Carlisle Winery & Vineyards was founded in 1998 by Mike and Kendall Officer. Their passion is clear: Small lots of Zinfandel and Syrah from exceptional, historic vineyards.
Pelkan Ranch is located in the Knights Valley AVA at 1000′ elevation on a rocky ridge top facing Mount St. Helena.
Crimson in color. 15.9% ABV. Black fruits, olive brine, game and smoke on the nose. Medium body with strong acidity. Perfect texture and mouthfeel. Blueberries, blackberries and coffee on the palate. Exceptional finish. Drinks younger than the vintage on the label. Should cruise for another 2-3 years.
My rating: 94 points.
Current vintages of the various Carlisle wines are available via the mailing list, which is exceptionally long. Several retail outlets in California stock Carlisle, but you need to check with them at the time the winery releases their wines in the Spring and Fall.
I’ve wrote about Carlisle previously in Winery Mailing Lists: The Fab 5 and The Zinfandel Chronicles Power Rankings.
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