2018 Carlisle Zinfandel Papera Ranch RRV

2018 Carlisle Zinfandel Papera Ranch RRV

2018 Carlisle Zinfandel Papera Ranch RRV: Sonoma County, California

Winemaker Notes: Medium-dark garnet-ruby. Heady, concentrated aromas of macerated cherries and raspberries are complemented by notes of blood orange. Holy great sniffs Batman! The wine enters the mouth with medium-full to full body and offers flavors of black raspberry and amarena, Italian black cherry. Zesty acidity in the lingering finish bodes well for further development. Optimum enjoyment should be from 2022 to 2028.

96 points Jeb Dunnuck: ” A bigger, richer effort based on 96% Zinfandel and 4% Carignan from a site in the Russian River, the 2018 Zinfandel Papera Ranch offers a meaty, powerful bouquet of black cherries, red plums, Asian spices, and chocolate. This carries to a full-bodied, beautifully textured, opulent Zinfandel that has ripe tannins as well as the seamless, silky style of the vintage. It’s beautifully done.” (5/2020)

Zinfandel (or “Zin”, as it is affectionately known in the United States) is a dark-skinned red wine grape variety widely cultivated in California. It arrived in the Americas from Europe in the early years of the 19th Century, and was an immediate success in both Napa and Sonoma counties, which remain its strongholds today.

Russian River Valley, one of the United States’ top-ranked wine regions, is located at the heart of Sonoma County, California. It is one of California’s coolest and foggiest AVAs creating a perfect climate for producing highly acclaimed wines from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay

Carlisle Winery & Vineyards is a small Sonoma County winery best known for its single-vineyard, old-vine Zinfandel, while also specializing in reds from the Rhône varieties. More recently the estate has added two vineyard-blend white wines, and a varietal Grüner Veltliner – the first made in Sonoma County. Many of the wines are produced in limited quantities and are initially only available via the twice-yearly mailing list – for which there is a waiting list.