Winemaker fair | joie de vivre | a bit sarcastic
Chris Phelps was born into a wine-loving family. Phelps completed a degree in enology at U.C. Davis, then studied viticulture and enology at the University of Bordeaux. He was selected by his future mentors, Christian Moueix and enologist Jean-Claude Berrouet, of Château Pétrus and Ets. Jean-Pierre Moueix, to direct winemaking at Château des Laurets in Puisseguin-St. Émilion for the 1982 harvest.
After extensive training at Château Pétrus and other Moueix properties on the Right Bank, Phelps spent 12 years as the founding winemaker at Dominus Estate, the Napa Valley property owned by Moueix.
After Dominus, Phelps made the wines at Caymus Vineyards before starting his consulting business. His winemaking experiences in both Napa and Bordeaux led him to create what he now calls “New World wines with an Old-World sensibility.”
Since 2007, Phelps has produced Ad Vivum, his single vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet sourced from the Sleeping Lady Vineyard in Yountville, California.
In addition to Ad Vivum, Phelps consults for a number of projects throughout the West Coast, including Inglenook, as well as working with Josh on Grounded Wine Company, producing wine from California, Oregon, and Washington. Chris and his wife, Maria, live in St. Helena, Napa Valley.
100 Points, 2023 Vintage — “Coming from the cooler, western side of Yountville in the Sleeping Lady Vineyard, the 2023 AD VIVUM Cabernet Sauvignon Sleeping Lady Vineyard offers a First Growth-like nose of crème de cassis, graphite, freshly sharpened pencils, and spring flowers. Based on 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and aged 18 months in 75% new French oak, it's medium to full-bodied and flawlessly balanced on the palate, with ultra-fine tannins and a great finish. It topped out my scale and will be a 30- to 40-year wine. This is easily the finest vintage I've tasted of this cuvée, and it's as good as anything in the vintage – or the world for that matter."