Phoenix Vineyards

1997 Napa Valley Zinfandel

Winemaker's Notes:

Varietal %s: 100% Zinfandel, 100% Napa Valley

Date of Harvest: November 1, 1997

Brix at Harvest: 24.7 Brix

Fruit only partially destemmed (60%) to give extra stem contact and extract

Length of Ferment: 6-8 days with 11 days additional skin contact time on avg.

End Alcohol: 14.6%

Time in Oak: 8 months in a mix of 40% 1-year old American Oak and 20% 2-year old French Oak barrels

Bottling Date: July 1 1998 (No fining or filtration

110 cases produced

This Zinfandel, our third Zinfandel release, is a full tilt wine. Our goal was to achieve full ripeness, full characters, and full throttle fruit. It appears we have. The grapes were sourced from a block of 25-year-old vines near Yountville, which is mid-way up the Napa Valley.

The 1997 vintage was superb in the Napa Valley; this wine is a prime example of the conditions. It was a larger than average crop that had one of the earliest harvests on record in California. This was after the earliest budbreak we had ever seen so the fruit got the necessary time on the vine for the color and characters to develop fully. We also had the benefit of having very dry conditions in the spring (the driest February, March, and April on record in Northern California). This led to very healthy, high quality grapes.

The color of the wine is the first aspect that strikes you; its deep, saturated purple color is a hint to what lies within. The aromas are very fruity and bright, showing plum, berry jam and framboise. These flavors carry into the palate with a very full texture in the mouth. It is showing some extract at this point but the power of the fruit and the overall richness of the wine hold this in check. Some sweet vanillin, caramel and spice notes from the barrels also appear. The wine may benefit from some further time in the bottle but it is already showing very well.