Sawtooth Winery Skyline Red 04

Seattle Post Intelligencer's "Pick of the Week":

"This Idaho winery, part of Corus Estates & Vineyards group, is doing very good work across the entire lineup. Most impressively, it is using estate-grown grapes, not sneaking across the border and buying fruit in Washington. This mutt blend really has a little bit of everything - syrah, cab, merlot, tempranillo, cab franc, cinsault and - get this - primativo (would that be zinfandel?). Dark, spicy, toasty, smoky and loaded with licorice, clove and espresso, it's got all the bells and whistles blowing at once."

Rich aromas of black fruits, vanilla, spice and a hint of mint precede intense flavors of spice and black berries. Rich, round and long in the mouth. Nice price.

Blend: 47% Syrah; 47% Cabernet; 2% Tempranillo; 2% Primativo 2% Merlot.

MORE INFORMATION

The grapes were very ripe for this hot vintage before they achieved optimum fruit flavors. The grapes were destemed to a red fermentor and cold soaked for 48 hours. The wine was pressed into barrels and aged for 9 months.