Phoenix Vineyards

1996 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker's Notes:

Varietal %s: 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Syrah, 5% Cabernet Franc with Pinotage and Merlot

Date of Harvest:Sept 15th, 16th, 26th, Nov 2nd and l5th(Cabernet Sauvignon); Sept 4~ (Syrali); Sept 25th, Nov 8~ (Cabernet Franc)

Brix at Harvest: 22.5 to 25.0 Brix

Length Ferment: 6-8days with up to 26 days additional skin contact time

End Alcohol: 13.8%

Time in Oak: 21 months in a mix of French and American Oak barrels (11% new, 11% 1 yearold, 17%2yearold)

Bottling Date: July 15th, 1998 (No fining or filtration)

416 cases produced

Phoenix Vineyards continues to refine its Cabernet Sauvignon. It is the most important wine we make. We find that as we reclaim more of our fruit for our own winemaking the quality of our Cabernet rises proportionally. This vintage of Cabernet Sauvignon contains about 85% estate grapes. These were combined with a small quantity of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc from the Oakville District which lies in the heart of the Napa Valley.
The early blends of the 1996 Phoenix Cabernet showed the mark of the vintage; most of the wines from 1996 are lush and quite forward with their fruit. We felt the addition of small quantities of estate grown Syrah and Cabernet Franc would help to focus the mid-palate and finish of the wine. The results of the marriage are quite evident:
our 1996 Cabernet has a core of concentrated dark fruit flavors (blackberry, plum and cassis) that extend into the finish of the wine. These characters are mirrored in the aroma along with hints of spice and sandalwood. The color is a characteristic deep ruby-red with a slight magenta rim. The structure supplied by our estate grown grapes will give this wine a confident future for several years. In its youth it should stand 3 0-60 minutes after decanting to allow sufficient time to breathe.