We tasted these new releases last week at Pig+Fig:
1. Carlisle Zin SaitoneVnyd/RRV/SonomaCnty (15.0%; Plntd: 1895 by Antonio Saitone; 265 cs) 2021: Dark color; very strong dusty/OV strong peppery/RRV Zin/blackberry quite spicy/aromatic slight toasty/oak rather perfumed complex/lovely nose; lightly tart fairly toasty/oak very spicy very RRV peppery/blackberry/Zin quite dusty/OV some complex flavor w/ modest chewey/ripe tannins; very long/lingering very spicy finish that mimics flavor; lots of bright very spicy Zin fruit; one of the best Saitones I can recall; can use 2-5 yrs of age. $43.00
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2. Carlisle CarlisleVnyd/RRV/SonomaCnty (15.0%; Plntd: 1927 by Alcide Pelletti; Zin + PetiteSirah/GrandNoir/AlicanteBouschet/Tempranillo/Peloursin; 760 cs) 2021: Very dark color; beautiful very spicy intense blackberry/RRV Zin/peppery some toasty/oak very bright/fragrant bit dusty/OV beautiful perfumed nose; quite tart/tangy very bright/very spicy blackberry/RRV Zin peppery classic Carlisle vnyd/aromatic some toasty/oak bit wirey/sleek flavor w/ modest sleek tannins; very long/lingering very perfumed/spicy finish that mimics flavor; a classic high-toned/aromatic Carlisle vnyd Zin that can use 2-6 yrs of age yet; a beautiful Carlisle. $43.00
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3. Carlisle OldHillRanch SonomaVlly/SonomaCnty RW (15.0%; Plntd: 1885 by William MacPherson Hill; 20 varieties; 230 cs) 2021: Very dark color; very strong dusty/OV classic SonomaVlly/peppery Zin very deep/complex intense blackberry/Zin/ripe/very spicy lovely nose that resembles the old Ravenswood OldHills but w/ less oak; some tart/tangy deep/blackberry/boysenberry/classic SonomaVlly peppery Zin/very spicy some toasty/oak quite dusty/OV complex beautiful flavor w/ modest rich/chewy tannins; very long/lingering finish that mirrors the flavor; shows greater depth and dusty/OV character & more bass notes than the Carlisle vnyd; a beautiful classic OH Zin. $43.00
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More baldersnatch from TheBloodyPulpit:
1. Three really beautiful Carlisle Zins. The Saitone was one of the better Saitones I can recall. My slight preference was the OldHill for its greater intensity & depth & complexity. There were distinct differences in these three Zin tasted side by side, but none of them would I throw out of bed.
Bedrock & Carlisle are probably at the top of the Calif Zin game right now. The Bedrocks have a bit more uniformity to them & more of a distinct Bedrock style. The Carlisle have more aromatics and a bit more expressive of their vnyd origins. But you just can't go wrong w/ any of the Bedrock or Carlisles.
Tom