Winemaker Notes
This Cabernet Sauvignon dominant Bordeaux blend incorporates all four red varieties on our estate: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, and Cabernet Franc. 2018 was a cooler vintage than average throughout the entire growing season, which allowed for long hangtimes – a combination that yielded wines of full flavor ripeness, moderate alcohols and mouthfeel, and beautifully vibrant aromatics. Bright red fruits interwoven with fresh violets and a hint of cedar interwoven pop from the glass. Red cherry and raspberry form the core of this wine’s bursting blend of flavors. A touch lighter than the rest of the Skipstone wines, Preface has a medium body, yet displays the classic Skipstone vineyard characteristics: purity of fruit, density, and freshness.
Preface, as its name implies, serves as an introduction to the Skipstone estate and our flagship red wines: Skipstone Oliver’s Blend and Skipstone Faultline Vineyard. Preface shares much of the same DNA as our flagship wines – a testament to our terroir and winemaking expertise – and is crafted by blending our younger estate vines with select barrels to be approachable upon release.
Blend– 66%Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 9% Malbec, 6% Cabernet Franc
785 Cases Produced
With a decade of aging potential, this wine is best enjoyed 2020-2028. We recommend a 30 minute decant on Preface if opened within the first year of bottling.
About Skipstone Winery
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.
Proprietors
To Constance and Fahri, Skipstone is more than a winegrowing estate — it is a devoted partnership with the earth.
A native of the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, Fahri speculates that an affinity for the land may be in his blood. Blessed with tranquil olive groves and idyllic Mediterranean sunshine reminiscent of his birthplace, Skipstone inspires in Fahri an instinctive connection to the property. Fahri’s years as an entrepreneur and venture capitalist have given him a striking ability to envision the potential of a property like Skipstone. He believes passionately in Skipstone’s mission to produce wines that rival the quality and artistry of California’s most highly regarded wine estates.
A quintessential connoisseur of fine-and-fast things in life, Constance leverages her deep expertise in marketing luxury products to help expand Skipstone’s brand recognition. Instilled with an unconditional commitment to quality through her European roots from Germany, Belgium and Switzerland, she connects naturally and harmoniously with Skipstone. Constance graduated from Centre International de Glion in Montreux, and led marketing, brand building and event management activities at Cartier, Rolex and Formula 1.
Constance and Fahri’s extensive travels around the world serve as a source of their inspiration for new and unique ideas. Their global perspective and pioneering spirit provide the core foundation for every endeavor of Skipstone.
