Carlisle Zinfandel Russian River Valley Carlisle Vineyard 2014 (750ml)

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Producer	Carlisle
Country	United States
Region	California
Subregion	Russian River Valley
Varietal	Zinfandel
Vintage	2014
Sku	01327
Size	750ml

 

Tasting Note:

A classic “Carlisle nose” of mint tea, iron, and crushed dark berries, including mulberry which has always been a hallmark of this vineyard.  The palate is rich, expansive and savory.  The fresh berry notes mirror those on the nose, bringing black raspberry, boysenberry and Mirabelle plum to the party.  The finish is accented with Asian spices and a cocoa powder texture that is ultimately refreshed by the natural acidity of the wine.  Another stunner from this fine old lady.  Drink 2019 – 2030.

I’ll just briefly summarize the 2014s. It was the earliest vintage ever for Mike Officer and probably he’ll beat that early harvest record in 2015. In this case, he was finished by October 6, which was a first, and it will be interesting to see if he eclipses that in 2015, which was looking even earlier. The production levels were relatively abundant for Mike Officer and the wines fruit-forward, although softer and less reserved than some of the 2013s. While not quite as opaque in color, they are loaded with fruit, supple and luscious. The only white wine, the Grüner Veltliner Steiner Vineyard, makes an appearance in 2014, and it’s another beauty – it’s crisp and the only wine in bottle. The other wines all stood out and will, no doubt, merit outstanding ratings across the board for their intensity, richness, and full-bodied power. If you already know what Mike Officer does, and the style of his wines, you won’t be disappointed in his 2014s. You may even like them as much as any vintage, given the fact that this year shows a lot of up-front fruit and charm.

From an almost centenarian vineyard planted to mixed varieties, this has juicy core of cherry and blackberry fruit. An undercurrent of Asian spice and white pepper shows through, finishing on a minty chocolate note.