Sky Vineyards Zinfandel 2019
Sky Vineyards Zinfandel 2019
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Sky Vineyards Zinfandel 2019

Sky Vineyards
$35.00

Grape: Zinfandel
Vintage: 2019
Type: Red

Sourced from dry-farmed, organically grown vines planted at 1,700 feet elevation on Mount Veeder, this high-altitude zinfandel thrives in red volcanic soil. Hand-harvested from steep hillside slopes, the fruit ferments naturally with native yeasts in open-top fermenters using manual punch-downs. The wine ages for over 2 years in neutral French oak barrels to preserve its mountain character without heavy wood influence. Bottled with minimal intervention, this old-school, mountain-grown zinfandel prioritizes cool-climate acidity, peppery spice, and structural longevity over high alcohol and broad extraction.

A translucent garnet color opens to aromas of wild raspberry, tart cherry, cracked black pepper, and crushed pine needles. The palate is focused and linear, delivering energetic flavors of cranberry, red plum, dried sage, and iron-rich minerals. Firm, fine-grained tannins and a bright, cutting beam of natural acidity balance the fruit intensity, creating a light, energetic weight across the mid-palate. It finishes dry, long, and savory, leaving persistent notes of bitter orange zest, white pepper, and crushed rock.

Winery

Sky Vineyards was established in 1972 by artist and winemaker Lore Olds—now joined by his daughter, Maya Olds—at the absolute summit of Mt. Veeder in Napa Valley. Perched roughly 2,100 feet above sea level, the remote 14-acre estate sits well above the fog line on steep slopes of volcanic red clay and ash. Olds cleared the rugged mountain land by hand, planting dry-farmed, organically managed zinfandel and syrah vines that thrive under high-altitude sun, dramatic diurnal temperature shifts, and cool mountain breezes.

In the cellar, winemaking follows an intuitive, hands-off approach that sharply diverges from the dense, high-alcohol norm of contemporary Napa Valley. Fermentations take place spontaneously using native yeasts, followed by extended maturation in neutral French oak barrels to preserve site clarity and bright natural acidity. Bottled unfiltered and instantly recognizable by Lore’s original hand-painted art labels, Sky’s small-batch cuvées are defined by energetic red fruit, crushed granite minerality, wild sage, and a lithe, pepper-laced structure built for long-term cellaring.