Locations by Dave Phinney F
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Robert
Parker
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A heavy purple hue envelops the glass with a tinge of ruby on the band. The nose reveals compelling, perfumed aromas of ripe cherry, kirsch, blackberry preserve, lavender, and subtle spice notes. Spirited upon entry, the palate is treated to persuasive and distinctive flavors of strawberry compote, crushed plum, and mocha. The silky mouthfeel gives way to a pleasing middle with notes of black tea, roasted fig, and juicy acidity. Finishing with purpose, dark fruits linger effortlessly with an attractive mineral tone.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The Non-Vintage Locations F-2 French Red Wine is all from the 2012 vintage and is a blend of Grenache from the Roussillon, Syrah from the Rhone Valley and assorted Bordeaux varieties. It was fermented in large oak vats and aged in barrel for ten months prior to bottling. A dense ruby/purple color is followed by a big, sweet kiss of licorice, black currants and camphor. Deep, full-bodied and ripe (but not over-ripe), it possesses good freshness, vibrancy and delineation as well as a juicy, in-your-face style. These wines are all meant to be drunk upon release, but enough stuffing is present that they should evolve for 4-5 years.
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.