Vintage
2006 featured one of the longest growing seasons in recent memory. Fantastic weather during bloom left us with a real crop on the vines, something quite different than 2005. The longer cool growing season was ideal for producing lovely aromatics and silky textures, real hallmarks for us in 2006. The vintage yielded wines that, while pure and translucent, were slightly off the mark for our single-site Pinot Noir program. As a result, our Santa Cruz Mountain bottling was the fortunate beneficiary of our decision to include all of block and vineyard designated wines!

Vineyards
Blending the Skyline Red is always challenging, but it is highly exciting and allows us quite a different approach to winemaking than with any of our other wines. We are not limited by appellation or varietal requirements and are free to blend liberally. This freedom allows us to focus solely on making the most delicious and flavorful wine we can at an reasonable price. To that end we blended Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles and the Santa Cruz Mountains, Merlot from Clements Hills and the Santa Cruz Mountains, Cabernet Franc from Bennett Valley and Clements Hills with a small dash of Petit Verdot.

Winemaking
Our 2006 Skyline Red was aged for 16 months in American and French oak barrels with three to four rackings a year. The ’06 vintage yielded fruit forward wines with supple tannins and medium weight, characteristics that are right in the wheelhouse for our Skyline Red.

Tasting Notes
The 2006 Skyline features more Santa Cruz Mountain fruit than past versions, and also some excellent Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles. Easily our best Skyline Red to date, the ’06 vintage presented us with fabulous raw material for crafting a serious but drinkable wine at an awesome price. Classic notes of blackberry, tobacco and spice dominate the nose and are accented by more red fruits and hints of vanilla and spice on the palate. The Skyline Red is always fashioned to be eminently drinkable on release with medium body and lush tannins.

TECHNICAL DATA:

Appellation
California

WINEMAKING TEAM
Michael Martella and Nathan Kandler

COMPOSITION: 42% Cabernet Sauv., 39% Merlot,
10% Cab. Franc, 5% Petit Verdot

VINEYARDS
34% Clements Hills, 28% Paso Robles
26% SCM, 8% Bennett Valley

Finished alcohol: 14.1% ABV
Acid/pH: .62/3.65
Total production: 4918 cases
California suggested retail: $20.00

Buy this wine