Aromas of crème de cassis, blackberry, and anise integrate with savory notes of graphite and dried herbs. The palate is full-bodied and powerful, featuring a dense core of dark fruit and a structured, velvety texture. It displays firm mountain tannins and a balanced acidity that leads to a long, persistent finish marked by a distinct stony minerality.
Winemaker Laura Jones, in partnership with Philippe Melka, utilizes 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the estate's premier blocks. The fruit is fermented in small, temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks using native yeasts. The wine matures for twenty months in 100% new French oak barrels to frame the massive concentration and structural depth inherent to the vineyard's hillside fruit.
The fruit is grown in the Alexander Valley at the Skipstone Estate on a steep, west-facing hillside amphitheater. The site is defined by its rocky, volcanic soils and high elevation above the fog line. This position allows the vines to receive maximum solar radiation while being tempered by evening breezes, resulting in small berries with thick skins and intense flavor profiles.
