Joseph Phelps Vineyards: 1998 Syrah

Wines

Current Joseph Phelps Vintages
Current Freestone Vintages
Past Phelps Vintages
Rhône-Style Wines
Library Wines

BLEND & GRAPE SOURCES:
95% estate-grown Syrah from Carneros and Yountville; 5% estate-grown Grenache
from Monterey.

WINEMAKING DATA:
Grapes were harvested at an average 24.6° Brix, fermented in stainless steel tanks, then aged 20 months in new French oak barrels (25%) and a mixture of two year old French and American oak (75%), before being blended and bottled in September, 2000.

Problematic weather conditions and low crop yields reduced Syrah production by 50% in 1998, but as a result of careful crop thinning and highly selective picking, a level of quality was achieved that is comparable to the previous year. This was an astonishing feat, as 1997 is considered one of the most successful vintages of the decade, and 1998 one of the most difficult. Our experience in working with this varietal for over 25 years helped mitigate the problems with the growing season, and the result is a wine with concentrated, ripe aromas, flavors of black fruit, spice, clove and oak, and all of it framed by full, mature tannins.