External search
Google (images)
Wine Advocate
Wine Spectator
Burghound
Wine-Searcher
Vintages
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
Show more
From this producer
Show all wines
All tasting notes
|
| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Drinking window: Drink between 2007 and 2009 (based on 4 user opinions) |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 87.7 pts. and median of 88 pts. in 29 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by DrSpalding on 12/10/2014 & rated 85 points: Past its prime for sure. (1511 views) | | | Tasted by Stefanos T. on 11/3/2011 & rated 87 points: Nose is tired with some wet wood aromas, nuttiness. Judging only from the nose I would dismiss this wine straight away but palate is still very powerful with high acidity and intense nutty and citrucy flavours. (1837 views) | | | Tasted by Dokken on 11/2/2011 & rated 87 points: Much better in palate than nose which shows supressed friut,vegetality, oakiness and chips. Ripe and creamy with balancing acidity, forward fuit and generous alcohol.Evolved and mellow overall. (2789 views) | | | Tasted by BMG Wine on 6/8/2011 & rated 91 points: Absolutely beautiful and delicious. Bouquet of starfruit, kiwi, mango and lemon oil. At this age, no grass on the nose. Balanced acid and tropical fruit on the palate. This is amazingly complex and delicious despite Parker saying it's old. Wish I had more. (2816 views) | | | Tasted by Swekman on 12/31/2010 & rated 88 points: Smooth and subtle with overtones of melon and apple. The wine has an acidic mouthfeel on the finish, yet is elegant, not overpowering. (1820 views) | | | Tasted by hutch on 9/13/2010: Was wondering why this was such a strange, not very pleasant bottle, but then I see it's a 2006. (1328 views) | | | Tasted by stenz on 5/25/2010 & rated 85 points: Very nice, I might of waited a bit too long to open this; seemed a little past it's peak. but overall good quality and very drinkable. (2535 views) | | | Tasted by oog on 1/21/2010 & rated 89 points: Pop and pour. Some pear on the nose. Grassy also. fairly big nose. Taste some citrus. My friend really liked this wine. May be a a little past its peak? Still very good. Have not tried with food yet, will see if that changes anything. (2483 views) | | | Tasted by Starwalker on 11/22/2009 & rated 89 points: Citrus nose, somewhat acidic. Not bad, though. (2720 views) | | | Tasted by kostaslonis on 11/11/2009 & rated 87 points: Genka Wine Fair: (tasting in gen.ka wine fair) Mr Phelps has cheated here a little bit since he added an 8% of Semillon and 33% of new oak was used. A beautiful bright color. The nose is filled with ripe fruits while the mouth is so full and sweet, with enough acidity though to keep absolutely balanced. A medium aftertaste with fruits like pears and apricots appearing again. This is a quite good wine , but a rather expensive (33€). (1486 views) | | | Tasted by winebot on 9/5/2009: Great with Havarti Cheese (1451 views) | | | Tasted by wpdavey on 8/2/2009 & rated 87 points: A very good Sauvignon Blanc. (1474 views) | | | Tasted by hcampana on 11/3/2008 & rated 91 points: Retailer wine tasting (Lots of TNs incl. 05 Torre Muga, 05 Guado al Tasso, 06 Achaval Mirador, 05 Pintia, etc.) (Monterrey, Mexico): Excellent! Fresh, but lacking any bothering herbacous notes. (2247 views) | | | Tasted by jonwill on 9/3/2008 & rated 87 points: Decent Sav Blanc with nice citrus nose and solid acid. Unfortunately, the upfront is too sour and finish is not as crisp as previous JP sav blanc releases. Slightly disappointing vs prior vintages, but still a solid effort. (1623 views) | | | Tasted by vinoceros on 8/31/2008 & rated 91 points: A very nice wine. Lime and Meyer lemon flavors. The semillon really smooths it out nicely. Well balanced wine without that overpowering grassiness that some Sauv Blancs have. (1249 views) | | | Tasted by Paul Lin on 8/22/2008 & rated 89 points: Bright rounded aromas of grapefruit, honeydew melon, star fruit, and kiwi. Creamy yet crisp on the palate with notes of lemon and lime zest, grapefruit, and melon. A balanced wine showing a lot of finesse and restraint. Excellent with tonight's Thai green curry. 