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1257 Kensington Road NW
1 (403) 283-8000 / atyourservice@kensingtonwinemarket.com
$72.99
From owner/winemaker Mike Officer: Booyah! We’ve produced some mighty tasty Grenaches in the past (2018, 2016, and 2013 come to mind) but for my palate, none holds a candle to this lip-smackin’ bad boy! It actually transports me back to Châteauneuf-du-Pape, reminding me of some of my favorite 100% (or nearly so) Grenache cuvées grown in safres. Picked October 18th, 20% of the fruit was not destemmed to add a bit of peppery spice to the nose and palate. After an indigenous fermentation and nearly a month on the skins, the wine was pressed to all neutral French oak. It remained unracked and on its lees until bottling. Unfined and unfiltered.
The Rossi Vineyard was originally planted in 1910 by the Rossi family which it takes its name from. The Vineyard lies in the Sonoma Valley and is planted with Zinfandel, Grenache, and other varietals.
750 mlMedium to medium-dark ruby. Room-filling aromas of kirsch, strawberry, sandalwood, and white pepper. Holy Toledo! Talk about sexy! Full-bodied with an incredibly smooth mouthfeel, flavors of cherry, pepper, new leather, and rose petal explode on the palate. So exotic and flamboyant! Despite the organoleptic fireworks, plenty of structure and tannin. When to enjoy? If you don’t mind some youthful tannin, I’d say pop this puppy now. Otherwise, give it a bit of age and enjoy through 2030.
"It all started innocently enough. When I was 19, my older sister who was throwing a dinner party offered me a small glass of amber-coloured syrup. “Ambrosia!” I exclaimed upon tasting the late-harvest Riesling. That was it. I was hooked."
-Mike Officer
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Eschewing a job in software development and the city hustle & bustle in favour of making wine in their garage, the Carlisle husband-and-wife team of Mike and Kendall Officer has been making wine under the Carlisle Winery name since 1998. From these humble beginnings, Carlisle Winery & Vineyards has become a Sonoma County gem, producing genuine world-class wines.
Largely specializing in old-vine, vineyard-specific Zinfandels and red Rhone varietals. Carlisle wines are bold and assertive yet impeccably balanced. Differences between vintages and vineyards showcase the deviances amongst Sonoma terroir, which is further expressed by Carlisle's ethos of minimal intervention. Expect impeccable, nuanced wines at an outstanding price.
Carlisle's Estate Vineyard was planted in 1927 and features a field blend of 40 different varietals with Zinfandel being predominant. Mike does no advertising and sells his wine through a mailing list that is over-subscribed. The real advertising is through word of mouth (literally) as his wine’s reputation of affordability and value for such unparalleled quality have sold themselves.
Carlisle produces approximately 9,000 cases annually and does not want to increase from this level. With very few retail shops carrying Carlisle products, if you find it that is enough reason to purchase.
Kensington Wine Market is honoured to be one of the few wine shops anywhere able to carry Carlisle.
Above: Zinfandel from Papara Ranch Vineyard just before harvesting.
$79.99
Tedeschi boasts a deep bond with the Valpolicella region that has kept it on the path of quality and tradition produced exclusively from grapes grown on hillsides. Since 1630, their family has believed in the extraordinary potential of local wine production, enhancing its value in a modern key with innovative production and environmental management methods with the end result of creating wines that are able to evoke emotion and render homage to the magnificent land Amarone is a style of red wine made in the Veneto region of Northern Italy and is one of Italy's most famous wines. Grapes are harvested by hand at the end of September, beginning of October, and are placed on plastic trays for drying. This process lasts until January and renders the once plump juicy grape to a raisin. The result is a wine of great flavour and style. This is a great wine at a great price; it has notes of vanilla and ethereal aromas of sweet currants, blueberries and cherries. Enjoy with braised red meats and cheese and a hearty peasant-style loaf of bread. A Kensington Wine Market exclusive!
$84.99
In Mike Officer's words:
I started with five gallons of Zinfandel in my kitchen. Over the next several years, I made a barrel of Zinfandel each vintage with the help of some friends and my wife, Kendall Carlisle. The results were encouraging. Kendall and I moved to Santa Rosa in Sonoma County to be closer to the “source”. I found myself increasingly drawn to the old-vine vineyards of Sonoma County. There was something special, even magical, about those ancient, twisted vines with their deep roots and long histories. By 1997 we were producing over 300 cases of “garage” wine, mostly vineyard-designated old-vine Zinfandels, and winning numerous gold medals in amateur competitions. Hence, it was with our meagre savings and some family support that Kendall and I launched Carlisle Winery & Vineyards in 1998, concentrating on our two loves, old-vine Zinfandel and red Rhône varieties (Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Petite Sirah). Our goal was simple but ambitious: to create small lots of distinctive, world-class wines from some of California’s most exceptional vineyards. With the belief that great wine begins in the vineyard, we sought out Zinfandel from some of the finest vineyards in the county, planted between 1888 and 1934, including our own vineyard planted in 1927 by Alcide Pelletti. In February of 2001, Jay Maddox, an old college friend who had just finished getting a second degree in viticulture and enology (with honors!) from U.C. Davis, joined Carlisle, bringing a wealth of knowledge, a keen palate, and a desire to produce nothing but the best without compromise. Together, we have been able to grow to nearly 10,000 cases, garnering high praise from wine critics and consumers alike.
$84.99
94% Zinfandel, 6% Mixed Black Varieties (Petite Sirah, Peloursin, Alicante Bouschet, Grand Noir, and Tannat). Harvested in mid-October. 17% new, 83% neutral French oak.
Grown and managed by the Sonoma legend Phil Coturri, this Zinfandel is a stunning example of Carlisle's mastery of adapting to growing conditions from vintage to vintage. Rossi Ranch Zinfandels can sometimes be challenging in their youth, but the 2019 vintage is ready to be enjoyed now through 2028.
Papera Ranch shows what Zinfandel is capable of and is highly regarded by wine critics vintage after vintage.
A KWM exclusive.
$91.99
Born in the heart of Alt Penedès to a family of farmers, brothers Toni and Miquel Coca i Fitó have forged parallel and complementary paths throughout their lives, which ultimately converged in 2006 with the realization of a shared dream: the Coca i Fitó winemaking project. Situated in Montsant, they have 30 hectares of vineyards sprawling across various municipalities, come together with the aim of crafting wines full of soul and identity.
Montsant, like the Priorat, is a remarkably beautiful region with steep mountains that rise more than 3,300 feet above sea level. The climate is harsh: hot summers and bitter winters. The vines are planted directly on the steep hillsides, on what are called "costers" or terraces A truly special and fascinating wine, full of nuances. Made quite traditionally from a severe selection of old-vine Grenache grapes. Clean and clear initial aromas of mature red fruits with local herbs, sweet spices, elegant yet fresh attack, enduring on the palate. Despite being from the 2014 vintage, the wine is still remarkably youthful, displaying the power that can be achieved from old-vine Grenache.
