2012 Carlisle Syrah Rosella's VIneyard
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Tasting notes
Mike's 2012 Syrah Rosella's Vineyard, which saw 25% whole clusters and 16 months in 22% new French oak, sports an inky purple color to go with fabulous cassis and blackberry fruits, crushed-rock minerality, pepper and liquid-violet aromas and flavors. It has a slightly cool climate feel, but has serious depth and richness on the palate, with a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, solid concentration and supple, voluptuous texture that will allow it to drink nicely on release. It should evolve gracefully for over a decade.
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Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Inky purple. Heady aromas of dark berry preserves, incense and candied flowers, with a bright mineral topnote. Sweet and velvety in texture, offering intense blackberry and boysenberry flavors that gain spiciness in the glass. Shows impressive energy on the gently tannic, very persistent finish, with the dark berry note echoing strongly.
Carlisle's 2012 Syrah Rosella's Vineyard is a totally seamless wine with no beginning or end. Sweet floral notes meld into dark red and black fruit in a rich, explosive wine endowed with gorgeous depth and balance. The whole clusters add lift, perfume and brightness in a vivid, highly expressive Syrah loaded with distinction. This is a fabulous showing from Mike Officer and Jay Maddox, who seem to get more out of this fruit than the overwhelming majority of their colleagues.