Matthiasson – Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Phoenix Vineyard
Price Matrix
Stock Quantities
USA - CA
Napa County
Wine
Red
The Facts
Origins USA - CA > Napa County > Napa Valley
Appellation Napa Valley
Varietal Cabernet Sauvignon
Cepage 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc
Winemaking delastages and extended pumpovers during peak fermentation
Aging 20 months, 20% new French oak
Alcohol by Volume 12.0%
Annual Production 349 cases
Markets Texas
Trade and Media
The Character
Tasting Notes The soils are some of the most unique in the entire Napa Valley. The east-facing steep hillside of the Phoenix Vineyard sits on an undisturbed ridge of ancient marine shale soils. The rock content and sea minerals of these soils create unique and haunting wines with high-toned red fruits, perfumed and exotic, and a lightness in the mid-palate that is contrasted by a long, firm, and structured finish. Wine singular enough, and complete enough, to be worthy of a single vineyard designation.
Sustainability Certified Organic, Green Practicing, Sustainable In Practice, Minimal Intervention / Augmentation, Natural Fermentation
The Story
• Steep hillside of ancient shale soil, very rare in the Napa Valley.
• Old vines, selection massale planted back in 1982.
• Dry-farmed. CCOF Certified organic. Native yeast
• Aged in large foudre to maintain aromatics and elegance.
• 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc
• The pinnacle of Matthiasson wines.
In 2017, we had an opportunity of a lifetime. After 22 years of making wine wherever we could find space, we
had the chance to buy our own winery. The elderly owners of the vineyard and winery could no longer manage
the upkeep and needed help. We started farming their grapes for them as a favor, and later that same year
purchased the property, granting them a lifetime estate. We gained our dream of a winery, and they secured
their home for the rest of their lives.
The Phoenix Vineyard was planted in 1982 by that same family on the steep hillside above the winery. They
used old heritage field selections of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot. When we took over,
we converted to Organic Farming, planted new vines where some of the old vines had given up, and focused
on rejuvenating the old vines with compost and pruning.
The steep hillside and narrow rows require that most work be done by hand — even the compost is applied
with shovels and wheelbarrows — that task alone takes two weeks. It’s a challenging vineyard to farm but it’s
so worth it.
The soils are some of the most unique in the entire Napa Valley. The east-facing steep hillside of the Phoenix
Vineyard sits on an undisturbed ridge of ancient marine shale soils. The rock content and sea minerals of these
soils create unique and haunting wines with high-toned red fruits, perfumed and exotic, and a lightness in the
mid-palate that is contrasted by a long, firm, and structured finish. Wine singular enough, and complete
enough, to be worthy of a single vineyard designation.
2021 was a drought year, and the vineyard pond stayed empty throughout the winter, leaving us completely
without irrigation water. This caused the vineyard to be fully dry-farmed in our driest year in decades —
amazingly the deep roots of the vines worked their magic, and the vines hung in there all season. The result
was small yields of wine with incredible depth, along with an early harvest that led to beautiful elegance.
Vine by vine selections are made at harvest. We make multiple picks and our crew is meticulous in only
harvesting vines at the ideal ripeness. The wine will see delastages and extended pumpovers during peak
fermentation to ensure we capture all the flavor and texture the fruit has to offer. We press the wine at dryness
to maintain freshness and the rich, red fruit notes. In 2021, we incorporate the Merlot and Cabernet Franc from
Phoenix Vineyard into the blend. The merlot adds lushness and elegeance while the caberner Franc
accentruates the herbal notes. This wine was given 20 months of elevage in ~20% new French oak, a few older
French oak barrels, two seasoned Demi-muids, and a large foudre (to preserve the aromatics, similar to Barolostyle aging). The wine will reward long aging or can be enjoyed young with a meal after a little decanting.
The pH is 3.73, TA is 5.9 g/L, and alcohol is 12.0%. 349 cases produced. Certified Organic vineyard
• Old vines, selection massale planted back in 1982.
