2016 Skipstone Faultline Vineyard
-
S$28899
Vintage : 2016
Region : Alexander Valley
Country : USA
Winemaker Notes (2018)
Faultline Vineyard is our interpretation of a Right-Bank Bordeaux blend. The awesome power and grace of Pomerol and St. Emillion have inspired us to build a cuvée around our oldest plantings of Cabernet Franc and Merlot. In particular, Cabernet Franc is annually the biggest voice in the blend; this gives our wine its incredible texture and complexity.
Our estate lies directly atop the Mayacamas Faultline, which means earthquakes on occasion. The blessing, however, is an incredible upheaval of land and thus a myriad of soil types that in turn give us diverse flavor profiles from each block. While our Oliver’s Blend is about structured Cabernet Sauvignon on rocky hillsides, our Faultline Vineyard is sourced from the loamy, sandy clay in the basin of Skipstone where our Merlot and Cabernet Franc thrive.
The ultimate wine has an incredible texture and a symphony of flavors – the savory aromas of the Cabernet Franc work in harmony with the ripe, fleshy fruit texture of the Merlot, with a dash of Cabernet Sauvignon blended each year for additional structure and ageworthiness.
Winemaker Notes (2016)
Since the inaugural Skipstone vintage of 2005, our annual approach with Oliver’s Blend is to create a blend of Cabernet Sauvignons from up to 20 individual small lots. Each lot has a unique profile (based on soil type, exposure and clonal selection) and blended they create a foundation. This Cabernet Sauvignon is then embellished with small amounts of our other blending varietals to best showcase the vintage.
With so many pockets of soil differentiation and exposures, Oliver’s Blend is a symphonic compilation of aroma and flavor. This, coupled with clonal diversity of multiple Cabernet clones throughout our hillside plantings, creates an exceptionally complex wine. Year after year, this is a wine of profound power and elegance.
Oliver’s Blend is aged for two years in barrel and another year in bottle prior to our release. This highly-structured Cabernet Sauvignon is an excellent candidate for further cellaring, with potential to age for decades.
About Winery
Skipstone is tucked between two stunning hillsides in the mountains above Alexander Valley. We aspire to perfection in every aspect of our wine growing and estate farming, drawing inspiration from the unparalleled potential and promise of the earth. Uncompromising in our standards of sustainability and treatment of the land, we are committed to nurturing the precious resource that is our 200 acre estate. Blessed by nature, we listen intently to the terroir of our vineyards, and in turn, our wines speak eloquently of their origin.
Winemaker Notes (2018)
Faultline Vineyard is our interpretation of a Right-Bank Bordeaux blend. The awesome power and grace of Pomerol and St. Emillion have inspired us to build a cuvée around our oldest plantings of Cabernet Franc and Merlot. In particular, Cabernet Franc is annually the biggest voice in the blend; this gives our wine its incredible texture and complexity.
Our estate lies directly atop the Mayacamas Faultline, which means earthquakes on occasion. The blessing, however, is an incredible upheaval of land and thus a myriad of soil types that in turn give us diverse flavor profiles from each block. While our Oliver’s Blend is about structured Cabernet Sauvignon on rocky hillsides, our Faultline Vineyard is sourced from the loamy, sandy clay in the basin of Skipstone where our Merlot and Cabernet Franc thrive.
The ultimate wine has an incredible texture and a symphony of flavors – the savory aromas of the Cabernet Franc work in harmony with the ripe, fleshy fruit texture of the Merlot, with a dash of Cabernet Sauvignon blended each year for additional structure and ageworthiness.
Winemaker Notes (2016)
Since the inaugural Skipstone vintage of 2005, our annual approach with Oliver’s Blend is to create a blend of Cabernet Sauvignons from up to 20 individual small lots. Each lot has a unique profile (based on soil type, exposure and clonal selection) and blended they create a foundation. This Cabernet Sauvignon is then embellished with small amounts of our other blending varietals to best showcase the vintage.
With so many pockets of soil differentiation and exposures, Oliver’s Blend is a symphonic compilation of aroma and flavor. This, coupled with clonal diversity of multiple Cabernet clones throughout our hillside plantings, creates an exceptionally complex wine. Year after year, this is a wine of profound power and elegance.
Oliver’s Blend is aged for two years in barrel and another year in bottle prior to our release. This highly-structured Cabernet Sauvignon is an excellent candidate for further cellaring, with potential to age for decades.
About Winery
Skipstone is tucked between two stunning hillsides in the mountains above Alexander Valley. We aspire to perfection in every aspect of our wine growing and estate farming, drawing inspiration from the unparalleled potential and promise of the earth. Uncompromising in our standards of sustainability and treatment of the land, we are committed to nurturing the precious resource that is our 200 acre estate. Blessed by nature, we listen intently to the terroir of our vineyards, and in turn, our wines speak eloquently of their origin.
Winemaker Notes (2015)
Since the inaugural Skipstone vintage of 2005, our annual approach with Oliver’s Blend is to create a blend of Cabernet Sauvignons from up to 20 individual small lots. Each lot has a unique profile (based on soil type, exposure and clonal selection) and blended they create a foundation. This Cabernet Sauvignon is then embellished with small amounts of our other blending varietals to best showcase the vintage.
With so many pockets of soil differentiation and exposures, Oliver’s Blend is a symphonic compilation of aroma and flavor. This, coupled with clonal diversity of multiple Cabernet clones throughout our hillside plantings, creates an exceptionally complex wine. Year after year, this is a wine of profound power and elegance.
Oliver’s Blend is aged for two years in barrel and another year in bottle prior to our release. This highly-structured Cabernet Sauvignon is an excellent candidate for further cellaring, with potential to age for decades.
Winemaker Notes (2016)
Since the inaugural Skipstone vintage of 2005, our annual approach with Oliver’s Blend is to create a blend of Cabernet Sauvignons from up to 20 individual small lots. Each lot has a unique profile (based on soil type, exposure and clonal selection) and blended they create a foundation. This Cabernet Sauvignon is then embellished with small amounts of our other blending varietals to best showcase the vintage.
With so many pockets of soil differentiation and exposures, Oliver’s Blend is a symphonic compilation of aroma and flavor. This, coupled with clonal diversity of multiple Cabernet clones throughout our hillside plantings, creates an exceptionally complex wine. Year after year, this is a wine of profound power and elegance.
Oliver’s Blend is aged for two years in barrel and another year in bottle prior to our release. This highly-structured Cabernet Sauvignon is an excellent candidate for further cellaring, with potential to age for decades.
Vivino 4.5
"Essentially a perfect red wine. Crushed stone and blackberry nose with a hint of oil. Subtle rosemary and stewed plum on the palate to go with a delicate oak backbone. Dry as a bone, but only medium tannins, so not chalky in any way. Lingering smooth finish of oak and black fruit. Amazing with a rare tri-tip, and stood up to a robust chimichurri sauce as well."
