Carlisle "Piner-Olivet Ranches" Zinfandel 2021
(Russian River Valley, California) - [VM 96] [WS 94] [JD 93]

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:
Any time we create a blended wine, the goal is always the same, to produce a wine qualitatively equal to our vineyard designates. Boy did we ever exceed with this one! After blending the final versions of Carlisle and Papera, we had a little of each remaining. To those, we added some barrels of Mancini. Wow, so good! But we didn’t stop there. We then found that a tiny, homeopathic quantity of old-vine Pagani Alicante elevated the wine even further, producing one of the greatest Zinfandels I have tasted. In the end, a blend of 45% Carlisle Vineyard, 28% Papera Ranch, 25% Mancini Ranch, and 2% Pagani Ranch Alicante Bouschet. Unfined, unfiltered, and unbelievably delicious.

Varietal Composition: 98% Zinfandel, from 28% Papera Ranch, 45% Carlisle Vineyard, 25% Mancini Ranch, 2% Pagani Ranch Alicante Bouschet.
pH: 3.46
T.A.: 6.1 g/L
Alcohol: 15.0%
Cases Produced: 673

Tasting Notes

Ratings & Reviews

94-96 Points - Vinous Media:
The 2021 Zinfandel Piner-Olivet is another fabulous wine in this range. It brings together so many of the elements that make the Carlisle wines so compelling. Dense and succulent, the 2021 races across the palate, showing notable textural depth and persistence. All the elements are so well balanced. The Piner-Oliver is a blend of Carlisle, Papera, Mancini and Pagani, essentially three grand crus from the Russian River Valley and a fourth from Sonoma Valley! That's a pretty appealing combination in my book. Moreover, this wine is exceptionally well-priced.

94 Points - Wine Spectator:
Fresh and exuberant, with vibrant black raspberry, cracked pepper and brown baking spices that gather structure and richness toward refined tannins. Drink now.

93 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
A youthful dark red to purple hue, the 2021 Zinfandel Piner-Olivet Ranches is ripe with woodsy spice, menthol, and blackberry. Full-bodied, it boasts a broader and riper feel, with expansive fruit on the palate, including notes of mocha, black cherry, and turned earth. It offers a lot of hedonistic appeal and will drink well over the next 10-15 years.