This
wine is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, including estate-owned grapes from
the Rutherford Bench and Stag's Leap District; 10% estate-owned Merlot and
5% estate-owned Cabernet Franc, both from our Rutherford Bench vineyard.
The 1990 growing season was characterized by warm days and unusually cool
nights, providing optimum conditions for photosynthesis and grape maturation.
Fruit ripened slowly and steadily, and from a production standpoint the pace
of the harvest probably contributed as much to the overall quality of the
vintage as the near-perfect condition of the grapes.
In the October 20, 1993 Washington Post, Ben Giliberti described
the 1990 Phelps Cabernet as, "glowing dark purple in color, with telltale
hints of eucalyptus and "Rutherford Dust" earthiness . . .Since the round
tannins are quite abundant, this wine will age. However, it would be a shame
to wait too long as the wine is lovely now."
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