Carlisle "Carlisle Vineyard" Zinfandel 2020
(Russian River Valley, California) - [JD 95] [WS 94]

About the Winery:
Carlisle is a small Sonoma County winery specializing in the production of old-vine, vineyard designated Zinfandels and red Rhône varieties (Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Petite Sirah). They also produce three delicious white wines, two of which are blends from historic, old-vine vineyards plus Sonoma County's first ever Grüner Veltliner.

About the Wine:
Picked earlier than ever over three days between September 8th and September 14th, yields were quite a bit lower in this hot vintage at 1.4 tons to the acre.  But the resulting fruit was ripe and concentrated.  Fully destemmed, each tank was cold soaked for five days before inoculation with one of our favorite locally-derived yeasts, WS (isolated years ago from a Williams Selyem ferment of Jackass Hill Zinfandel).  After an average of 17 days on the skins, the wine was pressed to all neutral French oak.  Once we confirmed there was no smoke taint, we introduced a few new barrels for about 10% new oak.  Bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Technical Data

Varietal Composition:86% Zinfandel, 14% Mixed Black Varieties (Alicante Bouschet, Petite Sirah, Grand Noir, Peloursin, Trousseau noir, Tempranillo, Carignan, Muscadelle, Malvasia, Muscat, Clairette blanche and 31 other varieties)
pH: 3.56
T.A.: 6.2 g/L
Alcohol: 15.0%
Cases Produced: 735

Tasting Notes

Medium-dark to dark ruby-garnet.  An intense, brooding nose of red and black fruits with blood orange, clove, and a hint of framboise liqueur.  On the palate, full-bodied, verging on muscular, with flavors of red cherry, plum, and licorice.  Like most of our 2020s, age worthy.  In fact, the bottle opened for this tasting note was still fresh as a daisy after four days.  Drink this bad boy from 2025 to 2035. (MRO - 01/17/23)

Ratings & Reviews

95 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"The 2020 Zinfandel Carlisle Vineyard is more brooding, with pine, fresh black plum, and baking spice. The palate is ripe with brambly mixed berries, warming alcohol, and fine tannins that emerge. Allow another year in bottle or so and enjoy 2023-2034." (8/2/2022)

94 Points - Wine Spectator:
Impeccably built and sleekly styled, with expressive black cherry and plum flavors that are accented by cinnamon and other baking spices, plus hints of orange zest and pepper. Drink now through 2031. 735 cases made." - TF (web only 2023)