Ad Vivum, Yountville – Napa Valley (California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

 Chris Phelps is well-known as a Napa Valley winemaker who got much of his initial hands-on training in Bordeaux with the Moeuix family, including at Petrus.  When he returned to the U.S., it was to be the founding winemaker at the Dominus, where he continued for a dozen years before switching to Caymus and ultimately to his own winemaking and consulting.  Although this wine is 100% Cabernet, I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that it’s a Cab with Merlot sensibilities, nor do I say that because of Phelps’ early-on Pomerol training.  Whereas most Napa Cabs are satin, this one is velvet – muddled flavors of blackberries, black raspberries, cassis, even red pear, with earthy chocolate blended in.  Although it has good acidity and lots of dusty tannins, it is more swirling in structure than linear.  But, in the end, it is delicious, a wine I would rather sip than share with food.