Joseph Phelps Vineyards
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley, California, USA
The best Phelps Napa I’ve had & had a ton. This 97 was stored perfectly & still just the other side of its peak. Balanced, lovely w/ nothing that bites back. Well worth the $75 or so that I paid. Likely around $25 on release. Now, 24 yrs in bottle better than some other Napa wines I’ve paid $150. The nose is also one of the better Napa Cabernet’s I’ve inhaled. Ruby; blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, poached, dark cherries, spiced strawberries with raspberries hovering. Anise to black licorice, dark Indian/Asian spices, slightly dry tobacco, nutmeg, cinnamon, sandalwood, hints of sweet lead pencil shavings, dry & fresh herbaceousiness, charcoal, black tea, hints of menthol, dark, slightly withering florals, framed in lavender & violets.
The palate is lush, ruby, juicy fruits. Those that think fruit is lost at this age, not the case here and in many of the well stored wines I’ve had. Ripe & juicy; blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, black plum, plum, poached, dark cherries, spiced strawberries with raspberries hovering. Anise to black licorice, tarry notes, some fig & dates, dark Indian/Asian spices, slightly dry tobacco, dry brush/twig, nutmeg, cinnamon, sandalwood, hints of sweet lead pencil shavings, dry & fresh herbaceousiness, charcoal, black tea, hints of menthol, moist volcanic clay, very fine, dry, crushed rocks, dark, slightly withering florals framed in lavender & violets, perfect acidity. The finish is outstandingly; knitted, tensioned, structured, layered, balanced for days that lasts minutes. Outstanding!!!
What a treat. The integration & evolution is epic & everything you hope for in every wine you open. You’ve heard of a velvet wine wrap in an iron fist. This is a velvet wine wrapped in a velvet glove.
The best Phelps Napa I’ve had & had a ton. This 97 was stored perfectly & still just the other side of its peak. Balanced, lovely w/ nothing that bites back. Well worth the $75 or so that I paid. Likely around $25 on release. Now, 24 yrs in bottle better than some other Napa wines I’ve paid $150. The nose is also one of the better Napa Cabernet’s I’ve inhaled. Ruby; blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, poached, dark cherries, spiced strawberries with raspberries hovering. Anise to black licorice, dark Indian/Asian spices, slightly dry tobacco, nutmeg, cinnamon, sandalwood, hints of sweet lead pencil shavings, dry & fresh herbaceousiness, charcoal, black tea, hints of menthol, dark, slightly withering florals, framed in lavender & violets.
The palate is lush, ruby, juicy fruits. Those that think fruit is lost at this age, not the case here and in many of the well stored wines I’ve had. Ripe & juicy; blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, black plum, plum, poached, dark cherries, spiced strawberries with raspberries hovering. Anise to black licorice, tarry notes, some fig & dates, dark Indian/Asian spices, slightly dry tobacco, dry brush/twig, nutmeg, cinnamon, sandalwood, hints of sweet lead pencil shavings, dry & fresh herbaceousiness, charcoal, black tea, hints of menthol, moist volcanic clay, very fine, dry, crushed rocks, dark, slightly withering florals framed in lavender & violets, perfect acidity. The finish is outstandingly; knitted, tensioned, structured, layered, balanced for days that lasts minutes. Outstanding!!!
What a treat. The integration & evolution is epic & everything you hope for in every wine you open. You’ve heard of a velvet wine wrap in an iron fist. This is a velvet wine wrapped in a velvet glove.
On the nose; sweet florals cassis, dark cherries, blackberries, poached strawberries, plum, cherries, hues of blueberries, sweet saddlewood, vapors of liqueur, black olive and dry red florals. The body is medium with 75% resolved tannin structure. The fruits still very fresh. Ripe; dark cherries, cherries, blackberries, plum, dry cranberries & pomegranate. Loamy dry soils, saddlewood, dry brush, anise, dark volcanic minerals, steeped tea, black cherry cola, round, fresh, mouthwatering acidity and a long drier and slightly lean, round finish with a lift of minerality at the end. Out of magnum.
On the nose; sweet florals cassis, dark cherries, blackberries, poached strawberries, plum, cherries, hues of blueberries, sweet saddlewood, vapors of liqueur, black olive and dry red florals. The body is medium with 75% resolved tannin structure. The fruits still very fresh. Ripe; dark cherries, cherries, blackberries, plum, dry cranberries & pomegranate. Loamy dry soils, saddlewood, dry brush, anise, dark volcanic minerals, steeped tea, black cherry cola, round, fresh, mouthwatering acidity and a long drier and slightly lean, round finish with a lift of minerality at the end. Out of magnum.
Sep 9th, 2017Oh baby! Still ripe with seductive plum and boysenberry layered over chocolate/vanilla notes with a splash of forest floor.
Oh baby! Still ripe with seductive plum and boysenberry layered over chocolate/vanilla notes with a splash of forest floor.
May 24th, 2015
Reached back in the cellar for this one. Drinking amazingly well, especially given its age (although I bought it in 2001 or 2002 and it has been stored properly ever since). Beautiful brick red/garnet color, the nose is elegant with red currants, hints of leather, and a bit of earthiness, all well balanced across the palate which is silky smooth and a soft, lingering finish. WA and WS had both given this 88 with a drinking window of 2000-2012, but this is doing great after almost 23 years. Cheers!
Reached back in the cellar for this one. Drinking amazingly well, especially given its age (although I bought it in 2001 or 2002 and it has been stored properly ever since). Beautiful brick red/garnet color, the nose is elegant with red currants, hints of leather, and a bit of earthiness, all well balanced across the palate which is silky smooth and a soft, lingering finish. WA and WS had both given this 88 with a drinking window of 2000-2012, but this is doing great after almost 23 years. Cheers!
May 10th, 2020
Lots of dark fruit. Cherries blackberry. Yum. Great finish.
Lots of dark fruit. Cherries blackberry. Yum. Great finish.
Apr 11th, 2018Just the name and year is enough to make you want to love this. This lived up to everything I thought.
Just the name and year is enough to make you want to love this. This lived up to everything I thought.
May 27th, 2016
Smells wonderful and first taste equally good!
Smells wonderful and first taste equally good!
