2012 Carlisle Zinfandel Montafi Ranch

The 2012 Zinfandel Montafi Ranch is powerful and imposing. Layers of expressive dark fruit open up in an explosive Zinfandel full of personality. Today, the Montafi comes across as massive in style, with not a lot of subtlety. It will be interesting to see how things develop over the next year. The blend is 89% Zinfandel and 11% mixed blacks. This is one of the warmer sites Carlisle works with.

Another knock-out offering is the 2012 Zinfandel Montafi Ranch, a blend of 89% Zinfandel and 11% mixed blacks (Alicante Bouchet, Grand Noir, Peloursin, Aubun, Trousseau and a handful of others). Very rich with a seamless, full-bodied style, this wine is loaded with black and red fruits, spice and subtle oak in addition to well-integrated acidity, tannin and alcohol. This big, voluptuously-textured, full-throttle Zin should drink nicely for 7-8 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