2016 Carlisle Syrah Sierra Mar Vineyard
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Tasting notes
The 2016 Syrah Sierra Mar Vineyard offers a more mineral/iron slant in its meaty red and black fruits, and it's rich, structured, and concentrated on the palate. Give bottles a few years. This cuvée saw 25% whole clusters, 22% new French oak, and was bottled unfined and unfiltered. Winemakers Mike Officer and Jay Maddox have hit pay dirt with these latest 2016s and across the board, they’re the finest set of releases I’ve tasted from this estate. While Mike’s wines are always deeply colored and powerful, the more elegant, balanced style of the 2016 vintage is front and center and these 2016s just glide over the palate, with perfectly integrated fruit, tannin, and acidity. In addition, most are approachable today given their purity of fruit, yet they’re going to evolve beautifully on their balance. Hats off to the team here and readers should not miss these wines!
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Deep garnet-purple, the 2016 Syrah Sierra Mar Vineyard (100% Syrah) gives up fragrant black pepper, crushed rocks, Provence herbs and black olive notes with a core of baked black cherries, preserved plums and blackberries plus a waft of charcuterie. Full-bodied, the palate packs a wallop but also possesses great poise, featuring very ripe, rounded tannins and beautiful freshness, finishing long and savory. 214 cases produced.
The 2016 Syrah Sierra Mar Vineyard is a deep, powerful and intense wine that shows the influence of the warmer climate found in this southernmost part of the AVA coupled with the richness conferred by Alban clones. Plush and dense, with tons of layers, the 2016 is built on a core of concentrated fruit. Black cherry, chocolate, leather and spice fill out the wine's ample, large-scaled frame. The 25% whole clusters are not especially noticeable.