My note may be similar to others--nose of tobacco and dark ripe cabernet fruit. Tastes of blackberry compote and cassis and chocolate-covered plum with medium acidity and tannins which are well-integrated. Brooding and deep with a long elegant finish--as fruit dissipates, I get more tobacco and leather and tannins and cocoa. The fruit was muted on opening, but blossomed after 2 hours in decanter. 93+
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A wonderful full bodied wine. Nose of cedar and tobacco and hints of chocolate and caramel. Flavors of dark fruit, black raspberry, plum and a cassis. Layered finish of dark fruit and chocolate notes which with the soft tannins and acidic balance was long and enjoyable.
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Great full bodied wine. Nosecof leather and chocolate with dark fruit. Flavors followed nicely with lots of dark fruit and chocolate and vanilla. Finish was great, long lasting and full of chocolate and dark fruit with beautifully integrated tannis.
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It was a showdown of historic heavyweights in the 2010 vintage, with Spottswoode of St. Helena in one corner (c. 1982) and Joseph Phelps Backus of Oakville in the other (c. 1977). The wines are more alike than different, each offering rich fruit, grainy tannin, and plenty of years before they sleep. Still, the Spottswoode was the clear winner tonight, with just as much ripeness and complexity - but with a more elegant and refined mouthfeel.
- Backus. The heavier wine, this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon offers a darker red in color and fuller in body. The aromas trend the same way, with heady notes of charcoal, blackberry, and gravel. The flavors are more deep, with notes of boynseberry, leather, and cocoa powder, with a tannic and earthy finish. 14.5% alcohol. Decant at least two hours, but it’s better to wait. 94 for now, with upside in 2023 or later.
- Spottswoode. Despite hailing from the northern (and warmer) portion fo the valley, this blend offers a more nimble and elegant interpretation of the vintage. Brighter red in color and a touch less full in body, the wine offers more aromas of blueberry, menthol, and dried herbs. The flavors are silky and light in the mouth, with notes of blueberry, black cherry, dark chocolate, and menthol, with an integrated, sweet, and silky finish. Blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. 14.5% alcohol. Decant at least three hours. 95+ for now, with upside in 2022 or later.
These are both fantastic wines that I would not turn down in a heartbeat, and each has miles to go before they sleep. Both are good, but the Spottswoode was better tonight.
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Great wine that paired wonderfully with bone-in filet and roasted Brussels sprout. Beautiful nose with dark fruit, cocoa, slight tobacco. Medium finish.
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Opened on 1/31 at restaurant (my own bottle)-- one hour decant in bottle. Paired superbly with filet mignon. This is balanced with great deal of complexity. Finished bottle at super bowl party with friends. Had developed some secondary characteristics and had long, lingering finish that went on and on. Superb wine. Have remaining years of 2011-2016 that I am looking forward to.
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Huge nose of cassis, smoke, olive, dried herby sage things. Dark. Delicious layers of fruit, modest tannins, rich but balanced. Fabulous cab with years left to go.
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Over two years since I last tried a bottle. Opened for 6 hours and then decanted. The nose is dark fruit, chocolate and hints of tobacco. The palate is dark berries, figs, tobacco and chocolate. The finish goes on and on. We drank it alongside a 2004 BV Latour and this was by far the better wine. This wine has definitely matured since the last bottle I had and the real rating would be 95++. Really good stuff served with roasted duck breasts.
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Opened a bottle last night and realized that it is still in its infancy. Wine is velvety and full of dark fruit flavors. Wine has a tremendously long finish. This was such a powerful wine that I am anticipating its development over the next 25 to 30 years assuming I make it that long. I think in 10-15 years the critics will be raving over this wine.
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Decanted through a vinturi and let sit for two hours. Dark fruit on the nose, the palate was dark berries, tobacco, fig with touches of chocolate, A long finish. Just an outstanding bottle of wine. Will only get better in the years to come.
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Raspberry and black cherry with mineral undertones. This is complex and balanced and delivers on every level. Long, lingering finish, this wine just kept on giving. Served with a beef tenderloin and it paired beautifully, although holds up on its own as well.
