Locations by Dave Phinney E
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Suckling
James
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Winemaker Notes
An alluring cast of blooming crimson and deep red shades are immediately present in the glass. Complimenting the appearance is an impressive intensity on the nose with elevated dark cherry and exotic spice notes. The entry is rich with youthful berry compote, floral, and plum flavors, complimented with bright acidity. The finish is expansive and pleasing with a persistent mocha tinge and silky tannins.
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
Winemaker Dave Phinney sources grapes from five regions throughout Spain for this blend of Garnacha, Tempranillo, Monastrell/Mourvèdre, and Cariñena aged ten months before release. From its inky hue to its dense palate and extracted nose of leather, spiced plum liqueur, and coffee bean, we’re convinced! This is an opulent soul. Grainy tannins and a beefy body extend to an earthy core.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
If you judge wines on how they taste and the degree of pleasure they offer, they are all incredible efforts. The three new cuvees I tasted are among the finest wine values one could hope to find. Moreover, there are 50,000 cases of each, no easy feat given the grapes Phinney has accessed and the quality he has turned out. As of now, Dave Phinney might be my “value winemaker of the year” candidate. P.S. It’s too expensive for this report, but I am including it as an hommage to what Dave Phinney has achieved. If there are better wines for under $20 a bottle in the world today, please share that information with The Wine Advocate.
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James Suckling
Aromas of sweet strawberries with citrus and floral undertones, as well as blueberries and hot stones. Full-bodied with chewy tannins and a flavorful, lightly austere finish. This shows tone and texture. A blend of garnacha, tempranillo, monastrell and carinena. Drink or hold.
To make the best possible wine from a given Location. When it comes down to it, we all know that great wine starts in the vineyard, so why not seek out the best vineyards regardless of appellation, varietal, or vintage? Dave Phinney created this portfolio to explore the possibility of what could happen when all of the stereotypical constraints and regional rules were pushed aside, allowing him to focus on one task: making great wine. The label concept was born when Dave was in France and a taxi pulled up with the very distinctive “F” sticker on their license plate. It sent his mind racing with the possibilities… recalling his experiences getting to know vineyards and their caretakers all over, and leaving him excited to expand this network to include even more Locations. Each label release is carefully crafted by Dave and partners around the world, offering a glimpse into his perception and experiences of the Locations he’s explored… so far.
Dave Phinney first became interested in wine after he took a friend up on an offer in 1995 to go to Florence, Italy for a semester abroad. During that time, he was introduced to wine and found himself wanting to learn more. Eventually, he took a job at Robert Mondavi Winery in 1997 as a temporary harvest worker. Deciding that if he was going to work this hard, it would have to be for himself, so in 1998 he founded his first wine brand (Orin Swift) with two tons of zinfandel and not much else. He spent the next decade developing internationally renowned brands. His ambition with Locations has led him around the world, allowing him to pursue his winemaking goal of achieving complexity through geographic diversity.
In the world of wine there are compelling Locations that exist where soil, climate and vines interact to produce grapes that uniquely express their Location through wine. These Locations exist individually within appellations, but are seldom combined across appellations during blending due to laws and restrictions that make it near impossible to express true winemaking freedom.