Tried these three last week at dinner:
1. Carlisle Zin Carlo'sRanch/RRV (15.8%; Plntd: 1934 by CharleyPapera; 225 cs) 2004: Med.color w/ some bricking; strong cedary/pencilly/oldZin some blackberry/RRV Zin peppery/raspberry light pencilly/oak some classic RRV Zin/peppery some complex quite aromatic nose; soft rather cedary/pencilly/mature Zin some raspberry/blackberry/Zin/spicy/peppery light toasty/oak slight drying out some complex flavor w/ light smooth/gentle tannins; long some cedary/pencilly/oldZin some blackberry/raspberry/RRV peppery Zin light toasty/oak bit cedary/pencilly/oldZin finish w/ light gentle tannins; no signs of overripe or alcohol; a clearly mature Zin that still has good fruit & not drying out or tired; tannins fully resolved; quite a lovely mature Zin on its downward side.
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2. Carlisle Zin CarlisleVnyd/RRV (14.8%; Plntd: 1927 by AlcidePelletti; + PetiteSirah/AlicanteBouschet/GrandNoir; 550 cs) 2007: Med.dark color w/ little bricking; lovely perfumed blackberry/Zin/very spicy/bit RRV peppery light pencilly/toasty/oak some complex classic RRV Zin nose; soft lush/ripe/rich strong blackberry/RRV peppery/very spicy Zin bit alcoholic light toasty/Fr.oak some dusty/OV lovely flavor w/ light bit tangy tannins; very long/lingering strong RRV peppery/blackberry/very spicy/Zin light toasty/oak some dusty/OV some complex finish w/ light smooth tannins; a lovely classic RRV Zin probably in a perfect place right now w/ tannins fully resolved but probably not going to get much better; Carlisle Zin in all its glory.
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3. Ridge Zin YorkCreek/NapaVlly/Calif (79% Zin/21% PetiteSirah; 14.9%; bttld 2/10; Drk: 11/09-11/16-11/17: JO) 2008: Med.dark color w/ some bricking; strong vanilla/Am.oak light raspberry/Zin/bit earthy rather simple/quotidian nose; lightly tart strong Am.Ridge/oak/vanilla some spicy/raspberry/Zin/earthy pleasant simple flavor w/ light tangy tannins; med.long bit tannic/tangy pleasant raspberry/Zin/spicy/light earthy strong Ridge/oak finish w/ light tannins; a pleasant enough YC Zin but thoroughly unthrilling; not in the same league as the PS; just a bit dull & unthrilling.
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. YorkCreek: I have always been a big fan of the YorkCreek PS's, every since the magnificent '71. When tasted in mid-'90's, it was one of the greatest Calif Reds I can recall. But the other Ridge YC's (Merlot & Cabernet) have always been to me singularly unthrilling & rather quotidian.
Tom