2018 Carlisle Syrah Santa Lucia Highlands

JD95 Also from the Santa Lucia Highlands, the 2018 Syrah Sierra Mar Vineyard nevertheless shows a very different style compared to the Rosella’s, offering more fruit and opulence yet slightly less complexity. Blueberries, darker currants, smoked game, black olives, and licorice notes all emerge from the glass, and its medium to full-bodied, with a wonderful texture, terrific richness, and a great finish. It’s another just straight-up delicious effort from this estate that’s impossible to resist. Nevertheless, it’s going to keep for 7-8 years with no issues.
Estate Notes: Very dark ruby-purple.  Blackberries, sage, smoked meats, and just a kiss of espresso in the deep, concentrated aromas.  On the palate, incredibly smooth and well-balanced with flavors of blackberry, white and black peppercorns, and again, just a faint suggestion of roasted coffee.  Finishes quite long with very refined tannins.  This can most definitely be enjoyed young.  Drink from release through 2028. 100% Syrah. Cases Produced: 276. 
2018 was a phenomenal year for Syrah in the Santa Lucia Highlands.  Picked on October 20th at 25.1 Brix, our two selections from this vineyard (Alban 1 and Alban Baby Block) were 80% destemmed with the balance going into tank as whole cluster.  We like the spice notes added by the stems but try hard to not let the whole cluster technique mask vine