Pinot Noir, Skyline Vineyard, Santa Cruz Mountains, Rhys

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At nearly 2,400 feet in elevation and planted with extremely high density, the Skyline Vineyard often produces the most singular and extravagant Pinot Noir in the Rhys lineup. The 2018 Pinot Noir Skyline Vineyard opens with an intense and ever-evolving nose of red plum, black cherry, fresh mint, violets and baking spices. The palate has a floating, weightless quality, which maneuvers between supple dark fruits, tense, linear structure and a spherical richness that coats the palate. The finish is explosive and multidimensional but still very tight and tannic, suggesting this is at least another few years away from approachability. This incredible wine is built for the long haul and will reward cellaring over the next two decades. Matthew Luczy