2014 Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon Napa

2014 Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

Winemaking Data

Harvest Dates: September 16 - October 13, 2014.

Blend: 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc from estate-grown Napa Valley vineyards.

Winemaking Notes: Grapes were sorted and cold soaked prior to fermentation. The wine was aged for eighteen months

in 45% new oak barrels (55% French, 45% American) and 55% two-year-old French and American oak barrels before bottling in June, 2016. The barrel coopers used included Ermitage, François Frères, Demptos (French & American), Canton (American) and Barrel Associates (American).

The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon highlights blackberry, dried blueberry and violet with notes of graphite and cloves followed by opulent layers of black currant jam, roasted coffee, tobacco, dried fig and vanilla bean. A full-bodied, deeply concentrated wine with supple tannins and a lengthy finish.

Growing Season:

The 2014 Napa Valley growing season began with mild winter temperatures and dry conditions until February. Spring rains brought much needed moisture to the soil and filled our vineyard reservoirs. Bud break occurred three to four weeks earlier than 2013 with an average period between bud break and bloom. Frost was of no issue and the February and

March rains provided for optimum vine growth. Consistent temperatures during the summer growing months with very few heat spikes created ideal ripening conditions for an early harvest. At the onset of harvest, the flavors, acidity and tannins were further along in their development than the two previous years. Grapes achieved phenomenal fruit characteristics early and their maturation occurred at a steady, even pace. Consistency in the blocks and intense flavors at harvest were key characteristics to 2014.

Review: 92 points “The 2014 is supple, with silky tannins, dark plum, blackcurrant and licorice-infused fruit with a touch of spice, a lushness on the attack and mid-palate, and a silky finish.”- Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate, Oct. 2016