Carlisle Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel, Sonoma County, USA

卡爾麗絲干溪谷仙粉黛干紅葡萄酒

點擊次數：5649

The 2019 Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley, aged in 20% new French oak, opens with bright blueberry coulis, lavender, tea leaves and potpourri scents. The medium-bodied palate explodes with perfumed, spiced fruits, softly textured and finishing with an addicting juicy quality. 387 cases were made.

From three different blocks with a co-fermented splash of 15% Petite Sirah, the 2016 Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley is medium garnet-purple in color with notions of black cherry compote, black raspberries and raspberry preserves with touches of hoisin, baking spices, dusty soil and tobacco. Full-bodied, rich and packed with opulently spiced berry preserves layers, it has a plush texture and great freshness coming through on the long finish. 427 cases produced.

As for the 2015 Zinfandel Dry Creek, this exhibits more of the earthy, broader-shouldered side of Zinfandel than the less expensive Sonoma bottling. Coming from some top-notch sites, this Zinfandel (15.8% alcohol) has a dark ruby color and loads of briary berry fruit intermixed with licorice, roasted herbs and loamy soil scents. It is medium to full-bodied, lush, and best drunk over its first 4-5 years of life.

I’ll just briefly summarize the 2014s. It was the earliest vintage ever for Mike Officer and probably he’ll beat that early harvest record in 2015. In this case, he was finished by October 6, which was a first, and it will be interesting to see if he eclipses that in 2015, which was looking even earlier. The production levels were relatively abundant for Mike Officer and the wines fruit-forward, although softer and less reserved than some of the 2013s. While not quite as opaque in color, they are loaded with fruit, supple and luscious. The only white wine, the Grüner Veltliner Steiner Vineyard, makes an appearance in 2014, and it’s another beauty – it’s crisp and the only wine in bottle. The other wines all stood out and will, no doubt, merit outstanding ratings across the board for their intensity, richness, and full-bodied power. If you already know what Mike Officer does, and the style of his wines, you won’t be disappointed in his 2014s. You may even like them as much as any vintage, given the fact that this year shows a lot of up-front fruit and charm.

The 2012 Zinfandel Dry Creek comes from three separate old vine vineyards, one planted in 1890 and the youngest planted in 1950. A blockbuster at 15.6% natural alcohol, it offers loads of black raspberry and black cherry fruit interwoven with bouquet garni and earthy notes. This attractive, full-bodied, surprisingly finesse-styled Zinfandel demonstrates the magic of the self-trained winemaker, Mike Officer. Carlisle Winery’s Mike Officer and his wife are one of the wonderful stories in the wine world. Going from a part-time home winemaker, to turning out some of his beloved Zinfandels, to becoming one of the two or three leading guardians of old vine Zinfandel in Northern California, Mike Officer was so good at making wine that he changed careers and wine consumers are the beneficiaries. The single vineyard Zins are absolutely remarkable. Everyone who loves Zinfandel should be on Carlisle’s mailing list, the wines are primarily available only from the winery. Sadly, Mike Officer is not making as much Syrah as he used to given the difficult marketplace for this varietal. That’s a shame, as great Syrahs are truly magnificent wines. Tel. (707) 566-7700