R.H. Phillips
Toasted Head Meritage Blend
Redwood Valley, North Coast, California, USA
Nose has plum, ripe blackberry, ripe black cherry, dark chocolate powder, fresh picked blueberry, plum skin, loose pipe tobacco and ripe blackcurrant.
Palate has ripe plum, ripe blackberry, shaved dark chocolate, chocolate power, chocolate cake, ripe black table grapes, cedar shavings, light tannins still exist.
Proper storage, drink until 2025+
38% Petite Verdot, 37% Malbec, 18% Merlot & 7% Cabernet Sauvignon
Another one of our long-term aging experiments. These bottles have really evolved since we added two cases to the cellar in March 2005; $11/bottle. I'm always convinced there is the one god-like bottle in every case, the one that is so above all the others and just a stunning example of quality and talent. Even more amazing when I have to wait 15 years to finally come across that bottle in a low budget, low expectation acquisition, this was that bottle. Perfect cork pull, no Durand needed.
This bottle was opened and consumed earlier in the week, but I'm just getting to writing about it today. We really liked R.H. Phillips in their very early days. A new CA winery, trying to make a name, doing interesting blends (EXP Label had a Tempranillo, late '90's) and putting out wine that really should have cost more. Maybe that was their hook in the beginning... Can't say that honeymoon lasted too long, by mid-2000's the brand took off and turned into a commodity producer, in my opinion.
The oak used to be quite heavy handed in the youth of this wine, so much that one of my dear friends always called it the 'Butter Wine' every time it would come out of the carry bag. No butter anymore...I can only hope that any of the remaining four bottles will be one-half as good as this one. Perhaps fate will shine brightly for us, only time will tell.
Nose has plum, ripe blackberry, ripe black cherry, dark chocolate powder, fresh picked blueberry, plum skin, loose pipe tobacco and ripe blackcurrant.
Palate has ripe plum, ripe blackberry, shaved dark chocolate, chocolate power, chocolate cake, ripe black table grapes, cedar shavings, light tannins still exist.
Proper storage, drink until 2025+
38% Petite Verdot, 37% Malbec, 18% Merlot & 7% Cabernet Sauvignon
Another one of our long-term aging experiments. These bottles have really evolved since we added two cases to the cellar in March 2005; $11/bottle. I'm always convinced there is the one god-like bottle in every case, the one that is so above all the others and just a stunning example of quality and talent. Even more amazing when I have to wait 15 years to finally come across that bottle in a low budget, low expectation acquisition, this was that bottle. Perfect cork pull, no Durand needed.
This bottle was opened and consumed earlier in the week, but I'm just getting to writing about it today. We really liked R.H. Phillips in their very early days. A new CA winery, trying to make a name, doing interesting blends (EXP Label had a Tempranillo, late '90's) and putting out wine that really should have cost more. Maybe that was their hook in the beginning... Can't say that honeymoon lasted too long, by mid-2000's the brand took off and turned into a commodity producer, in my opinion.
The oak used to be quite heavy handed in the youth of this wine, so much that one of my dear friends always called it the 'Butter Wine' every time it would come out of the carry bag. No butter anymore...I can only hope that any of the remaining four bottles will be one-half as good as this one. Perhaps fate will shine brightly for us, only time will tell.