Joseph Phelps Le Mistral 1999

This is a full-bodied red wine with aromas of red fruits, dried flowers and spices followed by jammy, ripe berry flavors, soft, sweet tannins and multi layers of complex fruit.

Cool temperatures characterized much of the 1999 growing season, but the absence of rain and a warming trend in mid-July insured the grapes would properly mature. While picking was two to three weeks behind normal and crop yields were down from the previous year, the harvest nevertheless yielded highly extractive fruit with good color, flavor and acid levels.

34% Grenache, 34% Syrah, 13% Mourvèdre, 11% Alicante Bouschet, 4% Petite Sirah, 4% Carignane.