Carlisle Napa Valley Hayne Vineyard Zinfandel 2011
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Saturated ruby-red. A very deep, aristocratic nose of raspberry, cherry, bittersweet chocolate, spice, and mint. Like so many of our 2011s, a beautiful seamless and creamy texture. Flavors of cherry, spice, and earth. Very persistent on the finish with ripe tannins and harmonious acidity framing the wine nicely. You can really taste the nobility of this vineyard. Enjoy this Grand Cru Zinfandel from late 2013 through the end of 2019.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Dense yet surprisingly light on its feet, with aromas of toasty berry cobbler and mint that lead to ripe flavors balanced by a solid core of acidity and tannins, plus accents of pepper and bay leaf. Hands off for now. Best from 2015 through 2021. 216 cases made
Carlisle is a small “Mom n’ Pop” Sonoma County winery specializing in the production of old-vine, vineyard designated Zinfandels and red Rhône varieties (Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Petite Sirah). They also produce three delicious white wines, two of which are blends from historic, old-vine vineyards plus Sonoma County's first ever Grüner Veltliner.
While Carlisle likes their wines to be bold and intensely flavored, each reflecting its vintage and vineyard, they also strive to create wines of balance, complexity, and nuance.
The goal is always the same - grow and source the finest fruit, do as little as possible to it, and bottle outstanding, pleasurable wine at the fairest price possible.
Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.