Tried these two Carlisle Syrahs at our Pig+Fig tasting last week:
1. Carlisle Syrah Papa'sBlock/Atoosa'sVnyd/RRV (15.1%; 215 cs) SantaRosa 2008: Very dark color w/ slight bricking; classic Carlisle/toasty/oak strong blackberry/Syrah/plummy/peppery classic RRV Syrah/peppery fairly complex lovely nose; bit soft very rich/lush plummy/ripe/blackberry/Syrah quite spicy some toasty/Carlisle oak complex flavor w/ some ripe tannins; very long/lingering ripe/blackberry/Syrah finish that tracks flavor; no signs of drying out or fading whatsoever; a rather youthful classic RRV/plummy/Syrah that's probably not going to get a whole lot better but probably fully mature.
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2. Carlisle Syrah BennettVlly (13.8%; 480 cs) 2010: Very dark color w/ slight bricking; less intense more c-c/peppery brighter/spicy/blackberry/blueberry light toasty/oak bit Rhonish/Syrah more complex lovely nose; much more tart not as intense blackberry/blueberry/Syrah some c-c/peppery light toasty/oak more bright/spicy some complex flavor w/ lighter/tighter tannins; very long/lingering some c-c/peppery finish that tracks flavor; much more high-toned & brighter fruit bit Rhonish lovely syrah w/ no signs of age or drying out; fairly youthful in character & may improve some w/ age. $32.75
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More figgerspittle from TheBloodyPulpit:
1. I was expecting both of the Syrahs to be showing a bit of age. They did not, both were quite youthful. The BennettVlly is at a higher elevation and shows more of a c-c character. I slightly preferred it over the RRV because of its c-c character & greater complexity. But both pretty good example of their respective Syrah origins.
Tom