Cracked this last night:
1. Carlisle Zin CarlisleVnyd/RRV (15.9%; Plntd in 1927; + PetiteSirah/AlicanteBouchet/GrandNoir) SantaRosa 2002:
Dark color w/ slight bricking; very strong blackberry/boysenberry/Zin/very spicy rather dusty/OV light smokey/toasty/oak complex lovely nose w/ no overripe/pruney character; soft huge fruit/blackberry/boysenberry/Zin/licorice/very spicy quite dusty/OV light toasty/smokey/oak slight cedary/pencilly/oldZin fairly complex flavor w/ light smooth slightly drying tannins; very long/lingering slight alcoholic strong blackberry/boysenberry/very spicy/Zin/licorice quite dusty/OV light toasty/oak slight pencilly/oldZin complex finish w/ light ripe bit drying; carries the alcohol well w/ no signs of overripe/late hrvsty character; starting to dry out a bit but still loads of huge/ripe Zin fruit.
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. This Carlisle was from another "orphan stash" found in my garage. As I was moving out some empty styro shippers, I got to the bottom one and realized there was some wine therein. Turns out about 8 btls of abandoned Carlisle. Stored standing upright for 13 yrs in miserable/uncontrolled temperatures. I suspect properly stored btls wouldn't show that slightly drying character but this was a pretty darned good old Carlisle.
Tom