2022 Russian River Valley "Carlisle Vineyard" Zinfandel
87% Zinfandel
13% Mixed Black and White Varieties (Alicante Bouschet, Petite Sirah, Grand Noir, Peloursin, Trousseau noir, Tempranillo, Carignan, Muscadelle, Malvasia, Muscat, Clairette blanche and 28 other varieties)
Planted in 1927 to 87% Zinfandel and 13% 42 other varieties, Carlisle Vineyard was picked in three passes at night on September 6th, 7th, and 8th. This was the earliest we have ever picked this vineyard but all juice numbers (pH, T.A., Brix, tartaric/malic ratio, potassium, nitrogen) indicated the fruit was ready to go. With an average of 20 days on the skins, each lot was pressed to approximately 20% new French oak and bottled unfined and unfiltered after 16 months in barrel.
Tasting Note:
Dark ruby-garnet. A full pour is opaque. A deep and powerful nose of raspberry, blood orange, brown baking spices, and sweet tobacco authoritatively announces this wine’s gravitas. Full-bodied on entry, flavors of raspberry, mulberry, rose petal, and spice nearly overwhelm the senses. This is heady stuff, truly grand cru-level Zinfandel! While enjoyable now, we’d recommend giving it another year or two and then enjoying the show through 2034. (MRO - 07/18/24)