2021 Phoenix Vineyard Cabernet, Matthiasson

Planted on schist/shale soils, unusual for Napa, is the Matthiasson’s Phoenix vineyard. In 2021 this particularly impressed, garnering a near perfect 99 points from Decanter Magazine. But the Matthiasson’s are not usually hunting critic scores. The Phoenix Cabernet 2021 shows their usual confident, precise style. This is their Cabernet style, but elevated, with an extra linear, persistent feel and a bit more structure around characteristic bright fruit. In Decanter’s words: “It is the epitome of elegance” and not to be missed, if you can get your hands on some of the tiny allocation.