Carlisle 'Carlisle Vineyard' Zinfandel, Russian River Valley, USA

卡爾麗絲卡利斯園仙粉黛干紅葡萄酒

點擊次數：4823

A blend of 87% Zinfandel and 13% mixed black varietals (Alicante Bouschet, Grand Noir, Petite Sirah, Tempranillo and a few others), the stunning 2008 Zinfandel Carlisle Vineyard was produced from 81-year old vines cropped at one-half ton of fruit per acre. Its dark plum/purple color is followed by sweet notes of blue and black fruits intermixed with spice box, earth, licorice, incense and burning embers. This full-bodied, fleshy, unfined, unfiltered, captivating Zinfandel should drink well for 5-7 years. It is amazing to think that fifteen years ago no one had ever heard of Carlisle Winery and Vineyards or Mike Officer. Moreover, what Officer has done to preserve old vine Zinfandel vineyards in Sonoma is nothing short of astonishing. Add to that success story his sensational line-up of Syrahs, Petite Sirahs and Rhone Ranger blends and it is undeniable that this man and his winery are at the top of their game. These are artisanal, world-class reds that remain among California's most fairly priced high quality wines. Following is a look at the 2008s from bottle as well as a preview of the charming, seductive 2009s. Mike Officer says 2009 is a strong year for his wines, but since he has done nearly everything right, it is hard for me to say his 2009s are better than previous vintages. Certainly he will not have much production in 2010 given all the issues Zinfandel vineyards had in that year. Readers who love these wines are advised to stock up on what is left of the 2008s as well as the upcoming 2009s. Tel. (707) 566-7700; Fax (707) 566-7200

A great value is the 2008 Zinfandel Sonoma. A cross appellation blend from Sonoma Valley, Russian River, Dry Creek, and Alexander Valley that contains a small quantity of Petite Sirah, it offers a dense ruby/purple color as well as abundant sweet raspberry, blackberry, and cherry fruit with hints of loamy soil, sandalwood, pepper, and spice in the background. It is a sexy, lush Zinfandel to enjoy over the next 3-4 years. One of California's most compelling success stories is Mike Officer's conversion from full-time software developer to full-time guardian of old vine Zinfandel vineyards and world-class producer of artisinal wines. Carlisle is a hugely successful winery, not only because of outstanding customer service, but because of the simple fact that it delivers great wines at extremely fair prices. Carlisle's 2008 Zinfandel crop is the smallest to date thanks to the spring frost, which cut yields by 30%. Consequently, production for all of these 2008s is down considerably. That said, the concentration levels are higher than ever, and the alcohol content is slightly higher than in 2007. The 2007 Syrahs (all 100% Syrah) showcase not only Mike Officer's uncanny knack for ferreting out top terroirs for Syrah, but also his artisinal, hands-off winemaking philosophy that seems to coax the finest characteristics out of all his vineyard sources. The 2008 Syrahs are concentrated, powerful reds, and I may be wrong, but it appears that Mike Officer is beginning to use a higher percentage of whole clusters (stems).Tel. (707) 566-7700; Fax (707) 566-7200