2012 Carlisle Zinfandel Kirschenmann Vineyard

The 2012 Zinfandel Kirschenmann Vineyard is an addition to the range. Tegan Passalacqua, who is the winemaker at Turley, and his wife, Olivia, bought the Lodi site in 2012. This own-rooted, dry-farmed vineyard was planted in 1916 on sandy soils, which seem to give a Zinfandel with bright, floral aromatics and notable finesse. The flavors remain beautifully lifted throughout. It will be very interesting to see how things develop here in the coming years.

The 2012 Zinfandel Kirschenmann Vineyard comes from a site also utilized by Larry Turley of Turley Cellars and Morgan Peterson for his Bedrock portfolio. Planted in 1915 in sandy soils on its own roots, this vineyard is owned by Turley’s winemaker, Tegan Passalaqua. As I wrote in some of my other tasting notes, it reminds me of a delicate Pinot Noir more than a full-blast, earthy, peppery, spicy Zinfandel. To be bottled unfined and unfiltered, this finesse-styled red reveals lots of sweet cherry fruit, a flowery perfume, and delicate, medium-bodied flavors. No shy wine at 15.3% alcohol, it possesses a silkiness and ethereal nature that is amazing. It has got to be the vineyard and terroir character coming through as it exists in all three Zinfandels I tasted from this source. This 2012 should drink nicely for 3-4 years. Carlisle Winery’s Mike Officer and his wife are one of the wonderful stories in the wine world. Going from a part-time home winemaker, to turning out some of his beloved Zinfandels, to becoming one of the two or three leading guardians of old vine Zinfandel in Northern California, Mike Officer was so good at making wine that he changed careers and wine consumers are the beneficiaries. The single vineyard Zins are absolutely remarkable. Everyone who loves Zinfandel should be on Carlisle’s mailing list, the wines are primarily available only from the winery. Sadly, Mike Officer is not making as much Syrah as he used to given the difficult marketplace for this varietal. That’s a shame, as great Syrahs are truly magnificent wines. Tel. (707) 566-7700