2012 Carlisle Syrah Sierra Mar Vineyard
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Tasting notes
Harvested toward the middle of October and 70% destemmed, the 2012 Syrah Sierra Mar Vineyard spent 16 months in 23% new French oak prior to bottling. It has a more broad, textured and full-bodied profile than the Rosella's and knocks it out of the park with its black raspberry, cassis, violets, licorice and crushed flower nuances on the nose. Beautifully concentrated with ripe, sweet tannin, it's another superb Syrah from this estate that will have 8-10 years of overall longevity.
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
(vinified with 30% whole clusters; 15.8% alcohol): Glass-staining purple. Powerful aromas of dark berry liqueur, licorice, violet and peppery spices, with a hint of fruitcake in the background. Fleshy and broad on the palate, offering densely packed blueberry and cassis flavors sharpened by juicy acidity. Finishes sweet and very long, with velvety tannins sneaking in late. No shortage of fruit intensity here.
In this context, the 2012 Syrah Sierra Mar Vineyard comes across as raw and not fully formed. All the elements are present, but not yet integrated. In particular, the 2012 presents expressive aromatics and gorgeous overall persistence, both of which make me hopeful for the future. There is a lot of potential here, but readers need to be patient.