Almost two years since I last tried a bottle. Opened and pnp'd over a few hours. Dark fruit on the nose. The palate was berry, plums, tobacco and mocha. The finish was moderate to long.
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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.
This the sadly the last vintage before there is another style shift. This 2016 Napa is well made, not much oak there. Tomato-y, some green notes, balance of fruits, acidity, tannin. Very Napa in a good way.
Classy Napa Cab that begs for a grilled filet or a generously seasoned roasted chicken. Very old school and ready to enjoy. Cassis, cedar, pencil lead. Some drying tannins and a bit of heat in the finish. Nice but not stellar, esp for $60 a pop. But that seems to be the entry point even for average Napa Cabs nowadays. Drink now to 2025. The QPR makes this a pass for me.
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Opened up nicely after a 90 minute decant. Smooth and full bodied. Dark fruit initially, then a hint of spicy caramel on the finish. Medium-heavy tannins. Great with steak
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Fantastic and elegant cabernet. Delicious and well balanced. Bold and full bodied with medium plus tannins, blackberry, earth, tobacco and vanilla with a hint of spice. and tobacco notes on the nose. No doubt the wine could have lasted another 10-12 years, but after an hour decant, it was superb!
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We are big fans of Phelps and their Napa Cab is a go to and makes up a decent part of our cellar. My wife likes them a little younger while I prefer a little bottle age, so we find that somewhere in the 6-7 years after the vintage appeals to both of us.
We brought one of the 2016s to Jenny Lake Lodge at Grand Teton National Park to have with dinner and it was showing really well. We had the restaurant open it about an hour before our reservation, and the little decant really helped open it up. The tannins are well integrated and lead to a smooth, lingering finishing. Lots of cocoa and leather notes on the nose, and still lots of pronounced dark berries and cocoa on the palette.
This is in a good spot for both my wife and I’s taste, so I image we drink most of the case we have left over the next year or so. I’ll pry carve off one or two to let age for a few more years to see if/how they develop, but I’m not 100% sure they will. Having a 2017 Cade tonight, so it will be interesting to see how they compare.
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4-hour decant; opens with light cassis, tobacco and cherry aromas; plush and round mid-palate with perfect spice notes; an outstanding balance of fruit, acidity and allspice; fine tannins built for long term cellaring; 2025 ++
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Drinking fantastic. Powerful nose, bright crimson color. Blend of spices hits you on the first sip. Had to fight myself from drinking it too fast over the evening. Similar comments from our first bottle in September of 2020.
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Still too young but clearly an exceptionally made cabernet. Surprising green bell pepper on the mid pallet. Tannins are smoothing out nicely. Finish was dark fruit forward and again surpassed my expectations on its length. Decanted for a total of 2 hours.
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Typical CS characteristics. Dark Fruit, Some "tarry sensations" but with a touch of sweetness. More complexity as the wine passes back. Earthiness or minerality. A mouth-filling full-bodied wine. Pleasant, long-lasting finish, Just a terrific wine which is, probably nowhere near competion of its development.
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Decanted for 2 hrs. Would have preferred to have left this for a few more years but had to open a bit sooner. Pleasant red fruit bouquet, red and black fruit on the palate with some vanilla and herbs. Medium length and some tannins. Approachable but needs more time.
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Good with steaks. Should get better with age. Lots of dark fruit with hints of oak and eucalyptus. Some fennel, vanilla, and other spices detected. Earthy flavors just starting to show.
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Very nice Cabernet with lots of cellar time needed. Rich ruby color in the glass, influenced by the petit-verdot blend. Initial taste of fresh berries, thought I was drinking a merlot. A bit left and looking to compare on Day 2.
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Yeah that’s a tasty wine. Not sure the QPR is there for us Canadian folk, but the fruit and finish are solid. Had with Pine Ridge and the JP was my pick.
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Decanted for 1.5hrs. Dark purple in color. Nose of oak, tobacco, strawberry, rose petals. Light and silky in texture. Tastes of blueberry, chocolate, cinnamon, vanilla. Finishes with black pepper. Long finish. Consistent deliciousness from Phelps.
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Despite 2 hour decant the first day seemed closed and the fruit I had previously noted in this wine was not forthcoming. The second day was remarkably better with sweet blueberry and blackberry with some cherry and cocoa. Tannins much calmer. (Score was from second day tasting)
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Bottle decanted in a water jug for three hours before dinner. A concentrated, powerful and deep wine. Its complexity is detected from the first moment with menthol, cherry and lactic notes on the nose and ripe black berries on the palate, with acidity and an elegant spicy yet tannic essence. It is already to be done but it shows its own ways now.
Botella decantada en una jarra de agua por espacio de tres horas antes de cenar. Un vino concentrado, potente y profundo. Su complejidad se detecta desde un primer momento con notas mentoladas, a cerezas y tambien lácticas en nariz y bayas negras maduras en boca, con acidez y una elegante esencia especiada aunque tánica. Está por hacer pero ya apunta maneras.
