2016 Skipstone Oliver's Blend

Flirting with perfection, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Oliver's Blend is another wine from the estate vineyard, and it spent 18 months in 65% new French oak. Awesome notes of blackcurrants, crème de cassis, tobacco leaf, and lead pencil all flow to a full-bodied, perfectly balanced Cabernet Sauvignon that has building tannins (yet they’re ripe and polished), a terrific mid-palate, and a weightless, seamless texture. This is Sonoma brilliance all the way, and I suspect it will keep for 2-3 decades if you’re so inclined.

Composed of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Merlot aged in 75% new French oak for 18 months, the deep garnet-purple colored 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Oliver's Blend displays black cherries, black plums and cassis notes with touches of chocolate box, star anise, menthol, pencil lead and cedar chest. The palate is medium-bodied with a sturdy frame of chewy tannins and a lively line lifting the black fruit to a long, earth-laced finish. 750 cases produced.

The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Oliver's Blend is a dark, sensual beauty. In this vintage, the Oliver's is more Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant and has less Franc, which contributes to its dark-leaning flavor profile. A rush of dark cherry, plum, smoke, torrefaction and tobacco builds into a deep, hugely expressive finish laced with copious savory overtones. There is plenty of muscle and youthful intensity to allow the 2016 to develop nicely for a number of years to come.