Toast and blueberries make for a welcoming bouquet; in the mouth the oak emerges as the dominant flavor, turning caramel-like. Some fine tannins should drop out in a year or so, making it worthy of short-term cellaring if you like your wines on the woody side.
— J.C.
(3/1/2000)
Welcoming blackberry, anise, smoke and mustard-seed aromas lead into a tart blueberry-blackberry palate accented by paprika and cranberry notes. Medium-weight and lively, the wine finishes with toasty vanilla, cedar and cherry flavors. Enjoy it now, while it’s young.
— W.E.
(10/1/2001)
The Phillips has burnt cracker and gingerbread notes on the nose, plus ripe mixed berries and toast flavors from palate to finish. A lightweight one-trick pony, but absolutely drinkable. —D.M.
— D.T.
(3/1/2002)
Awkward and earthy, with off-putting medicinal, herbal aromas and flavors. There are some apple notes but they are drowned in tart, chemically ones. This is a difficult wine to say anything nice about.
— S.H.
(12/31/2001)