Tried these two last week w/ Susan's family:
1. Carlisle Syrah JamesBerryVnyd/PasoRobles (15.9%; 175 cs) 2012: Very dark/near black color; very strong blackberry/boysenberry/Syrah/ripe/plummy bit licorice/chocolaty slightly alcoholic light smokey/toasty/oak very intense nose; soft/ripe/lush/rich intense boysenberry/Syrah/blackberry very ripe/plummy/chocolaty/licorice light toasty/oak bit alcoholic flavor w/ soft/ripe/round tannins; very long soft/lush/ripe intense boysenberry/blackberry/Syrah licorice light toasty/smokey/oak slight alcoholic finish w/ soft/ripe tannins; on the ripe side but not over-the-top like some JB Syrahs; a very excellent Paso Syrah. $44.00
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2. Carlisle Syrah Rosella'sVnyd/SantaLuciaHighlands (14.6%; 190 cs) 2012: Black color; intense blackberry/black cherry/Syrah some herbal/peppery/very spicy/licorice very light toasty/oak very interesting/lovely nose; slightly tart rather herbal/peppery intense blackberry/Syrah/black cherry/licorice/very spicy light toasty/oak structured intense flavor w/ modest/soft/round tannins; very long/lingering bit herbal/peppery/thyme intense ripe/blackberry/black cherry/Syrah/licorice light toasty/oak finish w/ ample soft/ripe tannins; a very intense very interesting Syrah w/ the structure for a long life ahead. $44.00
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. The JB reminded me a lot of the early Saxum Syrahs, though not as over-the-top as those tended to be. Caveat: I've not had a Saxum Syrah in a number of yrs (since HdR died) since the prices have risen into the stratosphere, so can't speak to more recent ones. I much preferred the Rosella's as being far more interesting. But the JB was no slouch of a Calif Syrah.
Mike's wines, particularly the Zins, tend to be on the alcoholic side. Yet I very rarely find them to be hot/alcoholic/fumey in the nose or the palate. Ripe...certainly...but they still have a certain balance to them that make them some of my favorites.
Tom