3/10/2012 - glg wrote:

Exceptional wine - just pulled from cellar and had no idea this was a sub $20. Wow!

2/18/2012 - glg wrote:

A little youthful, but still quite enjoyable.

2/18/2012 - glg wrote:

Drinking nicely - lighter weight than many Carlisle wines, but offering nice balance of fruit and nuance.

12/6/2011 - glg wrote:

Spectacular. Balanced. Delightful. Better on day one so drink sooner than later.

7/16/2011 - glg wrote:

Excellent -- flinty, dry and expressive. Remdinded me of a condrieu. Would pair wonderfully with oysters and other seafood.

6/10/2011 - glg wrote:

Still a little youthful - needs a decant - very well done wine - not heavy or dense - nice expression of syrah - lengthy finish.

5/26/2011 - glg wrote:

I think this is showing well - with lots of blueberry fruit and a lengthy finish. One of my favorite wines Mike makes -and the 2007 is no exception.

4/13/2011 - glg Likes this wine:

Equisite, pure and lush mouthfeel. Goes right up to the line with ripe red pinot fruits, without becoming too sweet or heavy. Wonderful balance and a lenghty finish, with a touch of acidity.

4/9/2011 - glg wrote:

More old world than new - fruit is a integrated component but not dominant - nose is expressive but slightly subdued compared to most CaliCabs. I think this wine has further aging potential.

4/10/2011 - glg wrote:

Dense, deep and dark. Full bodied. Still tannic and has lots of life ahead.

4/1/2011 - glg wrote:

Consistent with prior note - and fully mature.

3/27/2011 - glg wrote:

Still a little tightly wound - copious dark fruits with an excellent mouthfeel, despite still moderately heavy tannins. Some nice earthy components on the nose. Great stuff.

3/21/2011 - glg wrote:

Seriously great stuff - if this is from a mediocre vintage, I can't wait to start exploring the stronger vintages. Wonderful balance and finish. Drinking well now, but has plenty of future ahead.

3/21/2011 - glg wrote:

Nice depth and complexity. Still young, with lots of upside. Dark fruits, with a touch to dill and earth notes, but not in a bad way. Finish is not as long as I would have liked, however.

2/15/2011 - glg wrote:

Peaking - Seriously great stuff. Inviting pinot noir greatness. Abundant red fruits - and an exquisite mouthfeel.

2/9/2011 - glg wrote:

Wow - perhaps the best zinfandel I've ever had. Too bad I am all out.

2/6/2011 - glg wrote:

Complex and not overly spiced malbec, this stands our from most base level wines. That said, it does not have the rounded mouthfeel or lengthy finish that is associated with outstanding wines. The tannic structure suggests some further aging, but I am not sure this is meant to be a long term wine.

12/28/2010 - glg wrote:

In a really good place - perfect balance and abundant fruits. No intrusive wood or other notes to detract from the pure and balanced fruit.

12/25/2010 - glg wrote:

Almost pinot-like it ist weight and mouthfeel. Soft tannis and red fruits and briary and underbrushy component and a kiss of spice on the finish. Undecided if the lighter weight makes the wine special or thin. Will need to re-evaluate. Leaning towards the former, however.

12/26/2010 - glg wrote:

Outstanding wine, but on the heavier spectrum. Deep, mouthcoating flavor of sweet, dark fruits and the right amount of "zin-spice." Wine would be better if it was a little "lighter on its feet." Otherwise, another great Carlisle Montafi zin.

12/25/2010 - glg wrote:

Young and solid but not much more at this stage. Rather one-dimensional. Nice finish and pleasing nose, but devoid of any wow factor.

12/5/2010 - glg wrote:

Lighter styled rhone wine - easy drinker and no hard edges. Super QPR and pairs well with food when not seeking an overly complex or intellectual wine.

12/4/2010 - glg wrote:

Improved from earlier bottles. Drinking well, but not nearly as good as 2001 or 2002.

12/4/2010 - glg wrote:

With a brief decant, drinking quite well. Layers of dark fruits complemented with a touch of earth and underbrush. Possesses a very long finish.