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TC from Santee describes this correctly. Muted nose, nice flavor profile, but not as good as typical Phelps Cabs. Good, not great. Maybe more time in bottle will help.
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This was not their best vintage of JP Cab. But I enjoyed it. I recommend a 1 hour decant which I didn’t do. The nose was somewhat muted. On the pallet it was toasty with a medium to full bodied with berry notes, cassis, dark chocolates a hint of mint with edgy tannins. At $60 it was missing complexity worthy of the price.
I'm with the boosters here. Perfect bottle bought from restaurant cellar during the plague in Los Gatos... Had it for the second time last night and it outshone a pair of more expensive vints from napa and spain. The profile has improved over the last 20 months---Cassis, plum, baking spices, toasty oak inflected topsoil.
If you can find a case of this around 65 per neck, it'll make a great house cab--I'm cleaning out a struggling resto right now with this in mind.
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US wines in Honolulu: Deep purple red. A nose of spicy, vanillin oak, quite dominant, at present, with blackberries, crème de cassis and a hint of damp cedar. A clean, smooth entry to the palate. Very modern and international in style. Refined, spherical tannins. Depth and concentration. However, lacking a little acidity and some complexity and nuance. Drinking well now, it'd be better in 3-5+ years, I'd expect.
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This had that Phelps flavor profile/formula. Smokey, chocolate, oaky. I was rather turned off by this because it came across as flat and flabby, needs some lift and life. Even a petite filet didn't help. Not like previous vintages I've had.
Pop and pour at an Italian restaurant, black currants, blackberries, some oak and vanilla, figs, even without decanting, it opened up nicely during the course of the meal. Should have plenty of life left in it for aging.
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A well crafted offering in this price range; albeit a tad generic. Lush Cabernet fruit angling more to the red spectrum. Decent finish. I just prefer the Teeter Totter and Scarlett offerings in this price range.
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Already is drinking well. I think this is going to be a good bottle of wine. Our experience and opinion is that the standard Phelps Cabernet varies quite a bit from vintage to vintage, but the 2016 Phelps is a good vintage.
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Would love to try this again once it has 5+ years bottle age. Full bodied and surprisingly well balanced given how young it was. Very soft with notes of black currents and ripe red fruits. Delicious
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Nose of blackberry, cocoa and oak. Tastes of blackberry, plum, cedar, coffee and graphite. Medium acidity. Tannins are firm but well-integrated. Quite a lovely Napa cabernet.
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Forward, soft, lush, medium-bodied, juicy and fresh, with a nice spicy component to the ripe, red fruits, you can enjoy this young, due to its ripe tannins and open approach.
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1 hour decant. Deep semi translucent eggplant purple. Sweet nose of blackberries, oak, sandalwood and notes of vanilla and cinnamon. Taste is similar but with some sour notes on the mid palate that keep me from rating this higher. Nice balance of acidity and tannins. Full body. About 92 for now but with good aging prospects to improve.
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It has aromas and taste of mint and blackberries. Very smooth and it can be drank immediately. This is one of the best vintages that I have tried for Joseph Phelps Cabernet and should only get better over the next 5 years.
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Pietros: Haven't had this in a long time but it is great. Not really ready to drink right it needs 3-4 years more bottle aging to my taste. Classic and complex, it is perfectly ripe and has great weight, depth of flavor, ample structural tannins and a long finish. Big wine with complex flavors for the real carnivore.
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Winebar [1 Rosé, 3 Whts, & 8 Reds] from 07/05/19 + 5 Shared Bottles (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): "86% C.S., 7% Merlot, 3% P.V., and 2% ea Malbec & C.F. from our vyds in South Napa, Oak Knoll District, St. Helena, Rutherford, & Stags Leap District. Cold soaked prior to fermentation; Aged 18 mos in 48% new oak barrels (62% FR & 38% AM) and 52% 1-2 yr-old FR & AM oak barrels. [The barrel coopers used include Ermitage, François Frères, Demptos (FR & AM), Canton (AM), Dargaud Jaegle, & Taransaud.]"
N: RIPE berries with notes of toast & undertones of pyrazines
P: Med body; RNDISH entry with very NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by an astringent pucker which, without losing contact with the init frt, fairly seamlessly evolves into a LONG, BALANCED, POSS very, VERY slightly bitterish finish with a tangy/swtness to the rather innocuous dusty tannins. Deserves into mid '20, then drinking through '24... min. IMPRESSIVE, & a wine I'D not *hesitate* to recommend to folks wanting to experience what valley floor Napa is at least CAPABLE of doing!™ 14.5% ABV; My EXC/EXC+. 94 pts ea Suckling & Int'l Wine Report, 93 WA, 92 Vinous (Galloni), 91 Dunnuck, and Silver @ '19 TEXSOM Int'l Wine Awards. [Check with this vendor if interested in their COMPETITIVE price, & generally be wary as pricing for this is at least somewhat skewed.]
