Joseph Phelps, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

Big fan of Phelps Cabernets. This one is a little more flat at the moment than others I have had in the past. Far prefer the 2017 vintage actually. Little light on the typical dark fruit. Agree with the reviews of a tart backdrop that shortens the wine. Little bit of leather and tobacco. Having said that, am comparing this to really high standards I have for their wines. Buy most vintages and will continue to do so. Top stuff. …

2018 vintage

Consistent with my last notes. Really great cabernet. Should sail through the end of the decade.

2018 vintage

Lots of dark black fruit, some tobacco and leather notes. IMO a solid 93 points. Will improve with few more years, but it’s excellent now .

2018 vintage

I agree that this has some bitterness and a big wallop of blue/black fruit. I like the bitterness and the oaky bits myself, and regardless this was a crowd-pleaser. If you want nuance, this is not the bottle you’re looking for; but our family really enjoyed it. Well worth the bottle price, but I probably wouldn’t buy a case.

2018 vintage

Agree with an earlier post this wine has a bitterness on the tip of the tongue on the secondary taste. Not bad just different. Dark fruits with tannins and should drink well for some time to come.

2018 vintage

These are so good 15 yrs plus. In fact, insanely given the price point. Again, a touch of bandaid on the nose that doesn’t affect the palate. Grainy, fine M+ tannins. It is rich, lush, ripe; blackberries, plum, dark cherries, raspberry hues & hints of strawberries & blueberries. Berry cola/licorice, mocha, caramel, black licorice, soft, layered baking spices, espresso, oak barrel powder, black tea, tobacco w/ ash, used/soft leather, excellent, soft, dark spices, melted dark chocolate to pudding, crushed rocks …

2004 vintage

Slightly muted nose with lots of expressive blue and black fruit on the pallet, with an appreciated secondary bitterness that would make for many positive food applications. It’s very enjoyable to drink. Plush, dense fruit, round. Not special, but good. Moderate length. Balanced freshness and wood.

2018 vintage

A very soft beautifully balanced 20 plus year wine. Yum. My last magnum

2004 vintage

Pnp which probably doesnt do it justice. It was ok, nose is muted and finish is short. Tannins are integrated at this stage (though probably could do another 2-3 years of integration). Just fruit fruit fruit without anything else. Finish is short, easy to drink but much more to be desired

2018 vintage

This was really good. More structure than i expected, with rich darker fruits. I think this might need 2 more years, and should drink great for another 8-10 years.

2018 vintage

Did not get to taste. Destroyed

2018 vintage

Excellent bottle we had with the iconic Pepper Steak at The Tree Room at Sundance.

2018 vintage

Damn, the mid-palate is just not there. Not sure why, they need to leave the skins on for longer. So wife loves this wine, however I do feel the mid-palate like other bottles is just not filling out. dark cherry, blackcurrant, baking spices, dark chocolate and cedar notes, yet this wine fades as soon as it hits the mid palate, it just fades away.

2018 vintage

Double decanted and let breath for 1 1/2 hours. I recommend letting it sit for at least 2 1/2 hours at this point…thats when it turned into a 93+ pointer, and you could tell it’s still young. I’m guessing all of the 91 or worse scores were pop and pour or just didn’t give it the time it needs. Prominent flavor of cherries, plum, and cassis, mellow nose. It easily has another 7-10 years, but I won’t open my last …

2018 vintage

On the nose, berries; vanilla; and cedar. On the palate, lacks fruit. medium body; moderate finish; and well managed alcohol. Not a bad wine; but, not impressive. Nothing like Insignia.

2018 vintage

Nose after around 45min to an hour or so is very mild... An almost cotton-like lightness that I would even consider to be a little diluted... I gave it a vigorous swirl in the glass, which immediately released an almost stewed, jammy fragrance. I love it. Pouring more in the glass, I get a hint of wood, although I'm not sure which kind... I can't help but sip it while trying to focus only on the nose...Candied fruit, a beautifully …

2004 vintage

(median value of available pro reviews)

2018 vintage

Mid palate is nicely filled out now, notes of dark cherry, mocha chocolate, coffee bean, dusty tannins long and succulent.

2018 vintage

From a magnum. Very surprised by how good this was. Excellent in every way.

2004 vintage

Pop and pour. If you like oak, this is for you. Very simple and made for the masses. Not my cup of tea, but if you like the style, have at it. Not the best QPR especially at inflated Canadian LCBo prices.

2018 vintage

a little thin compared to other Napa cabs of this vintage. Better as it warmed up and opened up.

2018 vintage

Great now, but I’ll wait 3-4 years to open another

2018 vintage

Similar to Robert's situation and review ... this bottle was a gift from my father in 2007 and cellared in an underground wine storage facility until 3 weeks ago. I have been pulling a "Past Due" each month in order to work through some of the older or forgotten bottles that may be past thier prime. Our JP 2004 bottle was still quite nice - still some solid fruit notes, very smooth on the pallet, but with a thinner and …

2004 vintage

Unimpressed. So big that it’s hard to detect any complexity. Maybe need to wait a couple more years.

