Recommendation: Good, robust, fruit-driven California Zinfandel.
Winery/Producer: Carlisle Winery; Windsor, California.
Grape Variety: Zinfandel.
Geographic Region, Appellation: Russian River Valley; Sonoma County, California.
Vintage: 2014
Price: $29.95
Purchased From: Woodland Hills Wine Company; Woodland Hills, California.
Paired With: Pork barbecue on bun, sweet coleslaw and oven roasted potato fries.
Tasting:
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He said: Opened one hour before drinking. Clear, dark garnet color with a slightly lighter rim. Intense plum, cherry and current aromas. ABUNDANT juicy fruit (without the BBQ pork it probably would have been to much), dusty, dry and chewy all the way through the long, spicy, slightly bitter finish and after-taste. Pretty potent California Zinfandel, but a surprisingly smooth taste and only a little back of the throat scratchiness. This was a Zinfandel where you could easily taste the power of old vines and the intensity of the California sunshine!!! Paired With the strong flavored pork BBQ it was great, but drinking alone it’s a little much. Good, robust, fruit-driven California Zinfandel.
She said: Clear, dark ruby red color and a crimson rim. Irregularly spaced thin slowly moving legs, surprising since alcohol content was 15%. I requested a Zinfandel when we decided on dinner and I was delighted with the pairing. The aroma was full of fruit and pretty much masked the alcohol scent. The mouth-feel was overwhelming with its big bold ripe fruit flavor, but perfect with the equally upfront barbecue flavor of the pork. The wine was smooth, dry, pleasantly acidic and full-bodied. The finish was long and tasty with a bit of kick from the high alcohol content and very pleasing tenants. Although not in the bargain price range is a very good value for the price.
Calisle's Banfield Ranch vineyard where the Zinfandel vines were planted in the 1870's and again in 1903
Alcohol: 15%
UPC Code: NA
Imported by: NA
Photo from Carlisle Winery & Vineyards.