2016 Skipstone Faultline Vineyard, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA

ABOUT THIS WINE

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.

Moderate winter rainfall and warm weather kicked off the 2016 growing season early and set a healthy crop. A mild summer provided perfect conditions for even ripening in the vineyard through the first days of harvest at Skipstone. Some later September heat gave the vines a final burst of energy for ripening our later-ripening Bordeaux varieties. These growing conditions throughout the year resulted in our red wines being high in flavor ripeness and color, soft, plush tannins, and dark flavors and aromas. A textbook vintage for Skipstone and our Napa and Sonoma region as a whole.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

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.

Our organic and sustainable farming practices allow the grapes to express the natural complexity and balance of their terroir, using the earth’s natural resources to enhance the health of the vineyards while eliminating the use of chemicals.

At Skipstone no chemical herbicides, pesticides or fertilizers are used in the vineyards. Instead, beneficial cover crops such as oats, peas, beans and vetch are planted each fall to suppress weeds naturally and return valuable nitrogen back into the soil. These thriving plants also increase water retention in Skipstone’s diverse soils while attracting beneficial insects to the vineyards, naturally reducing the need for irrigation and eliminating insecticides. Each spring, this cover crop is tilled into the soil while still green and left to compost naturally into the earth, enhancing overall soil health.

Perches and boxes for hawks, owls and bluebirds have been built around the property, encouraging them to feed on insects and other creatures that could potentially damage the delicate balance of the vineyard. Throughout the growing season, the vineyard staff carefully monitors for plant and soil health. After harvest, organic compost is used throughout the rows to enhance soil quality as cover crop seed is once again applied.