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. Many of these vineyards are heritage sites planted by Italian immigrants and date back to the late 1800s .
Dupratt Vineyard is located on the Mendocino Ridge only 5 miles from the Pacific Ocean. The vineyard was planted in 1916.
Crimson in color. 15% ABV. Heady nose of red fruits, citrus and licorice. Medium body with perfect acidity. Bright, vibrant and juicy. Cherry, pomegranate, blood orange and pepper on the palate. Tremendous length on the finish. Charming Zinfandel with a flavor profile that is unique within the Carlisle portfolio. Really enjoyable. Best over the next several years.
My rating: 92 points.
I can make an argument that Carlisle is the best Zinfandel producer in the state of California. 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 2020 Zinfandel Chronicles Power Rankings. I also had a chance to visit Mike Officer and wrote about that in 2020 Carlisle Zinfandel Barrel Samples With Mike Officer.