• Dry-farmed. CCOF Certified organic. Native yeast
• Aged in large foudre to maintain aromatics and elegance.
• 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc
• The pinnacle of Matthiasson wines.
In 2017, we had an opportunity of a lifetime. After 22 years of making wine wherever we could find space, we
had the chance to buy our own winery. The elderly owners of the vineyard and winery could no longer manage
the upkeep and needed help. We started farming their grapes for them as a favor, and later that same year
purchased the property, granting them a lifetime estate. We gained our dream of a winery, and they secured
their home for the rest of their lives.
The Phoenix Vineyard was planted in 1982 by that same family on the steep hillside above the winery. They
used old heritage field selections of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot. When we took over,
we converted to Organic Farming, planted new vines where some of the old vines had given up, and focused
on rejuvenating the old vines with compost and pruning.
The steep hillside and narrow rows require that most work be done by hand — even the compost is applied
with shovels and wheelbarrows — that task alone takes two weeks. It’s a challenging vineyard to farm but it’s
so worth it.
The soils are some of the most unique in the entire Napa Valley. The east-facing steep hillside of the Phoenix
Vineyard sits on an undisturbed ridge of ancient marine shale soils. The rock content and sea minerals of these
soils create unique and haunting wines with high-toned red fruits, perfumed and exotic, and a lightness in the
mid-palate that is contrasted by a long, firm, and structured finish. Wine singular enough, and complete
enough, to be worthy of a single vineyard designation.
2021 was a drought year, and the vineyard pond stayed empty throughout the winter, leaving us completely
without irrigation water. This caused the vineyard to be fully dry-farmed in our driest year in decades —
amazingly the deep roots of the vines worked their magic, and the vines hung in there all season. The result
was small yields of wine with incredible depth, along with an early harvest that led to beautiful elegance.
Vine by vine selections are made at harvest. We make multiple picks and our crew is meticulous in only
harvesting vines at the ideal ripeness. The wine will see delastages and extended pumpovers during peak
fermentation to ensure we capture all the flavor and texture the fruit has to offer. We press the wine at dryness
to maintain freshness and the rich, red fruit notes. In 2021, we incorporate the Merlot and Cabernet Franc from
Phoenix Vineyard into the blend. The merlot adds lushness and elegeance while the caberner Franc
accentruates the herbal notes. This wine was given 20 months of elevage in ~20% new French oak, a few older
French oak barrels, two seasoned Demi-muids, and a large foudre (to preserve the aromatics, similar to Barolostyle aging). The wine will reward long aging or can be enjoyed young with a meal after a little decanting.
The pH is 3.73, TA is 5.9 g/L, and alcohol is 12.0%. 349 cases produced. Certified Organic vineyard
About Matthiasson
Producer Story
Jill and Steve Matthiasson founded Matthiasson Family Wines in 2003, guided by the belief that great wine begins in the vineyard. Combining Steve’s expertise in viticulture with Jill’s background in ecology, they farm organically and regeneratively, prioritizing soil health, balance, and biodiversity. Their philosophy of restraint in the cellar allows the vineyard to speak, producing wines of clarity, elegance, and authenticity. Celebrated for their moderate alcohol, food-friendly style, and expressive character, Matthiasson wines highlight both Napa classics and rare varieties, earning critical acclaim and establishing the winery as a benchmark for quality, sustainability, and a fresh vision of Napa Valley.
Producer Story
Jill and Steve Matthiasson founded Matthiasson Family Wines in 2003, guided by the belief that great wine begins in the vineyard. Combining Steve’s expertise in viticulture with Jill’s background in ecology, they farm organically and regeneratively, prioritizing soil health, balance, and biodiversity. Their philosophy of restraint in the cellar allows the vineyard to speak, producing wines of clarity, elegance, and authenticity. Celebrated for their moderate alcohol, food-friendly style, and expressive character, Matthiasson wines highlight both Napa classics and rare varieties, earning critical acclaim and establishing the winery as a benchmark for quality, sustainability, and a fresh vision of Napa Valley.
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