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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 92.2 pts. and median of 93 pts. in 46 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by Jim B on 11/20/2023 & rated 93 points: Decanted for an hour, but really show it's best at the end of bottle, which was about 1 1/2 hours in. I would drink soon, if I had more. (433 views) | | | Tasted by Darwine on 9/25/2021 & rated 96 points: This wine opened up within a half hour. Nose was leather and tobacco and a hint of dark fruit. The palate had beautiful blCk fruit of black cherry, black berry and some sweet dark olum. The tannins were rounded and let the fruit come forward. The finish has a splash of acidity that left you wanting more - long and expressive!! (2441 views) | | | Tasted by Darwine on 9/12/2020 & rated 94 points: Only took 20 minutes in the open bottle to open up. Nose of black fruit, mainly black cherry and leather. Pallet full of black cherry notes with a nice ascending note of black currant. Finish was soft with notes of black cherry and leather and vanilla all over. (3104 views) | | | Tasted by Darwine on 5/25/2020 & rated 94 points: A beautiful full bodied wine. Nose of dark fruit and after a good airing the alchohol was not a relevant part of the wine. Nose of dark fruit and some smoke or leather. The palate was delighted with deep dark fruit, black raspberry, black cherry and a currant essence with the round tannins. Finish was long and delightful as the acid, tannins and fruit fight for the end of the line. (2839 views) | | | Tasted by bryon m on 2/23/2020 & rated 93 points: Bob Strasser -a good friend hosted three of us for a night of wine tasting. We had the following wines: 1994 Far Niente Cab, 2006 Phelps Backus, 2007 Phelps Insignia, 2009 Rudd Cab, 2016 Harlen "The Maiden" This tasting went for 3 and a half hours. Needless to sayall the wines were fantastic and the night was nothing but good drink, food and laughter. The Far Niente held up well considering it is 26 years old - Good body, color was garnet and clarity was perfect - amazing - I probably bought this bottle 23 years ago. The mouth feel was soft and round with nice berry flavors middle to finish. Very Nice! The Backus was also in good shape - the body was a little heavier and the color was a little darker. It was also flavorful - Berries and menthol flavors start to end, I would say less fruit forward but a little more complex. (2248 views) | | | Tasted by vpoms on 8/17/2019 & rated 93 points: Clear deep purple. Clean nose, pronounced intensity with rich and opulent black cherry, strong vanilla, prunes , tar, savory aromas of meat and mushrooms. Probably still developing but primary aromas are giving way to tertiary flavors. On the palate: dry, medium plus acidity, very fine and silky tannins, medium alcohol, medium plus body, pronounced flavors of very rich, mouthful cooked fruit, bitter chocolate, prunes. Finish is medium +. Very good wine drink now or age for 5 + more years (3132 views) | | | Tasted by Bachus Maling on 8/15/2019 & rated 94 points: Backus is the crown jewel of Napa Cab. It won out over Shrader Hillside, Sloan, Maya, Hundred Acre in side by side tasting. Enjoyed it with Tomahawk Ribeyes and grilled octopus. Beautiful wine. (2019 views) | | | Tasted by gteran76 on 1/4/2019 & rated 92 points: Very strong perfume on the nose, tight for the first hour, full body and long finish. It will pair well with NY Strip Steak. This was wine number 6 of our Couples Wine Group, the wine was decanted for one hour with I believe was not enough, thankfully towards the very end I enjoyed the last sip showing a broader spectrum and complexity. Very good wine with better days ahead! (2356 views) | | | Tasted by bryon m on 12/24/2017 & rated 91 points: Christmas Eve dinner was complete with this bottle. Excellent color, clarity and body. Good From start to a long finish with berry, caramel and chocolate flavors. (872 views) | | | Tasted by jchrisharris on 8/15/2017 & rated 94 points: A very thick texture with lots of dark, juicy fruit, powerful round tannins and a pleasing acid bite, while managing to keep the alcohol in control.
I've had Backus a few times now and while each year is different, I find them to be a really representative example of high end Napa-style cab. This was paired with an aged ribeye and was served for comparison alongside a 1998 Dunn cab. While the contrast in styles and ages certainly sparked conversation, but Backus more than held its own and I would recommend this to anyone who liked Napa style cab. (4029 views) | | | Tasted by IGN WINESNOB on 7/9/2017 & rated 92 points: Popped and v'd. Nice nose and finish from the start. Smooth. May be near its prime or just past but enjoyable. (3518 views) | | | Tasted by enofilene on 12/23/2016 & rated 90 points: Huge mouthfeeel with lots of mouthdrying tannins, spice, red and purple fruit, immense mid palate that quickly evaporates with finish. (3630 views) | | | Tasted by CJM on 10/23/2016 & rated 89 points: clear garnet with slight rim browning . cigar box, tar, leather medium to low acida, very low tannins anise mmedium to short balanced finish . winery event . (3548 views) | | | Tasted by Whine-oh on 5/6/2016 & rated 90 points: Napa cab in a non-over-the-top style. Not big and fat like some cabs can be. That is a good thing. At 11 years old it was in a good place tonight. Nice fruit with good balance. Venturied into our glasses about one half hour before dinner. Did not realize that we had opened a $200 bottle of wine until we were 1/2 eat thru it. Lol! We did enjoy this Bordeaux styled Callie cab. Picked up in a trade years ago. All in all it was a nice wine and we both enjoyed, but not worth the tariff. No major flaws just not a WOW wine tonight. Will it get better with time? (3754 views) | | | Tasted by michaelkelley5@mac.com on 12/25/2015: Wonderful wine with Christmas dinner (2963 views) | | | Tasted by rmcnees on 10/3/2015 & rated 94 points: This 2005 release tasting was a bit closed and tight, at ten years old this has many years of life yet and may not even have reached its peak drinking window.
