Home
: 2012 Carlisle Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel

2012 Carlisle Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel

SKU #1167625 91-93 points Wine Advocate

Outer quote mark The 2012 Zinfandel Dry Creek comes from three separate old vine vineyards, one planted in 1890 and the youngest planted in 1950. A blockbuster at 15.6% natural alcohol, it offers loads of black raspberry and black cherry fruit interwoven with bouquet garni and earthy notes. This attractive, full-bodied, surprisingly finesse-styled Zinfandel demonstrates the magic of the self-trained winemaker, Mike Officer. (RP) Inner quote mark (12/2013)

92 points Int'l Wine Cellar

Outer quote mark (includes 13% petite sirah): Opaque ruby. High-pitched red and blue fruit scents are complicated by a dusty mineral quality, with a hint of succulent herbs adding complexity. Offers vibrant black raspberry and boysenberry flavors plus hints of licorice and bitter chocolate. Structured but not at all hard, finishing with excellent clarity, thrust and persistence. (ST) Inner quote mark (6/2014)

90 points Connoisseurs Guide

Outer quote mark It may the least pricey of the three very good Carlisle Zins, but this deep and very generous working is by a small margin our pick of the bunch. It is substantial and quite ripe to be sure, yet, like its mates, it doggedly refuses to let ripeness become its only message. Berries abound in both its well-focused aromas and intense flavors, and here, once again it does an exceptional job at keeping pruney excess at bay even as it allows heat to make itself known at the finish. Neither it nor its brethren are meant for drinking with delicate dishes, and each should impress even more with time in the cellar. Inner quote mark (9/2014)

Share |

2012 Carlisle Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel

Price: $39.99

Quantity:

RP: 91 - 93

ST: 92

CG: 90

Real Time Inventory by location:

The item you have chosen is not in stock in our retail stores or within our main warehouse.

Product turnaround time varies by location of inventory and your chosen method of shipping/pickup. For a detailed explanation click here.

Related Items

Additional Information:

Varietal:

Zinfandel

- The bid to name Zinfandel California's "State Varietal" may have failed, but this red wine grape, grown extensively in California since the mid-1800s, is grown in few other places in the world. Sadly, much of what's cultivated today is planted where it's too hot and flat. But when planted to well-drained, hillside vineyards that are warm but not too hot, like those in Sonoma County's Dry Creek Valley and Amador County in the Sierra Foothills, Zinfandel can produce wines with plenty of character. High in natural alcohol and tannin, grown carefully it can be rich and complex, with dark fruit berry fruit and peppery spice. The most known example of Zinfandel outside of California is Italy's Primitivo, which can be similar in style, but is often a bit lighter and less alcoholic than West Coast examples.

Country:

United States

- When people consider domestic wine, they normally think about the state of California. The fine viticultural Region within California, including the Napa Valley, Sonoma, Santa Cruz Mountains, Mendocino and Santa Barbara, are capable of growing grapes of world-class quality. But there's plenty of fabulous wine coming from other states, too. Oregon, Washington and New York are also causing eyebrows (and glassware) to be raised around the world.

Sub-Region:

California

- With the explosive growth that California's wine industry has seen the past several years, it's easy to view winemaking and grape growing in the Golden State as a recent phenomenon. And while it's true that California's viticultural history is brief compared to several European countries, this state's roots date back well over 200 years. Due to the enormous response to California wine within the United States and worldwide, there are thousands of excellent and diverse wines being produced within the state each year.

Specific Appellation:

Sonoma County

- Second in fame only to Napa, this "other" valley offers just about every climate and topography imaginable. From its cool and fog-enshrouded coastal regions on the far west, to the sprawling Alexander Valley on the boarder of Napa and the many little dips and peaks in between, Sonoma has been a vital wine-grape-growing region since the mid 1800s. Important sub-AVAs include Chalk Hill (known for chardonnay and sauvignon blanc), Dry Creek Valley (where zin is king) Knights Valley (largely cabernet land), Russian River Valley and Sonoma Coast (both celebrated pinot and chardonnay zones).