Carlisle Three Birds Red, Sonoma County, USA

卡爾麗絲三只鳥干紅葡萄酒

點(diǎn)擊次數(shù)：7527

The 2009 Three Birds (15.6% alcohol), which is Mike Officer's Sonoma interpretation of Chateauneuf du Pape, is composed of 77% Grenache, 17% Mourvedre and 6% Syrah. Beautiful aromas of red and black currants, raspberries and loamy soil soar from the glass of this sexy, endearing, medium-bodied wine. It does not possess the power or richness of Officer's top Zinfandels or Syrahs, but there is a complexity and elegance to this offering that is rare. Moreover, it is a fabulous bargain! Think of it as Clos des Papes comes to Sonoma Valley. It is amazing to think that fifteen years ago no one had ever heard of Carlisle Winery and Vineyards or Mike Officer. Moreover, what Officer has done to preserve old vine Zinfandel vineyards in Sonoma is nothing short of astonishing. Add to that success story his sensational line-up of Syrahs, Petite Sirahs and Rhone Ranger blends and it is undeniable that this man and his winery are at the top of their game. These are artisanal, world-class reds that remain among California's most fairly priced high quality wines. Following is a look at the 2008s from bottle as well as a preview of the charming, seductive 2009s. Mike Officer says 2009 is a strong year for his wines, but since he has done nearly everything right, it is hard for me to say his 2009s are better than previous vintages. Certainly he will not have much production in 2010 given all the issues Zinfandel vineyards had in that year. Readers who love these wines are advised to stock up on what is left of the 2008s as well as the upcoming 2009s.Tel. (707) 566-7700; Fax (707) 566-7200

After a four year hiatus, Officer's homage to Chateauneuf du Pape returns in full glory. The 2008 Three Birds, a blend of 78% Grenache, 16% Mourvedre, and 6% Syrah, is a knock-out wine. From relatively new plantings that came from Alban cuttings of Grenache (rumor says they were taken from the Rayas vineyard), this promising 2008 was aged in neutral French oak, and is scheduled to be bottled without fining or filtration. Explosive notes of kirsch liqueur, lavender, licorice, and loamy earth jump from the glass of this dark ruby/purple-tinted wine. Dense, full-bodied, sexy, and seductive, it is a round, opulent, smooth wine that should continue to be a crowd-pleaser. Moreover, it is a fabulous bargain! One of California's most compelling success stories is Mike Officer's conversion from full-time software developer to full-time guardian of old vine Zinfandel vineyards and world-class producer of artisinal wines. Carlisle is a hugely successful winery, not only because of outstanding customer service, but because of the simple fact that it delivers great wines at extremely fair prices. Carlisle's 2008 Zinfandel crop is the smallest to date thanks to the spring frost, which cut yields by 30%. Consequently, production for all of these 2008s is down considerably. That said, the concentration levels are higher than ever, and the alcohol content is slightly higher than in 2007. The 2007 Syrahs (all 100% Syrah) showcase not only Mike Officer's uncanny knack for ferreting out top terroirs for Syrah, but also his artisinal, hands-off winemaking philosophy that seems to coax the finest characteristics out of all his vineyard sources. The 2008 Syrahs are concentrated, powerful reds, and I may be wrong, but it appears that Mike Officer is beginning to use a higher percentage of whole clusters (stems).Tel. (707) 566-7700; Fax (707) 566-7200

A stunning blend, the 2004 Three Birds is Mike Officer’s version of a Chateauneuf du Pape. It exhibits southern Rhone-like characteristics of garrigue, kirsch liqueur, pepper, and sandalwood. Full-bodied, powerful, and rich, with a lovely, plump texture, silky tannin, and a heady finish, it can be consumed over the next 4-5 years. Readers should not hesitate to get on Carlisle’s mailing list before the world discovers what compelling beverages are being produced here.Previously recommended: 2003 Petite Sirah (94+), 2003 Syrah Bennett Valley (95), 2003 Syrah Pelkan Ranch (93), 2003 Two Acres (94), 2003 Zinfandel Dry Creek (91), 2003 Zinfandel Sonoma County (91), 2003 Zinfandel Carlisle Vineyard (93), 2003 Zinfandel Fava Ranch (92), 2003 Zinfandel Riebli Ranch (90), 2003 Zinfandel Rossi Ranch (94), 2003 Zinfandel Tom Feeney Ranch (95).Tel. (707) 566-7700; Fax (707) 566-7200