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. Mike recently announced his retirement and subsequently 2024 will be the last vintage of wines produced by Carlisle.
Crimson in color. 15% ABV. Sourced from Pagani Ranch, Teldeschi Ranch, Old Hill Ranch and Carlisle Vineyards. Sublime nose of red fruits, anise, citrus and pepper. Medium body with mouth watering acidity. Tremendous balance and mouthfeel. Packed with tart fruits. Cherry, strawberry, blood orange and earth on the palate. The finish is long and spicy. Another Carlisle Sonoma County that delivers way above its weight class. Best over the next several years.
My rating: 93 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.