2021 Skipstone 'Faultline' Red Blend

Aromas of black plum, violet, and cocoa powder integrate with savory notes of dried tobacco, crushed gravel, and a hint of wild thyme. The palate is full-bodied and exceptionally plush, featuring a concentrated core of dark fruit and a seamless, multi-layered texture. It displays sophisticated, fine-grained tannins and a vibrant acidity that leads to a long, aristocratic finish marked by savory mineral notes and a lingering touch of espresso.

Winemaker Laura Jones, in collaboration with Philippe Melka, utilizes a Right Bank-inspired blend dominated by Merlot and Cabernet Franc. In the cellar, the fruit is meticulously sorted and fermented in small, site-specific stainless steel tanks using native yeasts. The wine matures for twenty months in French oak barrels (approximately 70% new). This regimen is designed to enhance the Cabernet Franc’s floral lift and the Merlot’s velvety mid-palate, resulting in a wine of great structural elegance and aromatic precision.

The fruit is grown in the Alexander Valley of Sonoma County at the Skipstone Estate, specifically from blocks situated along a geological fault line. The site is defined by its steep, southwest-facing slopes and complex volcanic soils enriched with magnesium and iron. These high-elevation vineyards sit above the fog line, benefiting from intense mountain sunlight while being cooled by breezes from the nearby Pacific. This unique, high-tension terroir produces a wine that combines the power of mountain-grown fruit with a refined, stony minerality and a characteristic herbal complexity.