2003 Carlisle Zinfandel Fava Ranch

The 2003 Zinfandel Fava Ranch (92% Zinfandel and 8% Petite Sirah, Syrah, and miscellaneous varietals from a vineyard planted between 1907 and 1922) exhibits a terroir-based, earthy, peppery style with black cherries, mountain blue fruits, licorice, pepper, spice box, and a hint of that Rhone Valley characteristic known as garrigue. Despite its medium to full-bodied size, it is a refreshing, long, rich, impressive Zin. A “good feeling” story is that of Mike Officer, a home winemaker who began his own winery, Carlisle, in 1998, while he was still working as a software developer. The huge success he enjoyed among his mailing list customers, who quickly recognized his dedication to serious winemaking from old vineyard sites, allowed him to abandon his software career to become a full-time owner and winemaker. These are all big, but incredibly well-balanced, fresh wines. Officer is not afraid to push ripeness to the edge, but, remarkably, the wines are never over the top, revealing tremendous textures, aromatics, and ripeness. He has become one of the top three or four Zinfandel producers in northern California, and also demonstrates a sure hand with Syrah and some of the old field blends planted by Italian immigrants over a century ago. Tel. (707) 566-7700; Fax (707) 566-7200