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Tasting of 5 Phelps and 4 Opus One

Walnut Creek, Ca.

Tasted December 16, 1993 by bestdamncab with 128 views

Introduction

Wine Group opened great Cabernet Sauvignons

Flight 1 - Expensive line up of Phelps and Opus One Vintages from 1984 to 1990 (9 notes)

Napa Cabernet versus Napa Bordeaux style

Red
1986 Opus One USA, California, Napa Valley
93 points
Tasting of 5 Phelps and 4 Opus, rich, open, fruity berry nose, very rich, tasty wine, lovely to taste, noted rich wine a second time in the note, slightly short finish. One of my two favorite Opus One of all time.
Red
1989 Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon Backus Vineyard USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville
92 points
Tasting of 5 Phelps and 4 Opus, good tobacco and cherries on the nose, lovely taste, rich, elegant wine, needs 4 years to peak, chewy, intense and rough fruit on the palate.
Red
1989 Opus One USA, California, Napa Valley
90 points
Tasting of 5 Phelps and 4 Opus, very spicy nose, rich, creamy taste, more open and forward fruity taste than the others, elegant, medium/big body, lovely, elegant finish.
Red
1987 Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard USA, California, Napa Valley
90 points
Tasting of 5 Phelps and 4 Opus, nose of rich, intense mint, tea, eucalyptus, and green bell pepper, nice taste, needs 2/3 years to peak, long finish, will develop.
Red
1984 Opus One USA, California, Napa Valley
90 points
Tasting of 5 Phelps and 4 Opus, very rich, overripe, cardboard nose, very ripe and rich taste, nice berry, flavorful finish. same score 3 years earlier on 10/20/1990.
Red
1990 Opus One USA, California, Napa Valley
90 points
Tasting of 5 Phelps and 4 Opus, given the same score a week earlier, rich, brilliant red color in the glass, very Cabernet Sauvignon nose with a hint of green bell pepper, clearly, deep, intense fruit, elegant wine, great taste, slightly short finish.
Red
1990 Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon Backus Vineyard USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville
89 points
Tasting of 5 Phelps and 4 Opus, nose of rich fruit, hints of berry, spice, and stems, lovely, needs 4/5 years to peak, nice, long finish.
Red
1990 Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley USA, California, Napa Valley
87 points
Tasting of 5 Phelps and 4 Opus, very rich fruit on the nose, slightly green stem and herbal, lovely Cabernet Sauvignon nose, medium/big body, tasty berry fruit, needs 2 years.
Red
1989 Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard USA, California, Napa Valley
85 points
Tasting of 5 Phelps and 4 Opus, Nice, rich Cabernet Sauvignon nose , tasty wine but plain, one dimensional, high acid.

Closing

Some good vintages, others mediocre but score represents my tasting.

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