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First taste of Joseph Phelps Cab Sauv in more than 10 years. Perhaps naively, I had hoped that this winery which clearly is an industry leader within the New World Cabernet Sauvignon category could somehow stay closer to the style that I truly enjoyed many years ago. The wine was decanted, but the evolution over 3+ hours didn't leave you with the impression that the wine would change dramatically. The winemaker clearly and skillfully expressed the style of Napa Cab Sauv that was expected, but you are left with questions regarding the balance of the wine. The alcohol level stayed with you and affected the impression of the wine. The fruit was clearly on the jammy/overripe side versus a brighter, fresher fruit and the oak was omni-present. As I have been drinking the Phelps Cabs since the mid eighties, I know that there are other possible expressions of the vineyard site. It makes me want to gamble on old bottles from the 80's at auctions...
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I don't know how someone could click "I don't like it." Drank in honor of Joe Phelps and it delivered. Tasted at open, then again at one hour where we decided about eight would get it where we want it. That ended up being the right amount to show its youth but also flashes of its future. Just an absolute killer nose of sweet black fruits that gives way to more earth over time. Black fruit on the palate that just has a really velvet/silky texture (my wife called it "buttery without the taste"). It leads to a massive finish that definitely has many many years ahead of it, but is enjoyable with air. The best thing I can say about it is that it gets better with each taste as the air gets to it. Not the greatest from Napa but a really great example, just like 1974 when Insignia first came out.
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2/16/2024 - LBDWine wrote:
KIS
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1/14/2023 - stuartwh wrote:
Fertittas with steak at lake
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1/4/2023 - ralaspech wrote: 93 Points
My note may be similar to others--nose of tobacco and dark ripe cabernet fruit. Tastes of blackberry compote and cassis and chocolate-covered plum with medium acidity and tannins which are well-integrated. Brooding and deep with a long elegant finish--as fruit dissipates, I get more tobacco and leather and tannins and cocoa. The fruit was muted on opening, but blossomed after 2 hours in decanter. 93+
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10/22/2022 - Darwine Likes this wine: 97 Points
A wonderful full bodied wine. Nose of cedar and tobacco and hints of chocolate and caramel. Flavors of dark fruit, black raspberry, plum and a cassis. Layered finish of dark fruit and chocolate notes which with the soft tannins and acidic balance was long and enjoyable.
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4/10/2022 - Darwine Likes this wine: 96 Points
Great full bodied wine. Nosecof leather and chocolate with dark fruit. Flavors followed nicely with lots of dark fruit and chocolate and vanilla. Finish was great, long lasting and full of chocolate and dark fruit with beautifully integrated tannis.
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2/9/2021 - msuwine wrote: 94 Points
It was a showdown of historic heavyweights in the 2010 vintage, with Spottswoode of St. Helena in one corner (c. 1982) and Joseph Phelps Backus of Oakville in the other (c. 1977). The wines are more alike than different, each offering rich fruit, grainy tannin, and plenty of years before they sleep. Still, the Spottswoode was the clear winner tonight, with just as much ripeness and complexity - but with a more elegant and refined mouthfeel.
- Backus. The heavier wine, this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon offers a darker red in color and fuller in body. The aromas trend the same way, with heady notes of charcoal, blackberry, and gravel. The flavors are more deep, with notes of boynseberry, leather, and cocoa powder, with a tannic and earthy finish. 14.5% alcohol. Decant at least two hours, but it’s better to wait. 94 for now, with upside in 2023 or later.
- Spottswoode. Despite hailing from the northern (and warmer) portion fo the valley, this blend offers a more nimble and elegant interpretation of the vintage. Brighter red in color and a touch less full in body, the wine offers more aromas of blueberry, menthol, and dried herbs. The flavors are silky and light in the mouth, with notes of blueberry, black cherry, dark chocolate, and menthol, with an integrated, sweet, and silky finish. Blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. 14.5% alcohol. Decant at least three hours. 95+ for now, with upside in 2022 or later.
These are both fantastic wines that I would not turn down in a heartbeat, and each has miles to go before they sleep. Both are good, but the Spottswoode was better tonight.
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3/8/2020 - Markie_Sharkie wrote:
Great wine that paired wonderfully with bone-in filet and roasted Brussels sprout. Beautiful nose with dark fruit, cocoa, slight tobacco. Medium finish.
