2016 Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Grown Napa Valley
Community Tasting Note
RayT Likes this wine:
Thursday, December 14, 2023 - Been at least 5 years since I drank a bottle of this (different vintage). When I have drank these at an earlier stage I always tell myself they need more age. This was a last minute pull so this was a pnp.
This full bodied wine was garnet in color with a nice nose of blackberry, blueberry, coffee, and baking spices. Similar on the palatte with cassis, blackberry, spice, tobacco and earth. This needed some air to come together. Probably best at the 4 hour mark. It was smoother on day 2 but lost some vibrancy of the fruit. Still was fine on day 3 so this wine still has plenty of life left in it. As this wine got more air (2nd and 3rd day) the cassis and tobacco started to dominate the wine.
It always surprises me how this bottling is more powerful than the Insignia but it lacks its elegance and complexity. Ideally I would hold this bottle 1 more year. If drinking now give it a 2-3 hour decant.
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3 comments have been posted
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Comment posted by Mark1npt:
12/20/2023 7:38:00 PM - So many '16s are needing 3+ hour decants these days, Ray!
I agree...this straight Cab has a hard time holding up against that great Bdx blend, Insignia!
Comment posted by RayT:
12/20/2023 8:38:00 PM - Mark I agree. The 2016's aren't muted right now but they need quite a bit of air to come together. '16 and '19 were my go to vintages. Can't drink the 18's and I bought no '17's or 20's. Started to sort through my cellar and drink some stray vintages here and there. Going to give the 13's a go again. One bottle is amazing another not ready.
Comment posted by Mark1npt:
12/20/2023 9:07:00 PM - Almost identical for me here on my end, Ray......I have been backfilling the cellar (since not buying any '17s or '20s), with '06-'08 and '12s-'16s.