Reviews & Ratings

2006 Carlisle Winery Zinfandel "Montafi Ranch"

Winery: Carlisle Winery

Vintage: 2006

Wine Name/Vineyard: "Montafi Ranch"

Wine Category: Zinfandel

Grape blend: 93% Zinfandel & 7% Mixed Blacks (Petite Sirah, Alicante Bouschet, Grand Noir, & others)

Bottle size: 750 ml

Region: Russian River Valley

State or country: CA

Price: $40

Cases produced: 238

KWG Score: 95.2 (based on 4 reviews)

Ken's Wine Rating: Excellent (94)

Review date: August 12, 2009

Wine Review: Every once in a while I get to try a bottle of wine from my wine cellar. I have been saving this one for about a year. I have enjoyed it over the last 3 days and have thoroughly enjoyed it. It is a very dark ruby colored wine. It opens with an intensely aromatic boysenberry and black currant bouquet. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, nicely balanced, and smooth. The flavors just explode in your mouth. They are complex, juicy, and quite extracted. I found them to be primarily blackberry and black currant. However, there are also notes of black licorice, black raspberry, and black pepper. The finish is dry and its moderate tannins are nicely extended. Drink this Excellent Zin on its own or if you want food, pair it with Memphis styled ribs. So it you have a bottle in your cellar or find it on a wine list, drink it up and enjoy! Cheers - Ken

Winemaker Notes: Dark ruby-garnet. Classic Montafi aromas of red and black berries intertwined with notes of bay leaf and eucalyptus. On the palate, full-bodied and well-balanced with flavors echoing the aromas. Very long on the finish. Less like the 2005 and more like the 2004. Man this is good! Drink 2008-2012. (MRO – 3/1/08)

Buy it: Use 1000 Corks to find stores that sell Carlisle 2006 Montafi Ranch Zinfandel.