Limited new Zinfandel from Carlisle.

96 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "Pouring an inky youthful ruby, the 2021 Zinfandel Papera Ranch is ripe with lavender, ripe boysenberry, fig, melding spices, and wet stone. Full-bodied and opulent, it opens to a flood of ripe baked berries, with sweet earth, supple texture, and cocoa filling the palate. With a superb, long finish, I sense it will develop at a glacial pace. Drink 2025-2040."

95 Points Wine Spectator: "Deeply structured yet agile and vibrant, with handsome flavors of black cherry and raspberry that take on dried fig, orange peel and brown spice accents as this builds richness toward medium-grained tannins. Drink now through 2035. From California." (May 2024)

Robert Parker: "...From humble beginnings in 1998, Carlisle continues to go from strength to strength, growing from a solid philosophy of sourcing mainly Zinfandel and Rhône varieties from ancient vineyards in Sonoma and further afield. So, most of the vines used by Mike and Kendall Officer were planted from 1888 to 1934. From 2013, they have their own winery in which to create their magic—the old Robert Mueller winery in Russian River Valley."

Just a stone's throw from Carlisle Vineyard, this grande dame of the Russian River Valley was planted in 1934 by Celestino (Charlie) Papera. While many old-vine vineyards contain plenty of mixed black varieties, most of the blocks at Papera Ranch are 95+% Zinfandel. One block, however, does contain a significant amount of Carignan with a sprinkling of Syrah, Petite Sirah, and Valdiguié. Given its cool location, this is one of our later Zinfandel vineyards to be picked.