Critics Average score from professional wine critics and publications.
92
/100
Reviews
24
professional
Vintages
1
2011
Other
92/100
Zinfandel
NV
Community Reviews
2525
Reviews
92.3
Avg Score
94
Highest
Taster #9228
· Dec 26, 2024
90/100
Body has lightened considering to medium, still good color, leaning slight toward a little brown, rich and a bit sweet, but with good balance and plenty of Zin spice. A style we drink rarely, but enjoyable when we do.
2011 vintage
Taster #8899
· Jan 23, 2023
91/100
Bottle two mirrors the one from a few months ago
2011 vintage
Taster #8899
· Nov 15, 2022
91/100
Almost primary still with such a load of crushed raspberries, blackberry and blackcurrant and ripe fruit liqueur. Also Zin/oak spices; nutmeg, cloves, vanilla and cardamom. Very full bodied. Keep chilled as the abv is labelled as 16%.
2011 vintage
Taster #6985
· Mar 7, 2021
93/100
WIML93 Tasted non blind. Garnet to dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of talc, white pepper, plums and a hint of currants. Flavors of black boysenberries, black cherries and black raspberries. Medium to tart acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink now.
2011 vintage
Taster #1868
· Nov 28, 2020
93/100
Nose is big floral, cherry and raspberry fruit. Taste is similar to nose but with balanced tannins mixed in. This wine is drinking well, full body and no lose at this point. Finish long and balanced.
2011 vintage
Taster #9142
· Sep 22, 2020
92/100
outstanding, great fruit, nose is excellent. ready now but will go much longer
2011 vintage
Taster #6985
· Sep 6, 2020
93/100
WIML93 Tasted non blind. Opened and served immediately. Followed over about 90 minutes. Garnet to dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of Kirsch, lavender, black pepper and black berries. Flavors of Kirsch, black berries, black currants and dried plums. Medium acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink over the short term.
2011 vintage
Taster #6244
· Sep 5, 2019
93/100
Light to medium color and body with great balance. Fruit, spice, and alcohol are all there, but each lets the other come through. In a great place. No need to wait to finish these up.
2011 vintage
Taster #1432
· May 11, 2019
94/100
Lush berry fruit, nicely balanced acidity. 16% ABV is well hidden and it does not come across as over-ripe. At peak or beyond, so I would be tempted to drink up.
2011 vintage
Taster #7352
· May 7, 2019
94/100
Light crimson in color. 16% ABV. Sublime nose of red fruits, cocoa, earth and pepper. Medium body with absolutely exquisite acidity. Perfectly balanced. Raspberry liqueur, cherry compote, spearmint and pepper on the palate. The finish is incredibly long and seamless. The first vintage of Carlisle Hayne and it tastes like Mike Officer had been working this vineyard for years. Tremendous Zinfandel. Best over the next 1-2 years.
2011 vintage
Taster #7872
· Jan 6, 2019
90/100
Acidic medium bodied zin
2011 vintage
Taster #3908
· Dec 9, 2018
There is a ton of old vine Zin sap in this wine, and it stays strong for 3 days. Focused plum and dark berry liqueur with a bit of clove. The alcohol (16%) is giving this a very port-like character. Food pairing is tough. Maybe best with chocolate desserts, strong blue cheese, etc.
2011 vintage
Taster #6834
· Nov 24, 2018
92/100
This one has opened up and is drinking very well. I'm not sure it will get much better than now, which is very good. Typical Zin notes with a long smooth finish.
2011 vintage
Taster #2091
· Jul 27, 2018
91/100
For better or worse, my notes for Carlisle zins are getting to be like Turley; that is, they're always good and consistent, vintage to vintage and vineyard to vineyard. I don't have good enough taste buds to describe whatever subtle differences there are. They always taste good to me.
2011 vintage
Taster #1192
· May 26, 2018
92/100
ruby colored, medium intensity, aromas of dried dark cherries, tobacco and vanilla..nice long finish w/ medium soft tannins..drink now and over next 3 years
2011 vintage
Taster #3289
· Apr 27, 2018
92/100
Bosenberry, cherry and spice. The alc. had integrated and now has a wonderful tension to the wine. Finish may improve with age.
2011 vintage
Taster #3881
· Apr 21, 2018
94/100
PNP - procured one bottle of this vintage at auction. Beautiftul ruby color. Nose of licorice, tobacco, kirsch, sous bois. Brambles, boysenberry, cherry, warm spice, an umami note like black olive, a bit of tannin, and nice acidity on the palate. Bramble and cherry finish - exquisite balance. Possibly one of the most elegant OVZ I've come across. Fabulous bottle opened at a great point in this wine's evolution. Drank upaired.
2011 vintage
Taster #8450
· Mar 24, 2018
91/100
Dark purple color. Somewhat reticent nose - berries and red licorice. Miscellaneous red and black fruits on the palate. Medium body. The fruit was mouth-filling and stuck around for a long time, providing a great finish. Very balanced right now, and the alcohol was not noticeable. Probably good for another year.
2011 vintage
Taster #1922
· Feb 23, 2018
94/100
16% abv. Dark ruby, expressive aromatics. Cherry, black raspberry, black pepper and Asian spice. Excellent depth and length, good intensity without being ponderous. Very enjoyable now, with years of life ahead.
2011 vintage
Taster #6106
· Feb 2, 2018
91/100
Rich, loamy, baking chocolate, hint of sanguine elements like black olive. Deep purple, tannins fully resolved so a softer style. This is ready now, not the structure/acidity to warrant further aging. Hides its 16% very well. Paired against an interesting bone marrow and deeply charred roast octopus, and the grilled notes and mouthfeel of the marrow worked well with the wine.
2011 vintage
Taster #2343
· Jan 6, 2018
92/100
Classic California zin.
2011 vintage
Taster #2428
· Sep 11, 2017
92/100
Lovely zin that was rich with berry, spice, bramble and fabulous balance and finish
2011 vintage
Taster #7792
· Aug 29, 2017
94/100
This was one of the best zinfandels I've ever had from Carlisle, and rivals the best Hayne zins I've had from Turley. This wine feels 100% true to Carlisle as it clearly honors this revered vineyard and the price I paid for this wine is shocking. I believe Mike probably made very little profit from this Hayne fruit. For those who say that 2011 is an "off" vintage is not true. It is a great vintage for north coast zins …
2011 vintage
Taster #2904
· Aug 28, 2017
93/100
Fantastic Zin. This "off" vintage produced some of my favorites Zins because of the restrained balance. The refinement of Hayne shows through. A bargain for this vineyard.
2011 vintage
Taster #1978
· Jul 21, 2017
93/100
There is something about the 2011 Carlisle's. Not what I think of as a great vintage, but right from the get go, it is obvious Mike nailed it, at least for his Zins. Purple in color. The nose has black cherries, brambles, a bit of black pepper, and a slight char. On the palate, this has a great texture. Juicy acidity. Vibrant black cherry and black raspberry fruit. Long finish. Supple. Every sip is so good I want to take …
2011 vintage