Carlisle 'Carlisle Vineyard' Zinfandel, Russian River Valley, USA

卡爾麗絲卡利斯園仙粉黛干紅葡萄酒

點(diǎn)擊次數(shù)：4997

The 2018 Zinfandel Carlisle Vineyard is composed of 86% Zinfandel and 14% mixed varieties such as Alicante Bouschet and Cinsault from 91-year-old vines. Aged in 23% new French oak, it has a deep ruby-purple color and dense, broody aromas of dried plums, cigar, cedar, olive, aniseed and graphite with floral hints. The palate is full-bodied, ripe and lush, and it finishes with loads of juicy acidity. 643 cases were made.

The 2017 Zinfandel Carlisle Vineyard contains 12% mixed black varieties. This vineyard was planted in 1927 with Zinfandel and 39 other varieties, including ten white varieties. Grapes were picked together and co-fermented. It was hard hit by the heat, and yields were very low after the intensive sorting. Jake Bilbro says, "It looked like a massacre after picking. We had about 25 tons hanging, and we only brought in 10 tons. It was ugly, but it's our estate vineyard, so you do what you gotta do." Medium ruby-purple, it gives up scents of cinnamon toast, cocoa powder, warm earth, red and black cherries, blueberries, fried sage, dried herbs and flowers with touches of orange peel and charcuterie. Medium-bodied, the palate flushes with fruit to savory and chocolate flavor layers, gently framed and lifted on the long, layered finish. 332 cases produced.

Approximately 88% Zinfandel with 39 other varieties, including ten white varieties, from a vineyard planted in 1927, the 2016 Zinfandel Carlisle Vineyard is medium to deep garnet-purple in color with bombastic cassis, baked black cherries, licorice and Chinese five spice with hints of dried roses, incense and Sichuan pepper. Full-bodied, concentrated and with a beautifully velvety texture, it has a lively line lifting the decadent fruit, finishing long and layered. 694 cases produced.

The 2015 Zinfandel Carlisle Vineyard is 88% Zinfandel and 12% mixed black varieties as well as a handful of white varieties such as Malvasia and Muscat. This is another killer wine, as it is always one of the top wines in his extensive and impressive portfolio. The alcohol is 15.3%, but that’s a minor component to this big, juicy, succulent, in-your-face, dramatic Zinfandel that boasts raspberry, black cherry, strawberry, licorice, tar, earth and roasted Proven?al herbs. It is spicy and elegant, but at the same time, heady, rich and generously endowed. Drink it over the next 7-10 years.

I’ll just briefly summarize the 2014s. It was the earliest vintage ever for Mike Officer and probably he’ll beat that early harvest record in 2015. In this case, he was finished by October 6, which was a first, and it will be interesting to see if he eclipses that in 2015, which was looking even earlier. The production levels were relatively abundant for Mike Officer and the wines fruit-forward, although softer and less reserved than some of the 2013s. While not quite as opaque in color, they are loaded with fruit, supple and luscious. The only white wine, the Grüner Veltliner Steiner Vineyard, makes an appearance in 2014, and it’s another beauty – it’s crisp and the only wine in bottle. The other wines all stood out and will, no doubt, merit outstanding ratings across the board for their intensity, richness, and full-bodied power. If you already know what Mike Officer does, and the style of his wines, you won’t be disappointed in his 2014s. You may even like them as much as any vintage, given the fact that this year shows a lot of up-front fruit and charm.