This delicious wine is a Bordeaux-style blend that presents a beautiful, ruby red in the glass to aromas of blackberries, cherries, and peppercorns, the ’06 Test Pilot F-86 takes off with appeal. This continues across the palate with currants, ripe cherry and blackberry, cassis, a sprinkling of chocolate and rich leather. The F-86 has a very approachable structure and a pleasing finish to round things out.
Vineyard: We selected barrels from three of our vineyards for this blend. 50% is Cabernet Sauvignon from George’s, Lone Oak and Valley View, 25% Cabernet Franc from Francville, and 25% Merlot from Finley.
Fermentation: The grapes were picked by hand in multiple lots, destemmed, and fermented in small lots with hand punch down four times a day. After pressing, the wine went through malolactic fermentation and 22 months of barrel aging. The final assemblage was made in November 2005.
The rainfall for 2005-2006 was 38.9 inches, about 34% above average. Early rain in November and December gave the plants a good start for wintering. Had a cold spell in mid-February, but the Viognier was fine. Heavy March rains continued into April, giving the vineyard a good watering up to middle spring. A 100+ heat spell in early July followed by a cooler than average summer ensured fruit ripening and long hang time before harvest.