2005 Carlisle "Two Acres" Russian River Valley red wihe

Although this is not a recent release, I wanted to review it to give you a sense of what is being produced by this exemplary Sonoma winemaker. Although Mike Officer has not been making wine for very long, he has catapulted to near the top rung when it comes to zinfandel and syrah, He specializes in searching out ancient vineyards in need of loving care and restoration. This particular wine is neither zinfandel nor syrah based. It is a blend of 80% mourvedre, 15% petite sirah and 5% other varietals. The person that owned this abandoned vineyard told Mike it was zinfandel but research proved otherwise. The vineyard was in terrible condition but Mike eventually brought it back into production. Like all his wines, this one is full-bodied with ripe tannins and great mouth feel. All of his wines are now allocated but it would be worth your while to get on his list because his pricing philosophy means you always get your money's worth. I purchased this wine in November of 2007 for $35. I wish I had a case of it sitting in my cellar. Mike can be reached at (707) 566-7700.