Phoenix Vineyards

1994 Sangiovese ~ B1ood of Jupiter

Winemakers Notes:

Varietal %s: 81% Sangiovese, 14% Pinotage, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon

Date of Harvest: Sept. 7th (Pinotage), Oct. 20th & 31st (Sangiovese)

Brix at Harvest: 23.0 to 24.0 Brix

Length of Ferment: 6-8 days with 5-7 days additional skin contact time on avg. (Assmanshausen Yeast culture used on Pinotage)

End Alcohol: 13.6%

Time in Oak: 20 months in a mix of 10% new and 1 year old American and 4 year old French Oak

Bottling Date: August 2nd, 1996 (No fining or filtration) 150 Cases Produced

The name for our Sangiovese, the Blood of Jupiter, comes directly from the grape name itself. Sources say translating the Italian Sangiovese (sangus, blood and Jovus or Jove) into English gives us literally, the Blood of Jupiter. This heritage is evident in the striking shades of red color in the best examples of wines made from this noble grape. We have given the wine a further mark of distinction by blending in some Pinotage, a red grape from South Africa. We feel it adds to the spice characters of the wine and nicely fills out the mid-palate.

The 1994 vintage was a great one in the Napa Valley; this wine is a prime example of the conditions. Colors in the red lots were up that year and the long, even tempered weather patterns through the growing season pushed the Sangiovese block to one of the latest harvest dates it has ever had. This allowed for the flavors to really develop in the fruit as it stayed on the vine. The 94 Blood is showing quite a bit of extract balanced with jammy, spicy (telltale bay leaf), forward fruit notes. Some sweet vanilla and spice notes from the barrels also appear. The finish is smoothing nicely at this stage. The wine may benefit from some further time in the bottle but it is already showing its characteristic affinity with foods.