Also tried these two last night:
1. Carlisle Zin GoldMineRanch/DryCreekVlly (15.2%; Plntd: 1914; + Carignane; 180 cs) 2008: Dark color w/ little bricking; some milk of magnesia/chalky rather dusty/OV fairly raspberry/blackberry/Zin/lightly spicy light toasty/oak fairly complex quite DryCreekVlly/aromatic nose; fairly tart bit milk of magnesia/valve oil rather raspberry/DCV Zin light earthy/dusty/OV light toasty/oak bit lean/wirey/tight flavor w/ light tangy tannins; very long raspberry/blackberry/DCV Zin light dusty/OV light toasty/oak bit complex finish w/ light tannins; speaks strongly of DCV Zin more so than Teldeschi; lighter/brighter than Mike's RRV Zins but not as interesting; probably not going to get any better but no signs of getting tired/drying out; quite a nice ready-to-go Zin.
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2. Carlisle Zin MontafiRanch/RRV (14.8%; Plntd: 1926; + PetiteSirah/AlicanteBouchet/GrandNoir; 230 cs) 2008:Very dark color w/ no bricking; very strong blackberry/boysenberry/Zin/quite spicy modest smokey/toasty/oak rather dusty/OV fairly complex lovely classic RRV Zin nose; soft strong blackberry/b oysenberry/Zin/quite spicy/classic RRV bit peppery some toasty/pencilly/oak fairly dusty/OV some complex flavor w/ light tangy tannins; very long/lingering spicy/blackberry/classic RRV Zin/peppery light toasty/oak some complex finish w/ light tannins; not the structure of the Carlisle/Carlisle but a lovely classic RRV/peppery Zin.
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. The Montafi was about as perfect a mature RRV Zin as you can find; don't see it making any dramatic improvements over the next few yrs, but no signs of an emminent decline. I had the '07 Montafi a month ago and it was a bit more intense/complex but still lots of tannins I'm not sure will ever resolve.
Tom