The 1986 Pickberry Vineyard is utterly captivating from the very first taste. Remarkably deep, especially for a wine of its age, the 1986 is simply magnificent. A whole range of cedar, smoke, tobacco and black olive notes race across the palate. Powerful, resonant and structured, the 1986 is at a glorious peak of expression today. Even with quite a bit of time in the glass, the 1986 remains incredibly rich and deep, which is remarkable given that these vines were just four years old at the time! Joel Peterson opted for an unusual blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Cabernet Franc and 10% Merlot, and the Franc really seems to add an element of spice that is unusual in Sonoma Bordeaux blends. More than anything else though, the 1986 Pickberry Vineyard is a wine of pure and total sensory pleasure that shows just how pedigreed Sonoma’s best sites are.
VM95February 2019