Products: Lava Rock
Grape Sourcing: : 100% Napa Valley, California Grapes
Napa Valley is flanked by a series of extinct volcanic peaks
starting at Mt. Veeder and running north to Mt. St. Helena, with
volcanic activity still seen today in our famous hot springs and
geothermal vents. Millions of years ago when the volcanoes were
active, eruptions distributed minerals and ash far and wide. The
valley soil today contains a large volume of volcanic lava
and ash which contribute to the uniqueness of Napa Valley wines. Our
inaugural release captures the special geological history of the
Napa Valley, wild with flavors and characters that come from its
volcanic soils and unique growing conditions.
Vintage: 14.5% Alcohol
In 2005, the Napa Valley growing season was marked by cool weather, leading to fears that the grapes wouldn’t ripen to full maturity. These fears did not play out however. Very warm weather in September and October ripened the grapes to exceptional dark color and full maturation. Harvest came much later than usual in 2005, with many growers waiting until November to pick. The large crop size came in heavy, and all at once. The harvest ended up being both large in quantity and of extremely high quality. This was a boon to us at Phantom. Since we have the inside scoop on vineyards across Napa, we were able to pick and chose grapes from some of the best vineyard sites across the Napa Valley.
Notes from the Phantom Winemaker
While I’m into serious winemaking, I like wines that you don’t have to be serious about consuming. In other words, I want a wine that I don’t have to wait forever to enjoy. With that in mind, Lava Rock is a meticulously crafted wine that is still fun to drink. Our wine jumps out of the bottle with bright aromas of black cherry, wild strawberry, ripe plum, blackberry and wild berry fruit balanced with a lively structure and finish. Just a touch of oak for a spicy addition to the fruit and a mouth-watering finish that invites a partnership with light to heavy flavored foods
Varietal blend:
65% Merlot
35% Cabernet Sauvignon
1888 Cases Produced