Carlisle 2021 Syrah Papa’s Block Russian River Valley 95 Points

Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points: “Pouring a deep purple, the 2021 Syrah Papa’s Block is ripe with dark scorched earth, boysenberry marmalade, and forest spices. Full-bodied and generous, with a rounded feel, it offers a good deal of ripe tannins, with cocoa, black plum preserve, and turned soil. Drink this ripe, round, ample red 2025-2040.”

Vinous 94 Points: “The 2021 Syrah Papa’s Block is packed with dark fruit, herbs, scorched earth and strong peppery accents. Powerful and muscular in feel, the Papa’s Block is also the biggest Syrah in the range. In many ways, it reminds me of the early wines here, wines that prized intensity over finesse. The 2021 saw 30% stem inclusion, a bit higher than the 20% or so that is typical for this bottling”

Winemaker Notes: “Similar to many of our other vineyards in this vintage, yields were right around the 2.5 ton/acre mark.  Although that’s about 20% below average, the fruit looked stunning going over the sorting line.  Nothing to discard!  Since stem maturity was quite high in the vintage, we increased the whole cluster percentage from the usual 20% to 30%.  Twenty-four days on the skins.  Aged in all French oak, 20% new, and bottled unfined and unfiltered.”