2018 vintage

Really impressive longevity for this style of wine and price point. Has evolved beautifully although still pretty heavy on the wood. Pleasant surprise and glad I have a couple more that I won't wait too long to enjoy with grilled ribeye.

1997 vintage

This is a step up from when I last tasted this wine 2 years ago, the mid palate has filled up quite nicely, yet wow these 2018s are big, I decanted this for 2 hours, however the fruit on this is very much in your face, I much prefer the 2019s at this point which seem to be a lot more elegant. I am not sure when a good drinking window for this wine would be, maybe in 5+ years. …

2018 vintage

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, …

1997 vintage

Tasted this wine at Lee Do Restaurant for a wine dinner. Theme of the evening: Wines that start with the letter U. Dark purple in colour. Concentrated notes of mocha, cassis, blueberries, cedar, and dark chocolate. Smooth and silky on the palate. Went down without a fight. What a wine.

2018 vintage

was expecting a better experience . a bit tart. open up over time

2018 vintage

Refined

2018 vintage

Typical Cali profile out of the gate. Nice fruit, moderate tannins, long finish. The complexity never came, though maybe the bottle was finished too quickly.

2018 vintage

out of the gate a bit of a stern beeatch but with some time it becomes a very nice wine. 2 hours to be exact. Settles in nicely expressing classic napa cab. A bit monolithic but enjoyable none the less. Dark fruits-blackberry / cassis balance is great and general impression of the wine got better as time went on. Gotta love Phelps!

2018 vintage

Although Parker will say that even the flagship bottlings will go 25+ years, I decided to try our oldest Phelps just to check in. Mostly out of curiosity, but also caution: this is one of my most "overdue" drink date bottles, according to CT, and also based on some of the most recent user reviews. I purchased this at the winery ~ 2008/9 and can tell you that my bottle has been cellared the entire time, except for a cross-country …

2004 vintage

Almost bad. Had to be strained

2004 vintage

Dark ruby color. Fruit has diminished a bit, but still some notes of cherry and vanilla with an earthy base.

2004 vintage

Deep ruby color. Fruit has faded a bit, but an earthy, dark cherry hint remains.

2004 vintage

- Garnet color with medium forming legs and has flavours of cherry and cloves. Smooth texture with a short finish.

2004 vintage

This represents everything great about aged Cali CS! Wonderful flavors as a result of the tannin disappearing. Loved it!!

1997 vintage

Rich, velvety and integrated. Drinking beautifully with cassis, chocolate and sweet dark currant.

1997 vintage

From magnum, double decanted six hours before service. Truly outstanding at this point. The tannins are fully resolved, leaving just a bit of dryness. Lots of sweet black and red fruits, like cassis, blackberry and raspberry. Drinking extremely well right now.

1997 vintage

Praelum - American Beauties (Praelum Wine Bistro) : Surprising acidity and freshness after 22 years. Black cherry, cassis, plum, grass. Comparatively lighter than other Napa wines tasted, but still packs a good structure

1997 vintage

Still drinking well

1997 vintage

Still lots of sediment but overall a very nice wine. Opened up nicely the next morning for the remaining glass.

2004 vintage

Wonderful complex nose ,on the palate plenty of dark fruit, tannins fully resolved. Though mature, and probably at peak, this wine still has a youthful nature. Glad to have a couple more of these

1997 vintage

I enjoyed this, big and jammy. Very dense for its age. Cork broke getting it out but it wasn't in poor shape

2004 vintage

rich & velvety with a lot of life remaining....sumptuous!

1997 vintage

PopnPour, tasted over 2 hrs -murky nearly opaque dark red mild bricking -cassis and mature elements -med/med- acidity, dense med+ weight with an almost gloppy sweetness prune and faint mature elements with sweet oak and med- tannins on the fairly long finish -awkward due to a little too much ripeness and oak, probably past prime, which is a shame for a 20 year old Napa cab from an esteemed producer

1997 vintage

Great fruit. Soft tannins. Really drinking nice now. Best of these I've had.

2004 vintage

A ton better than the last time and another magnum. Deep garnet red. Layered nose with dark fruits, plums, spices, purple floral notes and toasted wood. Medium tannins (6.5/10) and medium to medium plus body. Palate has notes with black cherries, dark cocoa, and gravel. Long finish. Drink till 2020.

2004 vintage

Found this and opened without decanting. Mild fruit over silky tannins. Was well cellared for 18 years and drank like a second growth Bordeaux. What a wine. Less power than my earlier bottles, but a genuine treat to find among the other Napa reds.

1997 vintage

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Joseph Phelps, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

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