2007 Russian River Valley "Carlisle Vineyard" Zinfandel
92% Zinfandel
8% Mixed Black Varieties (Alicante Bouschet, Petite Sirah, Grand Noir, Carignane, and others)
It’s been a struggle to increase yields in our estate vineyard (planted in 1927), but our efforts paid off in 2007 with 1.1 tons to the acre. Picked over two days, September 29th and October 2nd, each lot spent 18 days on the skins before being pressed to all French oak, 29% new. Malolactic fermentation was extremely slow, taking nearly a full year to complete. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Tasting Note:
Very dark ruby-red. Classic Carlisle Vineyard aromas of mulberry, raspberry, spring flowers, and briar. On the palate, full-bodied with laser-like acidity framing the red-berry fruit. Not a light Zin by any means but still very refreshing and exceptionally well-balanced. Drink 2009 through 2015. (MRO – 7/17/09