Review: Sky Vineyards 2017 Mount Veeder Napa Valley Zinfandel and 2020 Mount Veeder Napa Valley Half’N
Mount Veeder’s Sky Vineyards and the Olds family embody resilience, having lost both the family home and a significant portion of the vineyard in the California fires of 2017. Established more than 50 years ago, this aggressively eco-friendly, organic, family-run, small-scale operation continues to persevere, producing Zinfandel, Syrah, Riesling, and a red blend. Today, we are trying two their four offerings: the flagship Zinfandel and Half’N, a 50/50 blend of Syrah and Zinfandel, crafted only in exceptional vintage years.
2017 Sky Vineyards Mount Veeder Napa Valley Zinfandel – Bold even for Zinfandel, this wine offers earthy notes of leather, topsoil and cedar, followed by a hint of plum. Given time, subtle traces of cigar box and clove cut through from underneath, rewarding those who can wait. Things shift considerably on the palate, with the dark fruit taking charge and leading to a lingering finish of cranberry and milk chocolate. The Zin clocks (z)in at 15.5% abv, adding to the heaviness, but the fruit masks the high alcohol very well, making it very approachable for displaying such dimension and depth. It is easy to imagine finding lesser quality at twice this price point elsewhere in the region. It’s good for another year of aging, but ready to be enjoyed now. A- / $50
2020 Sky Vineyards Mount Veeder Napa Valley Half’N – Incredibly fruit-forward with bold berry notes complemented by peppercorn and currant. Bright, high acidity refuses to stray from the feature presentation of dark cherry and blackberry, although the finish does present a surprising note of olive as the fruit fades. If looking for a bottle to help you step outside your comfort zone, this is a solid candidate for consideration. B+ / $35
2020 Sky Vineyards Mount Veeder Napa Valley Half’N
$35
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