Phoenix Vineyards

1992 Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemakers Notes:

Cases Produced: 230 (12x750mL) and 64 (12x375mL)

Varietal %'s: 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Cabernet Franc

Date of Harvest: Sept. 17th (Cab.Sauv.), October 2nd-l6th (Cab. Franc)

Brix at Harvest: 23 to 24B

Length of Fermentation: 5-10 days with 8-10 days further skin contact time on avg.

Assmanshausen yeast culture used on most of these lots

End Alcohol: 13.2%

Time in Oak: 22 months (aged in a mix of 3 year old French & 2 year old American Oak)

Bottling Date: August 26th, 1994

The second Cabernet Sauvignon produced by Phoenix Vineyards, this wine was crafted with balance in mind. The vintage was a warm one that had the potential to be problematic. Wanner temperatures through the growing season ,and especially during harvest, can lead to wines with unresolved tannins by the time the fruit is ripe enough to harvest. The Cabernet Sauvignon core of the wine exhibits the structure but the complexity and unique spice of the wine comes from the healthy dose of Cabernet Franc blended in. The Cab Franc component had a relatively lengthy hang time before harvest, as evident in the harvest dates. A liquid yeast culture was chosen to accent the fruit and spice characters and downplay the heavy extract. The fermentations were conducted in open-top vessels and punched-down, not pumped over.

Only the Cabernet Sauvignon press wine was fined and only the Cabernet Franc free-run was used. The wine was bottled unfiltered after almost two years in the barrel. The wine shows tarry cassis notes with some mint and cedar notes along with aromas of blueberry, spice, and green olive. Plum / red fruits and cassis show into the finish. This wine has the acidity to age quite well over the next decade or more.