Blend: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Single-Vineyard: Bettinelli Family Reese Vineyard
Harvest: 5 October 2007
Bottling: 900 bottles were filled
18 May 2009
The 2007 vintage at the Reese vineyard was one of extremes: 60% of normal rainfall over the preceding winter, a very cold January, and a warm spring resulted in small berries and low yields but remarkable concentration.
TASTING NOTES:
Dark, purple-hued color. The nose offers crushed, ripe cassis (black currant), crème de cassis liqueur, black cherry, blackberry, and a touch of raspberry. Striking concentration and ripeness. As the wine continues to open, subtle French oak, and gentle sweet, creamy vanilla emerge, then just the barest hint of clove or allspice. It may be hard to differentiate between the aromas, due to the multiple layers present. On the palate, a vibrant, balanced acidity enhances the dark fruit and accentuates the velvety, silky tannins. Grape and oak tannins fuse to give a slight grip to the elegant mouthfeel. The long, lingering aftertaste, evoking cassis and black cherry, is a trademark characteristic of Reese Vineyard Cabernet at optimum maturity.
WINEMAKER:
Chris then embarked on a 16-month sojourn in Bordeaux, which began with a year at the Institute of Enology. He met Christian Moueix, who persuaded him to stay on to manage the 1982 harvest at Château des Laurets, in the Puisseguin-St. Emilion district of Bordeaux. It was during this trial-by-fire experience that Chris met his mentor, the brilliant Jean-Claude Berrouet, who served for 44 years as the winemaker of Moueix-owned Château Pétrus. To this day, Chris still credits much of his inspiration as a winemaker and his solid understanding of the technical challenges of the winemaking craft to Berrouet’s tutelage.
Upon returning to Napa Valley,
Chris went on to spend twelve years as winemaker at Dominus, under Berrouet’s guidance. He considers the 1991 and 1994 vintages to be among the greatest wines he has helped to create.
He then spent seven years at Caymus Vineyards, managing all red winemaking from 1999 through 2002. Swanson Vineyards then persuaded him to join them as winemaker, setting the stage for that winery’s current renaissance. Chris, who lives with his family in St. Helena, continues to shape wines of great balance, refined texture and singular aromatic and flavor profiles that evoke their place of origin.
Ratings & Reviews
91 Points - Wine Spectator Magazine:
"Supple, fleshy, elegant and stylish, showing a layered mix of plum, black cherry and cranberry, with touches of spice and tobacco. Full-bodied and complex, gaining body and depth on the finish, where the flavors unfold to reveal touches of herb and mineral. Drink now through 2017. 75 cases made." –JL (Nov 15, 2010)
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:
"The dark ruby-colored 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon offers sweet aromas of cherries, black currants and hints of spice and oak in the background. This medium-bodied Cabernet offers a graceful display of red and black fruits, excellent depth and moderate tannin. It should hit its peak in 2-3 years and last for 10-12.
Produced by Chris Phelps, a veteran winemaker who has done impressive work in both France and Napa Valley, most recently for Swanson." - Robert Parker (Dec 2010)
