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 Old Hill Ranch, Pagani Ranch, Teldeschi Ranch and Mounts Ranch vineyards. Sublime nose of red fruits, baking spices, anise and pepper. Medium body with medium acidity. The fruits are rich and savory. Black cherry, cranberry, earth and pepper on the palate. Tremendous length on the finish. Missing the bright, vibrant fruits I adore from Carlisle but delicious nonetheless. This will age well if that is your jam. Best over the next 3-5 years.
My rating: 91 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.