Phoenix Vineyards

1995 Hillside Rogue ~ Napa Valley Red Wine

Winemakers Notes:

Varietal %s: 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Syrab, 19% Pmotage, 10% Merlot

Dates of Harvest: Sept 19 (Pinotage), Oct 4 (Syrab), Oct 4-8 (Cabernet Sauvignon)

Brix at Harvest: 22.5 to 23.5 Brix

Length of Ferment: 6 days with 5-10 days additional skin contact time on avg. Assmanshausen yeast culture used on Pinotage and Merlot

End Alcohol: 13.8%

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

Time in Oak: 21 months in a mix of 1 & 2 year French Oak (40%) and 4 & 5 year French Oak

Bottling Date: July 15th, 1997

119 CASES PRODUCED

One of the first things this wine presents is its great color; this vintage of the Hillside Rogue is no different than its predecessors in that respect. The Encepagement, or blend, may change slightly from year to year but the core of the wine remains constant; Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon are the backbone of this wine. The plummy fruit of these two varieties comes forward the most and they are most responsible for the formidable color while the Merlot and Pinotage add spiciness and some middle to the total picture as well as a little steminess for balance. The wine usually takes some exposure to air to really open up and will change with a few minutes of breathing in the glass. We expect this wine to evolve and even improve over the next several years.