WTN: Skyline Drive

[David M. Bueker]

• 2008 Rhys Pinot Noir Skyline Vineyard - USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains (8/18/2024)
  We wait a long time for a lot of wines, and some of them don’t ever deliver. This one did. It delivered 100%. Sixteen years from the vintage, the promise of 2008 Rhys paid off. Still holding brooding dark fruit, it also had developed that earthy, forest floor tone that’s a bit of a Pinot Noir holy grail for me. Still showing some backbone, this isn’t tumbling downhill any time soon, though since it was my last bottle I won’t get to check on it down the road. Thrilled to have caught this particular bottle in a great place.

Hmm, I have 2008 Skyline Syrahs but not Pinots. Still, maybe time to try one. Glad the wait paid off for you!

Well, that's a lovely note. I don't choose to spend that kind of money on Rhys but I'm glad you enjoyed it. Was out hiking by Skyline Drive this spring and it's certainly one of the prettier parts of California. Too bad the motorcyclists are roaring around at top volume any time the weather is nice.

[David M. Bueker]

Back in 2008 the wines were not quite so pricey. I quite buying Skyline when they bumped it above Horseshoe (my favorite).