin. $42.50
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3. Carlisle Zin RossiRanch/SonomaVlly/SonomaCnty (15.0%; Plntd: 1910; + PetiteSirah/AlicanteBouschet/GrandNoir; 150 cs) 2020: Dark color; fairly earthy/dusty/OV classic SonomaVlly/peppery strong blackberry/boysenberry/ripe some toasty/Fr.oak somewhat complex nose; lightly tart/tangy rather dusty/OV strong blackberry/boysenberry/classic peppery/SV Zin modest toasty/oak some complex flavor w/ modest chewey tannins; very long lightly tart strong dusty/OV strong blackberry/boysenberry/ripe classic SV/peppery some complex finish; a pretty classic example of SV peppery Zin but simpler & not the depth/intensity of the OH. $40.00
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4. Carlisle Zin PaperaRanch/RRV/SonomaCnty (15.0%; Plntd: 1934 by Celestino Papera; 850 cs) 2020: Very dark color; very strong blackberry/Zin/boysenberry/ripe fairly dusty/OV light Fr.oak/toasty fairly RRV/peppery some ripe/plummy/licorice rather complex nose; slightly soft very strong blackberry/boysenberry/Zin/RRV peppery/spicy modest toasty/oak fairly strong dusty/OV some complex flavor w/ modest chewey tannins; very long/lingering vey strong blackberry/boysenberry/Zin/spicy RRV peppery bit softer some complex finish w/ modest chewey tannins; a bit softer/richer/lusher & not as structured as the Bedrock/OH but plenty of intense Zin/peppery fruit. $42.50
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5. Carlisle Zin BedrockVnyd/SonomaVlly/SonomaCnty (14.7%; Plntd: 1888; + Mourvedre/PetiteSirah/AlicanteBouschet; 310 cs) 2019: Dark color; very strong/intense blackberry/boysenberry/very spicy Zin classic SV/peppery bit licorice quite dusty/OV some toasty/Fr.oak some complex fairly structured beautiful classic Bedrock nose; bit tart/tangy intense blackberry/boysenberry/ripe/quite spicy/SV/peppery fairly dusty/OV some toasty/Fr.oak rather structured bit complex flavor w/ ample chewey tannins; very long/lingering intense blackberry/boysenberry/very spicy strong peppery/SV Zin some complex finish w / ample tannins; much more pure SV/peppery Zin & less complex than the OH & less rustic; a beautiful Bedrock Zin that needs 3-7 yrs. $40.00
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6. Carlisle OldHillRanch/SonomaVlly/SonomaCnty RW (15.0%; Plntd: 1885 by William Macpherson Hill; > 20 varieties; 220 cs) 2020: Very dark color; intense blackberry/boysenberry/very spicy strong SV/peppery bit plummy/licorice more complex quite dusty/OV light toasty/oak beautiful nose; bit softer/riper intense blackberry/boysenberry/very spicy Zin bit plummy/licorice quite dusty/OV light toasty/oak fairly structured beautiful complex flavor w/ ample ripe tannins; very long/lingering rather structured intense ripe/blackberry/boysenberry/very spicy Zin some peppery/SV Zin modest toasty/oak quite dusty/OV complex finish w/ ample ripe tannins; reminds some of the Bucklin OH Ancient Zin but more ripe fruit & not as rustic; a beautiful OH Zin that needs age; my favorite of these last three because of the greater complexity & structure. $40.00
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More berrtyfibble from TheBloodyPulpit:
1. All of these Carlisle Zins showed the classic MikeOfficer style of Zin. There is not enough difference in them to argue about, wouldn't throw any of them out of bed. Still, they all showed some distinctive character and spoke of their vnyd sources. The Rossi/Saitone/Mancini were not quite the intensity & depth of the other three. And the Papera/Bedrock/OldHill all showed their pedigree w/ more depth & intensity and somewhat more structure. And, of course, the Carlisle/Carlisle always ranks right up there with those three. Of these Zins, I slightly preferred the OldHill for its greater complexity...but the Bedrock was close behind it.
Tom