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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 89.2 pts. and median of 90 pts. in 43 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by Gregmonroe on 4/23/2023: So I bought a cellar; 11/12/2022-12/31/2030: Poured at first from a coravin, then just opened it. Initial nose is a bit of juicy fruit, and still straw/green in the glass. I bet the color is pretty close to how it was upon release. On the palate, a touch of sweetness, fairly low acidity, and a little bit sour on the finish. Better to be enjoyed 5+ years ago, but still holding its own. (523 views) | | | Tasted by Swekman on 12/14/2014 & rated 92 points: This wine has a nice of green apple, vanilla, and peach stone. It is light and delicate on the palate -- very good. (1525 views) | | | Tasted by Jacobkatie on 8/9/2014 & rated 92 points: Smooth, buttery mouth feel, not too oaky and clean velvety finish. (1945 views) | | | Tasted by hoops92 on 6/20/2014 & rated 90 points: more pear / peach than citrus. (1586 views) | | | Tasted by Istrico on 3/2/2013 & rated 92 points: Crisp and wonderful with halibut and buttery scallops. (2016 views) | | | Tasted by JackieTreehorn on 1/29/2013 & rated 90 points: Must've been pretty good since I finished the whole bottle (other than the little bit I used for risotto). Easy to like, soft, light, fresh. Pretty good all the way around. (2891 views) | | | Tasted by Tonythefish on 12/21/2012 & rated 87 points: Straw blond color with light taste - great with Chinese food (2046 views) | | | Tasted by Tonythefish on 10/28/2012 & rated 87 points: Nice crisp lemony/grassy wine
Perfect seafood accompanied it (2208 views) | | | Tasted by wineismylife on 10/14/2012 & rated 90 points: Saturdays at One - Volume 67 (RedLoverJim's place in Fort Worth, Texas): WIML90
Tasted non blind. Opened and served immediately.
Yellow color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of cream yellow pears and a floral finish. Flavors of lemon, tangy yellow apples and a bit of yellow pear. Medium acidity, medium body. Drink now. (2967 views) | | | Tasted by GoBlue2002 on 7/2/2012 & rated 88 points: Honeymoon Wine Tasting; 6/25/2012-7/3/2012 (California - Napa & Sonoma Counties): Tasted at Winery. Clear light straw in color, with aromas of grapefruit and oak. This wine was somewhat flabby with a finish which quickly trailed off. (4268 views) | | | Tasted by Baron Slick on 6/30/2012 & rated 88 points: Full-bodied, creamy, with minerally flavors of melon, pears, citrus, grass, and vanilla. A touch sugary, but has a refined rich, crispness that segues into a pleasant spice-laden finish. (520 views) | | | Tasted by Bakek on 6/3/2012 & rated 91 points: Yummy. Winner of three SBs on the night (1453 views) | | | Tasted by AlexHop on 5/18/2012 & rated 88 points: Grassy typical style. Tasted at Insignia Day 2012 (955 views) | | | Tasted by mattyboy_ on 2/20/2012 & rated 85 points: tropical kiwi nose sans fresh cut grass. crisp with some weight. a bit too sharp though. need more fruit to balance the acids. (1663 views) | | | Tasted by rjonwine@gmail.com on 2/20/2012 & rated 88 points: Light yellow color; tart peach, pineapple nose; tart peach, ripe citrus, oak palate; medium finish (7 mos. in neutral French oak) (710 views) | | | Tasted by lumpyelbow on 10/8/2011: Napa 2011; 10/6/2011-10/9/2011 (Napa Valley, California): Bracing acid but surprisingly balanced by just a touch of sweetness on the finish. An interesting juxtaposition. Lot's of apples. VG. (2414 views) | | | Tasted by christophee on 9/24/2011 & rated 86 points: Clear, reflective and lite in the glass. Oak, tropical fruit, wet stone on the nose. Secondary flowers. Same on the palate, mineral driven and tart. Little bit of waxiness. Medium finish. Too much oak prevents is from being clean and refreshing. (1412 views) | | | Tasted by anonymoose12345 on 9/12/2011 & rated 91 points: Oak aging adds a very luxurious mouthfeel but flavor is still all about the fruit. Refreshing acidity on the finish. (1413 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, May/June 2012, IWC Issue #162
(Joseph Phelps Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley) Subscribe to see review text. | i-WineReview.com, California Selections 2012 (3/10/2012)
(Joseph Phelps Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley) Subscribe to see review text. | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (2/20/2012)
(Joseph Phelps Sauvignon Blanc) Light yellow color; tart peach, pineapple nose; tart peach, ripe citrus, oak palate; medium finish (7 mos. in neutral French oak) 88 points |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Vinous and i-WineReview.com and 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)St. Helena Appellation Napa Valley
The single vineyards on weinlagen-info |
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