Phoenix Vineyards

1994 Hillside Rogue

Winemakers Notes:

Cases Produced: 96

Varietal %s: 39% Syrah, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Sangiovese, 8% Chardonnay, 5% Merlot

Date of Harvest: Sept. 26th (Syrah), Oct. 20th (Sangiovese), Oct. 22nd (Cabernet Sauvignon)

Brix at Harvest: 23.5 Brix (avg)

Length of Fermentation: 6 days with 5-10 days additional skin contact time on avg.

End Alcohol: 13.7%

100% Malo-Lactic Fermentation, No fining or filtration.

Time in Oak: 22 months in a mix of new American Oak (20%) and 3-5 year French Oak

Bottling Date: August 1st, 1996

A wine with great color, this vintage of the Hillside Rogue is showing some clean, red fruit/berry aromas as well as some spicy notes from the barrel aging. The Encepagement, or blend, is striking some similarities to wines of the southern Rhone valley in France with its eclectic mix of varieties (hence its rogue-ish nature). The wine usually takes some exposure to air to really open up and will change dramatically with a few minutes of breathing in the glass. We expect this wine to evolve and even improve over the next several years.