The Skipstone Vineyard encompasses 30 organically farmed acres forming an amphitheater shape surrounded by steep mountain slopes. An ambitious redevelopment of the vineyard was undertaken upon the discovery of the site and new viticultural practices were implemented after listening to the vineyard through extensive evaluation.

The unique bowl shape of the isolated vineyard offers great diversity of terrain and soil types.  Extensive soil studies allowed the winery to partition the site into 42 micro blocks so as to farm with precision on the single vine level. The entire annual production offers an exceptionally low average of two tons per acre.  At the top of the bowl is an intense hillside known as Los Rocas, so named by the vineyard crew for its rock soils and home to their oldest cabernet vines. The hillside faces southwest and is blessed with warm sun all day requiring precise canopy management to control sun exposure. This steep section of the vineyard is outfitted with an irrigation system that can address blocks as small as two tenths of an acre, allowing for targeted watering of the vines only when and where it is needed.

A small amount of Viognier is planted in Makena’s Vineyard, a hillside area that has east, west and south facing exposures resulting in great diversity of fruit character.  Resting just below Makena’s Vineyard in the bench land, lays Skipstone’s old growth Merlot and Pond Block, where Cabernet Franc excels.

Rounding out the palette for blending is the plateau of vineyard known as North Fault Line, including three acres each of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Malbec. Adjacent is South Faultline, plated completely to Cabernet Sauvignon in two distinct sub-blocks each with unique rootstock and clonal selections. The dynamic nature of this vineyard allows Skipstone many components to work with in blending in order to create an outstanding bottling every year.

THE WINES

2010 Oliver’s Blend
The concept with Oliver's Blend is that each year the varietal composition changes, highlighting the best possible blend to showcase their dynamic vineyard. Winemaker Philippe Melka combines a multitude of individual Cabernet lots to create the foundation of the blend, then looks to the other varietals we grow to embellish the core wine. Once again the Cabernet from their steepest hillsides was exceptional and as a result the wine highlights the Cab with a 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot composition. The 2010 Oliver's Blend once again is a tribute to the quality of Cabernet grown on the spectacular hillsides of the Skipstone amphitheater vineyard. Deep purple in color, the wine exhibits an intense and complex floral bouquet along with smoke, baking spices, griottes cherries, and juicy and unctuous red berry aromas. In the mouth the wine has silky, ripe tannins combined with a layered texture hitting every place on the palette then leading to a very long and soft finish.
Production: 375 cases

Robert Parker says: 94 Points The 2010 Oliver’s Blend is gorgeous. A deep, intriguing wine, the 2010 is loaded with considerable aromatic and flavor complexity. Smoke, bacon fat, ash, incense, tobacco, plums and black cherries meld together in the glass. There is an intense vein of underlying minerality that gives the wine much of its focus and energy. Readers will have to be patient with the 2010. It is a dark, brooding wine that needs time to blossom in bottle, but is beautiful, even at this early stage. In 2010 the blend is 94% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Merlot.  

2010 Faultline
This exciting new wine from Skipstone beautifully demonstrates the unmatched potential that their estate vineyard offers in blending for complexity. On the nose, the wine explodes with aromas of cinnamon, freshly crushed blueberries and cigar box. On the palette the wine opens with rich notes of juicy dark berry fruit and is layered with complex yet delicate nuances of dried herb and pencil shavings. The texture is smooth with well-balanced tannins coming from the Cabernet Franc that gives a nice grip and lengthens the finish. This wine is focused and fresh and shows good potential for aging, while being extremely pleasurable in its youth.

The Faultline Vineyard is perfectly situated on the floor of their 28 acre amphitheater shaped vineyard. These blocks lie directly on top of the Mayacama faultline that runs right through the middle of the vineyard and has given the site its unique shape and incredible soil diversity. The younger vines growing here benefit from a variety of soil types and different levels of stress and are thus demonstrating complexity well beyond their youth.

Production Notes Blend: 40% Cabernet Franc, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot
Production: 125 cases

2011 Makena’s Viognier
The Makena's Vineyard Viognier consists of five rows that ribbon the top of the north ridge of their exquisite amphitheater shaped vineyard. Situated on steep mountain terraces, the thin rocky soils make the vines struggle a bit but bring out intensity and complexity in the fruit. Makena's Vineyard receives nice steady sun exposure during the day and then is graced with afternoon shade, thereby allowing us to achieve both ripeness and long hang time.

The 2011 vintage of our treasured Viognier offers a very delicate nose that creates a wonderful springtime perfume of fresh citrus, floral elements of orange blossom and chamomile, and the wonderful aromas of a freshly caramelized crème brulee. The wine is pale citrine in color and the palette shows elegance in its balance and harmony showcasing lovely elements of stone fruits and a wet stone minerality. The velvety, refreshing finishing is supported with a well-structured acidity.

BUILD YOUR OWN OFFER

10% discount will be given on twelve bottles
Extra 5% if you order through the Wine Director's Diary - Comments (password: golf)

2010 Oliver’s Blend $100

2010 Faultline $85

2011 Makena’s Viognier $45

ORDERING

For all questions and orders, contact Jeff McCarthy at 707 569 2906 or [email protected]. Let us know if you would like your wine shipped or placed in your wine locker. Sales tax and appropriate shipping will be added to all orders. Allow 2-3 weeks for account processing and shipping. During extreme weather, wine orders may be held until it is safe to ship.