2023 Russian River Valley "Carlisle Vineyard" Zinfandel
87% Zinfandel
13% Mixed Black Varieties (Alicante Bouschet, Petite Sirah, Grand Noir, Peloursin, Trousseau noir, Tempranillo, Carignan, Muscadelle, Malvasia, Muscat, Clairette blanche and 31 other varieties)
While many old-vine vineyards enjoyed average to slightly above average yields in 2023, Carlisle Vineyard, planted in 1927, was not one of them. Yields were a bit below average at 1.7 tons to the acre. Picked on October 7th and 9th, a month later than the previous vintage, the fruit was fully destemmed and cold soaked for five days before fermentation began. After 24 days on the skins, the wine was pressed to all French oak, 19% new, including one new 600L demi-muid. After 16 months aging, the wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Tasting Note:
Medium-dark to dark garnet-ruby. A full pour is nearly opaque. A huge, room-filling bouquet of raspberry cordial, mulberry, blood orange, and star anise. Woo-ee! The magic of old-vine Russian River Zinfandel on full display! The full-bodied palate is equally as intense with flavors of amarena, black raspberry, blood orange, and briar. Mouthwatering acidity in the finish ensures the wine stays firmly on the rails. Drinkable now but if you can, hold on to this wine for several more years and enjoy until 2040. The bottle used for this tasting note showed no signs of oxidation after four days, a very positive sign for its aging potential. (MRO - 07/16/25)