Skylark Grenache 2007, Mendocino

The winemakers and owners at the Skylark Wine Company are good friends and together have made an exuberant Grenache.  

From the website: “Charlie Sawyer’s Grenache Vineyard sits above Ukiah at just under 1000 feet elevation.  This gently sloping, southwest facing block is 2.64 acres planted to the Tablas Creek clone of Grenache.  This is our first release from Charlie’s vineyard, and we definitely believe we have found our home with Grenache.  

Fermented in small, open top tank with 8% while clusters, it spent sixteen days on the skins with alternating punch downs and pump-overs, then racked to all used French cooperage.”

About the winemakers: “ John Lancaster, co-proprietor of Skylark Wine Company, is a graduate of Washington State University in Pullman, Washington. His passion for wine grew while working in the restaurant industry and brought him to the culinary destination of San Francisco. As the Wine Director of the wildly eclectic Cypress Club, he was recognized by the Wine Spectator for his wine list. For the past eleven years, John has been the Wine Director at the James Beard award winning Boulevard Restaurant. During his tenure at Boulevard, John has traveled extensively throughout the world's wine regions studying wine production. In addition to his professional duties at Boulevard, John is also a professional wine judge and consultant.”

“Robert Perkins, co-proprietor of Skylark Wine Company, is a graduate of Fine Art Painting from the San Francisco Art Institute. His designs are featured on every Skylark Wine label. When Robert is not in his studio in San Francisco, he is pursuing his other creative outlet, wine. With his expertise in the wine industry, Robert has been a wine consultant for several Bay Area restaurants. He has also worked hands-on in production at several small wineries including Nalle, Scherrer and Sean Thackrey.”

Sondra and John have known John Lancaster and Robert Perkins for at least 8 years seeing them off and on at Hospice du Rhone in Paso Robles.

Aroma: Red cherry, kirsch, raspberry, plum.

Palate: juicy, ripe cherry, balanced tannins and structure

Vintage: 2007
Varietal: Grenache
Appellation: Mendocino