We had the other day at Pig+Fig some Carlisle Zins from Montafi & Carlisle vnyds:
1. Carlisle Zin MontafiRanch/RRV/SonomaCnty (15.0%; Plntd: 1926; + AlicanteBouschet/PetiteSirah/GrandNoir/Peloursin/Syrah; 245 cs; 18% new Fr.oak; U/U; Drk: 2022-2028) 2019: Med.dark color; strong very blackberry/boysenberry/ripe Zin/very spicy quite dusty/OV light toasty/oak bit complex nose; lightly tart quite rich/lush very strong blackberry/boysenberry/Zin rather dusty/OV light toasty/oak bit complex flavor w/ modest ripe tannins; very long/lingering very strong blackberry/boysenberry/Zin/quite spicy finish w/ some ripe tannins; a pretty classic Montafi Zin loaded w/ ripe fruit; needs 2-6 yrs of age. $42.50
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2. Carlisle Zin MontafiRanch/RRV (14.8%; Plntd: 1926; + PetiteSirah/AlicanteBouschet/GrandNoir; 230 cs) 2008: Mede.dark color w/ slight bricking; still lots of blackberry/boysenberry/ripe Zin/very spicy some cedary/pencilly/oak/bit toasty fairly complex lovely nose w/ still plenty of fruit; lightly tart some blackberry/ripe/boysenberry/Zin some cedary/pencilly/oak rather smooth/silky bit dusty/OV complex flavor w/ light gentle tannins; very long/lingering bit cedary/pencilly/oldZin some blackberry/boysenberry/ripe/Zin complex finish; has lost a bit of fruit but still plenty of ripe Zin fruit remaining; shows some of the cedary/pencily character of aged Zin but not at all tired or drying out on the palate; in wonderful condition for a 14 yr old Zin & not going to fall apart anytime soon, but tannins are fully resolved and probably not going to get any better; a lovely fully-mature Zin.
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3. Carlisle Zin CarlisleVnyd/RRV/SonomaCnty (15.0%; Plntd: 1927 by AlcidePelletti; + PetiteSirah/
GrandNoir/AlicanteBouschet/Tempranillo/Peloursin + others; 700 cs; 25% new Fr.oak; U/U; Drk: 2022-2030) 2019: Very dark color; intense blackberry/ripe/boysenberry/Zin/very spicy quite dusty/OV very classic Carlisle bit complex nose; fairly tart structured/bit tannic intense blackberry/boysenberry/Zin/very spicy/bit peppery rather dusty/OV/bit rustic some toasty/oak bit complex flavor w/ some chewey/ripe tannins; very long/lingering intense blackberry/boysenberry/Zin/spicy/peppery quite dusty/OV some toasty/oak quite rich/lush finish w/ ample tannins; much like the Montafi in fruit but shows a bit more sauvage/rustic character & more structured than the Montafi, a bit more peppery/RRV Zin character; a wonderful Zin that has a great future & should age quite well. $42.50
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4. Carlisle Zin CarlisleVnyd/RRV (16.3%; Plntd: 1927; + PetiteSirah/AlicanteBouschet/GrandNoir; 410 cs) 2001: Slightly less dark color w/ slight bricking; some cedary/pencilly/oldZin strong blackberry/boysenberry/Zin/fairly spicy quite dusty/OV rather complex/mature Zin nose w/ still loads of fruit; lightly tart some cedary/pencilly/oldZin some blackberry/ripe/boysenberry/Zin/spicy/bit peppery quite smooth/silky very complex flavor w/ light smooth tannins; very long/lingering some pencilly/cedary/oldZin some blackberry/boysenberry/Zin/spicy/ripe smooth/gentle/lush complex finish w/ light smooth t6annins; showing some of that cedary/pencilly/oldZin character but still plenty of fruit; no signs of drying out on the palate; clearly has lost some fruit but not going to go round the bend anytime soon; tannins fully resolved & not going to get any better, just going to quietly fade into the sunset; amazingly good condition for a 20 yr old Zin & still offers up lots of pleasure.
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. The Montafi & Carlisle Zins are always my favorites of Mikes Zins, with a slight preference towards the Carlisle/Carlisle. It typically shows the most structure, the most interesting, slightly sauvage/rustic character. Both of these oldies were in amazing condition for their age w/ plenty of fruit still in them. Doubt they will evolve any further & just continue to drop fruit & quietly fade into the sunset with nary a whimper.
Tom