11/28/2010 - glg wrote:

Not worth the tariff or the bottle weight, but a good wine. Some dusty and earthly elements. Well made. Not sure it has the fruit for the long haul, because there are very good elements there - it is just not in balance.

11/27/2010 - glg wrote:

NEEDS MORE TIME. Has potential, but not showing it now.

11/17/2010 - glg Likes this wine:

Sweet, red fruits. Generally one-dimensional, but I like the dimension. Long, smooth finish. Drinking well now, not sure I see much benefit to bottle aging.

11/9/2010 - glg wrote:

Loved it. Dark fruits, especially blueberries. Wonderful balance. Showing some complexities.

10/16/2010 - glg wrote:

Love it!

10/13/2010 - glg wrote:

Better on day 1 - I'd suggest a moderate decant and then drink. Cabernet elements were predominent.

7/15/2010 - glg wrote:

Great wine. I am amazed at how great the mouvedre stands alone, or almost alone. This wine is deep and complex, and offers so much. One of my favorite Carlisles!

7/18/2010 - glg wrote:

Varietally correct and pure - but not with much complexity. Better on Day 1 than on Day 2.

7/9/2010 - glg wrote:

Very good, particularly on day 2. There is a syrah intensity in this wine, but it is not exactly sure how to reveal itself. The wine toggles between being foursquare and nuanced. I think this needs another 6 months to a year to come together. Excellent QPR.

6/21/2010 - glg wrote:

Ready to drink now - rounded mouthfeel - on the sweeter side of the zinfandel spectrum, but not in a problematic way. Great balance and bursting with fruit, with red fruits dominating on the finish.

5/16/2010 - glg wrote:

I preferred the '07 Sangiacomo. Not as integrated and smooth to me. Still very, very, good but not as balanced or rounded in mouthfeel.

5/16/2010 - glg wrote:

Entered its drinking window as far as I am concerned. Full bodied and possessing a well-rounded finish.

5/13/2010 - glg wrote:

Dark, blue/black fruit dominated. True to Carlisle style but not one of my favorites.

5/7/2010 - glg wrote:

Showed better this time - improved somewhat on day 2.

5/9/2010 - glg wrote:

Great for the vintage - not particularly complex, but very true to the varietal. I did not get any smoke taint.

4/24/2010 - glg wrote:

Nicely made - and easy drinking, even at the early age. I liked the red fruits that were softly integrated into the wine. This was rather delicate with a well rounded finish.

4/21/2010 - glg wrote:

Entering maturing window. Balanced and complex. Dark fruits and some earthy bordeaux tones.

4/17/2010 - glg wrote:

Too young and a little heat peeking through. Underwhelmed.

4/10/2010 - glg wrote:

Very nice - tart with some sweetness on the finish.

4/7/2010 - glg wrote:

I found this better in its youth. Not bad now by any stretch, but I miss the richness this wine had a few years ago.

4/3/2010 - glg wrote:

Mature - and a little subtly rustic - brambly with dark fruits and a medium length finish. Sweetness comes in on the back end.

3/26/2010 - glg wrote:

Straight forward, rhone wine. Not very tannic and very quaffable. Super value - and well made. No noticeable oak.

3/19/2010 - glg wrote:

Too heavy on the oak/cedar - and not particularly interesting and mostly devoid of the typical cabernet fruits. Very disappointing for wine from such a great vineyard.

3/16/2010 - glg Likes this wine:

Just the epitome of pinot noir. Bright and expressive with layers of red fruits and a little bit of baking spice in the background. Sweet without crossing the line. Opening up with about 2 hours of air. Ready now, but appears to have a few years of aging potential.

3/8/2010 - glg wrote:

Not my favorite Turley. Didn't have the typical zin profile and seemed a little light on fruit.

3/6/2010 - glg wrote:

This is a beautiful wine. So balanced and complex. Inviting from the first sniff. Beautiful red fruits, matched with earthy notes. The mouthfeel is amazing for this wine. Palate coating without being heavy. I don't pick up any alcohol or excessive sweetness. Drinking very well right now. This wine is worthy of all the accolades bestowed upon it.