2005 Russian River Valley "Carlisle Vineyard" Zinfandel
86% Zinfandel
14% Mixed Black Varieties (Petite Sirah, Alicante Bouschet, Grand Noir, Carignane, and others)
Our own estate vineyard planted in 1927 yielded a scant 0.6 tons to the acre in this cool vintage. Picked October 19th, the wine spent 23 days on the skins before being pressed to all French oak, 45% new. Bottled unfined and unfiltered after 15 months in barrel.
Tasting Note:
Dark purple-ruby. A drop-dead gorgeous nose of spring flowers, mulberry, cassis, and spice. Classic Carlisle Vineyard. On the palate, full and rich with an explosion of raspberry, cassis, and briery flavors. Quite structured and serious for Zinfandel. Interestingly, although a bit riper than the ’04, much fresher and without any notes of surmaturité. A true reflection of the vintage. Enjoy 2009 through 2015. (MRO – 10/15/07)