Carlisle "Papera Ranch" Zinfandel 2021
(Russian River Valley, Sonoma, California) - [JD 96] [WS 95, #21 for '24] [VM 93-95]

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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 this Wine:
Papera Ranch is a grande dame of the Russian River Valley, planted in 1934 by Celestino (Charlie) Papera. While many old-vine vineyards contain plenty of mixed black varieties, most of the blocks at Papera Ranch are 95+% Zinfandel. One block, however, does contain a significant amount of Carignan with a sprinkling of Syrah, Petite Sirah, and Valdiguié. Given its cool location, this is one of the winery's later Zinfandel vineyards to be picked. 

With normal yields of approximately 3.25 tons to the acre, Papera seemed oblivious to the lack of water in this drought year.  Picked in three passes between October 1st and October 6th, we opted to bleed off 7 to 12% of the juice from each tank to produce a more concentrated wine.  Also, since tank space was at a premium, it helped prevent the tanks we filled from overflowing during fermentation, something that is never fun to clean up!  Aged in all French oak, 21% new, and bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Tasting Notes:
Medium-dark ruby-garnet.  An intoxicating nose of raspberry, blood orange, Mission fig, and brown tobacco leaf.  Totally captivating!  On the palate, full bodied and incredibly juicy with flavors of raspberry coulis, blood orange, and red apple that build in the mouthwatering finish.  Papera is truly one of the greatest old-vine vineyards of California.  Enjoy this beauty from release through 2033. (MRO - 01/18/24)

Technical Information

Ratings & Reviews

96 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"Pouring an inky youthful ruby, the 2021 Zinfandel Papera Ranch is ripe with lavender, ripe boysenberry, fig, melding spices, and wet stone. Full-bodied and opulent, it opens to a flood of ripe baked berries, with sweet earth, supple texture, and cocoa filling the palate. With a superb, long finish, I sense it will develop at a glacial pace. Drink 2025-2040." - Audrey Frick (July 2023)

95 Points, Rank #21 Top 100 for '24 - Wine Spectator:
"Deeply structured yet agile and vibrant, with handsome flavors of black cherry and raspberry that take on accents of dried fig, orange peel and brown spices as this builds richness toward medium-grained tannins. Drink now through 2035. 1,034 cases made." - Tim Fish (Aug 2024)

93-95 Points - Vinous Media:
"The 2021 Zinfandel Papera Ranch is a powerful wine. Swaths of tannin wrap around a core of red/purplish fruit. Savory, floral and earthy notes add quite a bit of character. This potent Russian River Zinfandel packs quite the punch. Time in the glass brings out the wine's natural breadth and resonance, much of that attributable to the 15% mixed blacks that includes a number of varieties that confer structure." Drink 2025-2036. - Antonio Galloni (Jan 2023)