Carlisle - Zinfandel Russian River Valley Carlisle Vineyard 2020

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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

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.

Carlisle Description

Carlisle is a small, family-owned Sonoma County winery specializing in the production of old-vine, vineyard designated Zinfandels and red Rhône/Spanish varieties (Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Petite Sirah). While they like their wines to be bold and intensely flavored, each reflecting its vintage and vineyard, they also strive to create wines of balance, complexity, and nuance.

The goal is always the same - grow and source the finest fruit, do as little as possible to it, and bottle outstanding, pleasurable wine at the fairest price possible. Mike Carlisle and Jay Maddox and the team at Carlisle Winery have been able to grow to nearly 10,000 cases, garnering high praise from wine critics and consumers alike.

Jeb Dunnuck: 95 Points

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.

Wine Spectator: 94 Points

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.