2013 Skipstone Oliver's Blend
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Tasting notes
A big, huge wine, the 2013 Oliver's Blend is bursting at the seams with intensity. Game, smoke, cured meats, black cherry and plum are some of the signatures. The 2013 is deep, dense and explosive, with remarkably polished tannins for a wine with this level of full-throttle intensity. In 2013, the Oliver's Blend has a bit more Merlot than has typically been the case.
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Average Score
Robert Parker
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Oliver’s Blend, which has 12% Merlot, is gorgeous stuff and showcases just how brilliant the Bordeaux varietals can be from the hillsides of Alexander Valley. The wine has an opaque purple color and a gorgeous nose of dusty, loamy soil scents interwoven with floral nuances, blackberry, licorice and dark, dark cherry. Very spicy and earthy, with a hint of new saddle leather, this wine spent 18 months in French oak, of which 72% was new. This is a terrific, full-throttle, beautifully balanced and pure wine that should drink well for at least two decades.
A wild, powerful wine, Skipstone 2013 Oliver's Blend is shaping up to be a beauty. Here the flavors are dark and intense to the core, with plenty of blue/blackish overtones. Sage, menthol, lavender, violets and graphite add considerable intrigue. This bold, incisive Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend is shaping up to be a real beauty. There is a lot to look forward to.