2023 Caterwaul ‘Phelan Ranch Vineyard’ Cabernet Blend

JD95 Based on 51% Cabernet Sauvignon and 49% Cabernet Franc that was co-fermented from a single parcel, the 2023 Phelan Ranch CS/CF offers red and black fruits, leather, iron, and savory herbal notes. It’s a more spicy, savory, complex wine that has medium to full-bodied richness, a round, layered mouthfeel, ripe and nicely integrated tannins, and a great finish. Give it a year or three, and it should deliver the goods over the following 15 years. Drink 2026-2041.

WA94-96 A nearly 50-50 blend, Caterwaul’s 2023 Cabernet Franc – Cabernet Sauvignon Phelan Ranch Vineyard features minty, leafy aromas combined with scents of cherries and raspberries. From a high-altitude planting in the eastern part of Napa, it’s full-bodied and tannic, with a taut, firm finish.