Also tried this last night:
1. Carlisle Zin CarlisleVnyd/RRV (15.9%; Plntd: 1927; + PetiteSirah/AlicanteBouchet/GrandNoir; 400 cs) SantaRosa 2004: Very dark color w/ little bricking; intense blackberry/boysenberry/Zin/very spicy bit licorice/RCCola/root beer light toasty/oak some smokey/graphite quite dusty/OV very complex classic RRV Zin nose w/ no overripe/alcoholic character; bit soft slight tannic/drying intense blackberry/boysenberry/RRV Zin very dusty/OV bit licorice/RCCola very spicy complex flavor w/ modest drying/astringent tannins; very long/lingering bit drying/tannic very strong blackberry/boysenberry/ripe/Zin quite dusty/OV very spicy light charred/toasty/oak rather complex finish w/ light drying tannins; still plenty of beautiful RRV Zin fruit; quite complex but starting to dry out a bit on the palate; shows no signs of overripeness nor alcohol.
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. About as good as Zin gets and in wonderful shape for its 13 yrs. Much better than the '02 I had a few weeks ago.
Tom