History
Jean Phillips bought the property in 1986, when it grew mostly white varieties and a single acre of Cabernet, and replanted to Bordeaux reds with clone 7 Cabernet on Andre Tchelistcheff's advice. Heidi Barrett made the 1992 debut, released in 1995 at roughly 175 cases, and the mailing list never opened again in any meaningful sense. Phillips sold in March 2006 to Stan Kroenke and Charles Banks; Banks left in 2009, Kroenke remained sole owner, and the estate was substantially replanted in the years after the sale with a new Howard Backen winery. Andy Erickson made the wines through 2010 and Nick Gislason has since 2011, with Michel Rolland consulting.
The Site
About 48 planted acres on a gentle west-facing slope of rocky volcanic soils and gravelly loam on Oakville's eastern benchlands, farmed in more than fifty separately vinified blocks.
Vines and Blocks
Cabernet Sauvignon dominates with Merlot and Cabernet Franc, plus a sliver of Sauvignon Blanc for a near-mythical white.
The Wines
The grand vin remains one of the world's most expensive Cabernets; The Flight, begun as Second Flight with the 2006 vintage, carries the estate's Merlot-rich second voice.