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2/2/2020 - gew71walsh wrote: 95 Points
Opened on 1/31 at restaurant (my own bottle)-- one hour decant in bottle. Paired superbly with filet mignon. This is balanced with great deal of complexity. Finished bottle at super bowl party with friends. Had developed some secondary characteristics and had long, lingering finish that went on and on. Superb wine. Have remaining years of 2011-2016 that I am looking forward to.
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1/17/2020 - LiteItOnFire Likes this wine: 92 Points
PnP- no notes but enjoyed the wine. Needs time to open up. I tend to prefer backus over Insignia.
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7/12/2019 - michael47 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Huge nose of cassis, smoke, olive, dried herby sage things. Dark. Delicious layers of fruit, modest tannins, rich but balanced. Fabulous cab with years left to go.
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1/19/2019 - markcic Likes this wine: 95 Points
Over two years since I last tried a bottle. Opened for 6 hours and then decanted. The nose is dark fruit, chocolate and hints of tobacco. The palate is dark berries, figs, tobacco and chocolate. The finish goes on and on. We drank it alongside a 2004 BV Latour and this was by far the better wine. This wine has definitely matured since the last bottle I had and the real rating would be 95++. Really good stuff served with roasted duck breasts.
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7/21/2018 - jstarnes Likes this wine: 92 Points
Really good but will hold the other bottles until 2020.
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4/22/2018 - thesandersfamily Likes this wine: 93 Points
Big tannins at first, give it time to open! It had big chops and paired beautifully with steak and Frites!
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3/4/2017 - tyman44 wrote: 95 Points
Opened a bottle last night and realized that it is still in its infancy. Wine is velvety and full of dark fruit flavors. Wine has a tremendously long finish. This was such a powerful wine that I am anticipating its development over the next 25 to 30 years assuming I make it that long. I think in 10-15 years the critics will be raving over this wine.
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12/31/2016 - Cali Fan Likes this wine: 94 Points
Smooth and polished.
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6/19/2016 - markcic Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted through a vinturi and let sit for two hours. Dark fruit on the nose, the palate was dark berries, tobacco, fig with touches of chocolate, A long finish. Just an outstanding bottle of wine. Will only get better in the years to come.
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3/29/2016 - gew71walsh wrote: 95 Points
Raspberry and black cherry with mineral undertones. This is complex and balanced and delivers on every level. Long, lingering finish, this wine just kept on giving. Served with a beef tenderloin and it paired beautifully, although holds up on its own as well.
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1/31/2016 - vagrantone wrote: 87 Points
First taste of Joseph Phelps Cab Sauv in more than 10 years. Perhaps naively, I had hoped that this winery which clearly is an industry leader within the New World Cabernet Sauvignon category could somehow stay closer to the style that I truly enjoyed many years ago.
The wine was decanted, but the evolution over 3+ hours didn't leave you with the impression that the wine would change dramatically.
The winemaker clearly and skillfully expressed the style of Napa Cab Sauv that was expected, but you are left with questions regarding the balance of the wine. The alcohol level stayed with you and affected the impression of the wine. The fruit was clearly on the jammy/overripe side versus a brighter, fresher fruit and the oak was omni-present. As I have been drinking the Phelps Cabs since the mid eighties, I know that there are other possible expressions of the vineyard site. It makes me want to gamble on old bottles from the 80's at auctions...
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4/18/2015 - mrmedoes Likes this wine: 95 Points
I don't know how someone could click "I don't like it." Drank in honor of Joe Phelps and it delivered. Tasted at open, then again at one hour where we decided about eight would get it where we want it. That ended up being the right amount to show its youth but also flashes of its future. Just an absolute killer nose of sweet black fruits that gives way to more earth over time. Black fruit on the palate that just has a really velvet/silky texture (my wife called it "buttery without the taste"). It leads to a massive finish that definitely has many many years ahead of it, but is enjoyable with air. The best thing I can say about it is that it gets better with each taste as the air gets to it. Not the greatest from Napa but a really great example, just like 1974 when Insignia first came out.
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5/12/2014 - Jgallup wrote: 95 Points
Unbelievable! Wonderful nose of fruit, earth, oak. Perfectly balanced bouquet of tobacco, blackberry and oak. Long finish. Love it!
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