Winemaker Notes
The 2018 Phoenix opens with aromas of cedar, cherries, and star anise evolving into graphite and candied violets. Vibrant, energetic, and savory, Phoenix is super-expressive and complex. It is rich in flavor but athletic, finishing with firm but very fine tannins.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2018 Phoenix is a blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc and was aged for 20 months in French oak barrels, 80% new. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the nose is redolent of warm plums, black cherries and black raspberries with suggestions of garrigue, menthol, pencil lead and roses. Medium-bodied, velvety and with great freshness, the palate delivers vibrant, crunchy fruit and a good long, mineral-tinged finish.
Rating: 93+
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Wine Spectator
Refined and well-structured, with pure-tasting dried red fruit and savory spice flavors that feature fresh acidity. Dried green herbal accents linger into the minerally finish. Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
Known for elegant wines that combine power and finesse, Carneros is set in the rolling hills that straddle the southernmost parts of both Sonoma and Napa counties. The cooling winds from the abutting San Pablo Bay, combined with lots of midday California sunshine, create an ideal environment for producing wines with a perfect balance of crisp acidity and well-ripened fruit.
This cooler pocket of California lends itself to growing Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah. Carneros is an important source of sparkling wines made in the style of Champagne as well.