Tasting Note                         

92+   2007  Carlisle   Montafi Ranch Zinfandel (Russian River Valley)    1/11/19  ($43)

88% Zinfandel, 12% Mixed Blacks (Alicante Bouschet, Grand Noir, Petite Sirah)   14.9% alc 258cases
Color: Very deep garnet, no browning. (3.5) Bouquet: Buttered rum, menthol, subtle incense and other dried herbs complement wild Zinberry (boysenberry, black raspberry, black cherry, blackberry) fruit. Concentrated and complex. (3.5) Body: Heavyweight with excellent fruit, acidity and tannins. Viscous and silky in the mouth, but also shows some unresolved tannins. (3.0) Flavor: Parallels bouquet, but astringency makes it less expressive and slightly austere. (3.0) Finish: Long and complex with some astringency. (3.0)
Overall: Classic Montafi with incense, herbs, menthol and anise complemented by distinctive red, blue and black Zinberry fruit with wonderful old vines character. But it also shows some astringency from tannins and is not totally mature. The complexity is impressive, but will the fruit be able to rise above the structure. If drinking now decant for a few hours or let it age a few more years. (16.0)

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