3rd time I’ve had the chance to try this wine which was released more than 20 years after the vintage. It’s a real stunner, showing some secondary characteristics but not oxidized. This is what great chardonnay can become with age, showing the awesome terroir of the Charles Heintz vineyard. — 6 years ago
A preview from the upcoming release. This is the Prop Red. Same SV as the cab, but this is 50 Merlot/50 Cab Franc and it’s damn delicious. Needs a couple more years in bottle to integrate, but it’s definitely going places. The next vintage will actually be a coferment of these varietals. More good things to come from W&M!! — 6 years ago
The ‘17s just arrived so that means it was perfect timing to drink my last ‘16. @Morgan Twain-Peterson says these can age 5-10 yrs, but mine never seem to make it 5-10 months while I let all of the SVs rest in peace. A splash decant really helps the bouquet jump out on these. Rose petal, spice, and dark fruits balanced by wonderful acidity and some light tannin presence. A screaming value year in and year out. — 6 years ago
I figured since the blanc de blanc was drinking so well that I would try the rose too. It remains the darkest sparkling rose i’ve ever seen, like a Tavel in color. It’s really rich with the red fruit, but much more integrated than a year ago. Also has a creaminess that helps keep the acid in check. A really interesting sparkler that will continue to improve as the fruit comes into balance with everything else. — 6 years ago
The delectable review below is spot on. A great young Carlisle Vineyard built on a firm backbone, this will be one to improve for a number of years. As always this includes a number of interplanted and cofermented varietals for added depth and color. A beautiful wine year in and year out, showing off both the best of Zinfandel and of Russian River. — 6 years ago
This is the vintage rose, a step up from the cuvée pompadour. Still quite young and fresh red fruits burst from the glass as the pinot dominates. It’s balanced by great acidity and a crisp finish that lets the fruit keep shining. These will improve for several more years and should be drinking great a decade in. This was best on night 3 as the fruit profile settled nicely into the rest of the structure. — 6 years ago
Patrick Derdeyn
This wine really shows sonoma coast, very dark fruit but not at all heavy, also has a really nice tarry note on the mid palate that adds intrigue. Framed by medium+ acidity I think these will improve for a a few years, but all of mine are already gone! — 6 years ago