As Fall officially begins at 5:18 p.m. EST, it seems only fitting to talk about R.H. Phillips Night Harvest Merlot. The wine in the glass has a deep Ruby color and shows medium viscosity, indicating high alcohol content (somewhere around 13%). The wine was aged in oak barrels for 14 months making it silky and full-bodied with layers of strawberries, oak and a hint of coffee. The grapes actually were harvested under the stars at night between the hours of 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. allowing the cool California air to chill the fruit and preserve the acidity.
The label is eye catching with its black back ground, a man standing on a ladder picking a large grape bunch, a brilliant moon on one side, a star on the other. It truly does make me think of fall and cooler nights, the perfect wine drinking weather.
R.H. Phillips opened in 1983 and started selling wine in 1984. The company’s founders originally set their sights on sheep herding but quickly changed direction and began planting grapes. The company was founded by John and Lane Giguiere, and John Giguiere’s brother, Karl. The brothers then named the winery after their grandfather, R.H. Phillips. The winery was sold in 2000 and the Giguiere’s now have a new winery called Crew Wine Company LLC.
Sadly on 09/01 of this year, the winery’s parent company, Constellation Brands, closed the winery. Production of the winery’s Toasted Head label and other R.H. Phillips wines will continue in Acampo at Robert Mondavi’s Woodbridge winery. Two of the R.H. Phillips winemakers are also moving to Woodbridge. In recent years R.H. Phillips has become my “go to” wine. Let’s hope this doesn’t turn into another Blackstone. Woodbridge winery hopes to maintain the same quality and passion that has made this wine so enjoyable....we’ll see………
You can find this wine and other R.H. Phillips wines at Total Wine and ABC Fine Wine & Spirits.
Chickadee word of the day:
Silky – Wine that is incredibly smooth, lush and finely textured.
The label is eye catching with its black back ground, a man standing on a ladder picking a large grape bunch, a brilliant moon on one side, a star on the other. It truly does make me think of fall and cooler nights, the perfect wine drinking weather.
R.H. Phillips opened in 1983 and started selling wine in 1984. The company’s founders originally set their sights on sheep herding but quickly changed direction and began planting grapes. The company was founded by John and Lane Giguiere, and John Giguiere’s brother, Karl. The brothers then named the winery after their grandfather, R.H. Phillips. The winery was sold in 2000 and the Giguiere’s now have a new winery called Crew Wine Company LLC.
Sadly on 09/01 of this year, the winery’s parent company, Constellation Brands, closed the winery. Production of the winery’s Toasted Head label and other R.H. Phillips wines will continue in Acampo at Robert Mondavi’s Woodbridge winery. Two of the R.H. Phillips winemakers are also moving to Woodbridge. In recent years R.H. Phillips has become my “go to” wine. Let’s hope this doesn’t turn into another Blackstone. Woodbridge winery hopes to maintain the same quality and passion that has made this wine so enjoyable....we’ll see………
You can find this wine and other R.H. Phillips wines at Total Wine and ABC Fine Wine & Spirits.
Chickadee word of the day:
Silky – Wine that is incredibly smooth, lush and finely textured.
Copyright ©2009 by Kellie Stargaard. All Rights Reserved.
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