89-90 points. (1220 views) | | | Tasted by rjonwine@gmail.com on 5/31/2008 & rated 89 points: Focused lemon grass, grapefruit, mineral and oak palate; medium finish (800 views) | | | Tasted by LeechDogg on 4/11/2008 & rated 89 points: Nice American oak flavors; almost dominating the fruit, however. (1315 views) | | | Tasted by rloomis on 3/30/2008: lime and slightly creamy from blend of semillon. (1322 views) | | | Tasted by Vino Me on 3/17/2008 & rated 86 points: Joseph Phelps Vineyards Visit (St. Helena, Napa Valley): I was told that 2006 was the inaugural vintage for this wine. 92% Sauvignon Blanc and 8% Semillon. A tart and zippy wine. Notes of grapefruit and lemons. Clean finish. 86 points. (2002 views) | | | Tasted by jtcseventysix on 12/27/2007 & rated 87 points: Consumed during Christmas 2007 in Chicago; paired with French Onion Soup (a great pairing, which made this taste better than it is); Citrus and grapefruit in a crisp, elegant, light to medium-bodied style. (1927 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (5/31/2008)
(Joseph Phelps Sauvignon Blanc) Focused lemon grass, grapefruit, mineral and oak palate; medium finish 89 points |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of RJonWine.com. (manage subscription channels) |
| Joseph Phelps Producer website
In the late 60s, Joseph Phelps was running one of the largest construction companies in the U.S. when he won the bid to build Souverain Winery (now Rutherford Hill) located a few miles outside of St. Helena. Enamored with the beautiful Napa Valley and contemplating a career change, in 1973 he bought the 600-acre Connolly cattle ranch in Spring Valley, and began planting vineyards. The winery was completed in 1974 and that same year the first Syrah was made, the first grapes were crushed at the new facility and the first Insignia was produced. It was a period of unparalleled activity, creativity, ingenuity, entrepreneurship and risk-taking and it put Joe Phelps on the map of top Napa Valley wine producers.
Nearly four decades later, the flagship wine, Insignia, is recognized as one of the world’s great wines. Twenty nine of 34 vintages have been rated ninety or more points by various wine publications. From 1990 to 2007, the average score from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate is 94.5 pts., with the lowest score still a fabulous 91. The 2002 vintage was “Wine of the Year” by Wine Spectator Magazine, and the 2007 vintage has been rated 98 points by Robert Parker and 96 points by Wine Spectator Magazine.
Over the years, the goal of becoming 100% estate grown resulted in carefully planned acquisitions of prime vineyards in the Napa Valley. Today, the Phelps estate consists of the Spring Valley Home Ranch outside of St. Helena, Banca Dorada in Rutherford, Las Rocas and Barboza vineyards in Stags Leap, Yountville Vineyard in Oak Knoll, Suscol Vineyard in South Napa and Backus Vineyard in Oakville.
Beginning with the 2009 vintage, estate-grown wines include Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Insignia, Backus (the single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from Oakville) and Eisrébe, a dessert wine made from the Scheurebe grape. In addition, a small amount of Syrah is produced from fruit owned by Hyde Vineyards in Los Carneros.
Though the main focus is on Bordeaux varietals, Joe Phelps has had a life-long love affair with the wines of Burgundy and a desire to craft wines in that style. Originally Chardonnay was sourced from St. Helena, later from Yountville and then from Los Carneros. Through the years, however, Joe continued to search for the ideal spot to grow both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and his search ended when the perfect combination of climate, soil and location was found in Freestone, located in the Sonoma Coast AVA, a mere eight miles from the Pacific Ocean. In 1999, 200 acres were acquired and planting began. Today, 80 acres of Pinot Noir and 20 acres of Chardonnay are producing some remarkable wines which are available for tasting at the Freestone Guest Center. Visit Freestone Vineyards to learn more.Sauvignon Blanc Varietal CharacterUSAAmerican wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.California2021 vintage: "Unlike almost all other areas of the state, the Russian River Valley had higher than normal crops in 2021, which has made for a wine of greater generosity and fruit forwardness than some of its stablemates." - Morgan Twain-Peterson Napa Valley Napa Valley Wineries and Wine (Napa Valley Vintners)Napa ValleySt. Helena |
|
