Elyse
Morisoli Vineyard Rutherford Zinfandel
Rutherford, Napa Valley, California, USA
My last bottle of the amazing 2010. And it has aged beautifully, and slowly. Still showing intense blackberry fruit, intense brambly character, smoky gravel. Balanced and intense in the mouth, the youthful fruit still hits immediately but quickly transitions to a drier and secondary set of flavors, with evocations of library books, furniture, leather. Remarkable.
My last bottle of the amazing 2010. And it has aged beautifully, and slowly. Still showing intense blackberry fruit, intense brambly character, smoky gravel. Balanced and intense in the mouth, the youthful fruit still hits immediately but quickly transitions to a drier and secondary set of flavors, with evocations of library books, furniture, leather. Remarkable.
Jan 23rd, 2022
This was another nice surprise on our visit.
Honesty, I am not a big Zinfandel fan. For me, most are overly sweet & jammy. This is a fine example of the Zinfandel’s I will drink. In fact, I left with two bottles to age awhile longer. This showed well and will also cellar 10 years.
As I said, this is not a huge, sweet, jammy fruit bomb. The fruits were creamy and nicely ripe. A big profile of purple fruits along with blue fruits with the darker red fruits placing third. The texture was round & velvety. Wire to wire delicious. They use a fair amount of new wood but, it doesn’t show a big wood presence. The wood use they applied gives it soft, silky tannins & body. Just a touch of black pepper, hint of smokiness, mixed fruit licorice, very lightly spiced with creamy candied florals of; purple, blue, some reds, light lavender framed in velvety violets. The acidity is nicely round with a creamy, elegant, round, well balanced finish that pleases for minutes.
Nice expression of Zinfandel that departs from the standard norm.
This was another nice surprise on our visit.
Honesty, I am not a big Zinfandel fan. For me, most are overly sweet & jammy. This is a fine example of the Zinfandel’s I will drink. In fact, I left with two bottles to age awhile longer. This showed well and will also cellar 10 years.
As I said, this is not a huge, sweet, jammy fruit bomb. The fruits were creamy and nicely ripe. A big profile of purple fruits along with blue fruits with the darker red fruits placing third. The texture was round & velvety. Wire to wire delicious. They use a fair amount of new wood but, it doesn’t show a big wood presence. The wood use they applied gives it soft, silky tannins & body. Just a touch of black pepper, hint of smokiness, mixed fruit licorice, very lightly spiced with creamy candied florals of; purple, blue, some reds, light lavender framed in velvety violets. The acidity is nicely round with a creamy, elegant, round, well balanced finish that pleases for minutes.
Nice expression of Zinfandel that departs from the standard norm.
This is my last bottle of this. Judging by this wine, 2011 was a great, not problematic, vintage. (Of course it wasn’t, but I’m making another point here.) So beautiful. Smoky balsa wood, wet humus, dark sweet blackberry. Balanced, mouthfilling, no jamminess or heat. Elyse deserves to be held in the same esteem as Storybook and Ridge when it comes to consistently making elegant, ageworthy Zins.
This is my last bottle of this. Judging by this wine, 2011 was a great, not problematic, vintage. (Of course it wasn’t, but I’m making another point here.) So beautiful. Smoky balsa wood, wet humus, dark sweet blackberry. Balanced, mouthfilling, no jamminess or heat. Elyse deserves to be held in the same esteem as Storybook and Ridge when it comes to consistently making elegant, ageworthy Zins.
May 9th, 2018
Everything a good Zinfandel is supposed to be.
Everything a good Zinfandel is supposed to be.
Sep 12th, 2017
Pretty red fruits and spices galore.
Pretty red fruits and spices galore.
1 person found it helpfulApr 6th, 2016
Old Vine, Single-Vineyard Zinfandel of Superb Value -- Blackberry, Black Plum & Black Pepper...Includes Drops of Valdiguie, Alicante Bouschet, Durif, Grand Noir, Muscat Hamburg, Negrette & Syrah
Old Vine, Single-Vineyard Zinfandel of Superb Value -- Blackberry, Black Plum & Black Pepper...Includes Drops of Valdiguie, Alicante Bouschet, Durif, Grand Noir, Muscat Hamburg, Negrette & Syrah
1 person found it helpfulFeb 16th, 2016
2010 Elyse Zinfandel Morasoli Vineyard Rutherford Napa. 14.5% Alcohol. Blueberries. Even has a blueberry color tinge on the edges. Nose is hot.
2010 Elyse Zinfandel Morasoli Vineyard Rutherford Napa. 14.5% Alcohol. Blueberries. Even has a blueberry color tinge on the edges. Nose is hot.
1 person found it helpfulNov 24th, 2014Fantastic Zin from a Napa classic. Blueberries out the wazoo and pretty oak touches. Yes please.
Fantastic Zin from a Napa classic. Blueberries out the wazoo and pretty oak touches. Yes please.
1 person found it helpfulNov 23rd, 20142011 in Napa is unfairly maligned. There is a place for lighter wines, and it's usually at the table. This is so smooth and fruity, but with nice acids and length. Beautiful with the chicken and rice dish we had (which a bigger Zin from a "better" year would have overwhelmed). Just so right.
2011 in Napa is unfairly maligned. There is a place for lighter wines, and it's usually at the table. This is so smooth and fruity, but with nice acids and length. Beautiful with the chicken and rice dish we had (which a bigger Zin from a "better" year would have overwhelmed). Just so right.
May 15th, 2017This is easing into maturity, its intense blackberry fruit transitioning into a sweet brambly, dusty sandalwood quality. Balanced, with a nice interplay between fruit and secondary aromas. I had it with grilled NY Strips, but it would be even better with grilled lamb at this stage.
This is easing into maturity, its intense blackberry fruit transitioning into a sweet brambly, dusty sandalwood quality. Balanced, with a nice interplay between fruit and secondary aromas. I had it with grilled NY Strips, but it would be even better with grilled lamb at this stage.
Jan 21st, 2017