Phoenix Vineyards

1993 Little Blackbird

Winemakers Notes:

Cases Produced: 272

Bottling Date: Aug. 18th, 1995 (No fining or filtration)

Varietal %s: 44% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc

Date of Harvest: Aug 30th, Sept 5th (Estate Merlot) to Oct 10 (Cab Sauv)

Brix at Harvest:22.5 to 24.5 BrixEnd Alcohol: 13.9%

Length of Ferment: 6-8 days with 2-4 days cold-soak (pre-inoculation) time on avg. (avg 13 days total skin contact)

Time in Oak:21 months in a mix of 1, 2 and 3 year old French Oak Allier/Never/Troncais wood

This years harvest started out warm but changed in mid-September with a week of cooler than normal temperatures. After this things stabilized into a fairly even harvest season and finished with good conditions for the Bordeaux varieties. Rain threatened near the end but we were able to get everything in before conditions deteriorated.

The majority of the fruit for this blend came from the Estate vineyards (over two thirds). Additionally some of the grapes came from a vineyard which we leased and planted in 1989 in our neighborhood, as well as a small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon from a friends vineyard near St. Helena. As the wine ages all of these pieces will integrate and the wine should mellow and provide enjoyment for several years.

The name for our Little Blackbird blend comes from the name of the Merlot grape itself the name Merlot is purportedly French slang for Little Blackbird. The Merlot grape forms the center of this blend, with two of its Bordelais cousins in supporting roles. The Cabernet Sauvignon gives the structure, depth of color, and the backbone to the wine while the Cabernet Franc, also giving some structure, mainly excites the aroma content of the blend. The fruit of the wine and its heart is due to the Merlot, giving it a fleshy, round middle palate that re-invites at each sampling.