Dark inky garnet purple colored, smooth polished nicely balanced black berry and black raspberry fruits, tones of anise and cedar turning to a hints of dark mocha on the long lingering silky smooth tannin finish.
Vertical tasting of Backus and Phelps Insignia - http://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2015/10/gala-celebration-dinner-features-phelps.html (2860 views) | | | Tasted by Paradigm Media on 12/10/2014 & rated 94 points: Lovely wine. Currant, blackberry and light leather. The fruit was still at the forefront of this long finishing wine. Mild, balanced tannins made this a very nice experience. Decanted for an hour, and the last glass showed rose notes at the end. (3129 views) | | | Tasted by thelostverse on 11/22/2014 & rated 89 points: 4th Saturday group. Bordeaux profile. Guessed Bordeaux. (2593 views) | | | Tasted by AllRed on 11/22/2014 & rated 89 points: Dark color. Black currants, plum and vanilla aromas with a subtle bouillon note in the background. Flavors of black fruit and vanilla. Nicely balanced, but not distinctive in any particular way.
I suspect this is simply shut down. Give it plenty of time. (2943 views) | | | Tasted by Rob MacKay on 8/30/2014 & rated 91 points: Tannins are nicely resolved at this point which is allowing the dark fruit and berry profile to stream through quite nicely. I expected a little more from the nose, which is slightly subdued but the flavors and overall richness make up for it. Decent length finish. Overall a very nice bottle but doesn't stand apart from any of the other wines in it's class. (2633 views) | | | Tasted by CLOrta on 9/23/2013 & rated 96 points: Drinking very nice will only get better with age... I'd say 2 more yrs is prime (856 views) | | | Tasted by Yiannis on 4/15/2013 & rated 96 points: Backus vs. Insignia (Atheneum Intercontinental Hotel, Athens, Greece.): Stand between the 2004 and 2005 in terms of richness, but aromatically it is different to both, with a less fruity and more savory aromatic profile. Charcoal, barbecue smoke and scorched earth alongside dark chocolate, dark plums and blackberry jam with sweet spice. Full-bodied, dense and very long with firm, fine-grained tannins and a relatively high acidity that sets it apart from most top Napa cabs. Needs time to nintegrate its components. (5450 views) | | | Tasted by kostaslonis on 4/14/2013 & rated 95 points: (Deals/Genka Gastronomy Fair, J. Phelps Backus & Insignia mini vertical, Intercontinental Hotel)
This is a blend of 94% CS, 4% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec, inox fermenting tanks, 24 months in oak, total production 13.000 btl.
Dense and complex nose but more restraint than the '04 and '05 offering fruits, spicy notes and toast.
In the palate the wine is strong, the alcohol gives a burn, bold tannic structure and the acidity is at rather much higher levels too. The oak hasn't blended in yet, still the wine offers an excellent long aftertaste of black fruits and toasted oak. I think this vintage stood apart from the other two. (3335 views) | | | Tasted by mattyboy_ on 2/18/2012 & rated 90 points: I suppose shortcomings of the vintage shows here in the wine. lacks power and intensity of the 2005, 2006 or even the 2008. tannins already resolved but a bit boring and tired on the palate. (2857 views) | | | Tasted by jeffm_fla on 12/19/2010 & rated 87 points: Unfortunately for Phelps, Laube nailed the rating on this one. Nice enough flavors, but not the depth or complexity we would expect from a $200 bottle of Backus. I will wait another year or two before I open my last bottle. (6276 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| 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.Cabernet SauvignonCabernet Sauvignon is probably the most famous red wine grape variety on Earth. It is rivaled in this regard only by its Bordeaux stablemate Merlot, and its opposite number in Burgundy, Pinot Noir. From its origins in Bordeaux, Cabernet has successfully spread to almost every winegrowing country in the world. It is now the key grape variety in many first-rate New World wine regions, most notably Napa Valley, Coonawarra and Maipo Valley. Wherever they come from, Cabernet Sauvignon wines always seem to demonstrate a handful of common character traits: deep color, good tannin structure, moderate acidity and aromas of blackcurrant, tomato leaf, dark spices and cedarwood.
Used as frequently in blends as in varietal wines, Cabernet Sauvignon has a large number of common blending partners. Apart from the obvious Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the most prevalent of these are Malbec, Petit Verdot and Carmenere (the ingredients of a classic Bordeaux Blend), Shiraz (in Australia's favorite blend) and in Spain and South America, a Cabernet – Tempranillo blend is now commonplace. Even the bold Tannat-based wines of Madiran are now generally softened with Cabernet SauvignonUSAAmerican 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)Oakville |
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