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1257 Kensington Road NW
1 (403) 283-8000 / atyourservice@kensingtonwinemarket.com
$64.99
The 2021 Vintage of Carlisle's Piner-Olivet Ranches Zinfandel is made from:
45% Russian River Valley Zinfandel, Carlisle Vineyard
28% Russian River Valley Zinfandel, Papera Ranch
25% Russian River Valley Zinfandel, Mancini Ranch
2% Sonoma Valley Alicante Bouschet, Pagani Ranch
750 ml
OUT OF STOCK
If you'd like us to try to order it, add it to your cart. We can't promise, but we'll do our best!
Producer Tasting Note (2019 Vintage)
"Great googly moogly! Does Zinfandel get any better than this? First, the nose. Intense raspberry boysenberry, and pepper, are highlighted by a note of fresh cream. On the palate, ethereal, pure satin, as concentrated flavors of raspberry, cherry, and brown baking spices glide across the tongue. Yep, this is a no-brainer, one to load up on, especially given the price. Enjoy from release through 2031."
"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.
$21.44
Jed Steele is a pioneer in California's wine world, starting his career in 1974 and striking out on his own in 1991, eventually opting to make his wines in Lake County (just north of Napa Valley) where vineyards were considerably more affordableSteele's Cuvee Zinfandel is made from grapes grown in Lake and Mendocino County. Steele Wines purchased this vineyard in Mendocino County from the Pacini family in 1998, but it was originally planted in 1940. While they have replaced some of the vines, many of the old vines still remain. They are dry-farmed due to their location and result in intensely flavoured wines. The ripe bramble fruit is accompanied by spice, cocoa and vanilla, bolstered by American oak. While it is full-bodied, the tannins are smooth and ripe.
$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.