™I'm generally NOT a fan of valley floor Napa Bordeaux var reds as they TEND to be both overdone & overpriced vis-a-vis what one can fairly readily obtain elsewhere. However, this bottling strikes me as neither...
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Let's just set the record straight, best Estate grown Cab by Phelps to date. An estate blend of 86% Cabernet, 7% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc. aged for 18 months in new/used French and American Oak. The Nose has wonderful aromas of Black Cherry, liquorice, cedar and chocolate, the palate was medium bodied with waves of dark to black fruit, velvety chocolate and sweet spices. This is one for the cellar and for drinking today. The best they have produced so far.
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Nose: Dark red fruits, noticeable oak, tobacco and some grass.
Palate: Similar dark red fruits, dark earth, even more oak with a slight vanilla note, slight spice and a slight mineraly finish.
Dark Ruby. Dry with medium amounts of strong tannins. Medium body with medium-plus acidity. Good finish of about 10 seconds. The oak stands out a lot.. along with the juiciness, it makes it slightly over-oaked (is this what over-extracted means). I actually don't have much else to say about this one. If it weren't so oaked, it could've been something special. But that means, if you enjoy oak, this is something special. From this bottle, I would guess it needs considerable amounts of time for the tannins to really integrate (guessing at least 9-10 years).
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Quintessential for this bottling. Blueberry, blackberry, cassis, graphite, flower shop, almond flower and ripe raspberry. Exceptionally long, with a full body and stunning middle palate concentration. This deserves a long decant or a couple more years slumbering. Layered, with gossamer tannins, including muscle and polish. Drink 2021 - 2036.
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Clear, very deep garnet with no rim browning. Cassis, chocolate, tobacco. Low acids, high tannins. Anise. Medium tannic finish. Phelps event. Needs time.
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Young wine with great aroma. Very smooth with coffee and blueberries taste. It needs to be decanted for a couple of hours. This should be drank in 3 years.
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Wow! Honestly I could have mistaken this for their flagship, Insignia! It has graphite which is my favorite flavor on the palate. Very Bordeaux style. Dare I say it? This is much better than their 2012 Insignia (did a side by side and the price shoots this one past the Insignia). Unbelievable. At $75 retail this is a ridiculous steal. Time to load up the b my membership price of this!!
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2/29/2024 - markcic Likes this wine: 91 Points
Almost two years since I last tried a bottle. Opened and pnp'd over a few hours. Dark fruit on the nose. The palate was berry, plums, tobacco and mocha. The finish was moderate to long.
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1/16/2024 - Bacchus.x wrote:
Delicious
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12/14/2023 - RayT Likes this wine: 91 Points
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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10/30/2023 - KAT9 Likes this wine: 94 Points
This the sadly the last vintage before there is another style shift. This 2016 Napa is well made, not much oak there. Tomato-y, some green notes, balance of fruits, acidity, tannin. Very Napa in a good way.
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10/7/2023 - PierreBrusso Likes this wine: 93 Points
Just a great cab.
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9/30/2023 - jonahfactor wrote:
Classy Napa Cab that begs for a grilled filet or a generously seasoned roasted chicken. Very old school and ready to enjoy. Cassis, cedar, pencil lead. Some drying tannins and a bit of heat in the finish. Nice but not stellar, esp for $60 a pop. But that seems to be the entry point even for average Napa Cabs nowadays. Drink now to 2025. The QPR makes this a pass for me.
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9/4/2023 - WineKnut Likes this wine: 93 Points
Lovely clear purple. Classic Napa, maybe even a little old school. Dry and intense with great black fruit, cassis, tobacco, licorice. Yeah, the works.
Clean and lingering finish. Tannins are present now, but not overwhelming. Really in a good place now.
Not surprised. 93
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5/7/2023 - levicn wrote: 90 Points
深紫红色,闻香有成熟黑果,奶油,香料和一些果酱感,入口酸度中等,酒液甜美,单宁紧致,颗粒很细腻,口中以果甜为主,酒体稍微有点水,感觉不够紧凑。余味奶油巧克力,一款甜美易饮的酒。
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2/20/2023 - dfcrutcher Likes this wine: 93 Points
Brilliant clear ruby color. Drinking perfectly now. Great fruit/acid balance. Deep and vibrant with soft tannins.
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12/16/2022 - PierreBrusso Likes this wine: 94 Points
Grown up to be elegant cabernet.
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11/12/2022 - ThistleB Likes this wine: 93 Points
Opened up nicely after a 90 minute decant. Smooth and full bodied. Dark fruit initially, then a hint of spicy caramel on the finish. Medium-heavy tannins. Great with steak
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11/5/2022 - kend707 Does not like this wine:
Won't rate as I may have had a flawed bottle, judging from other scores.
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11/3/2022 - Scott Harbison Likes this wine: 93 Points
Fantastic and elegant cabernet. Delicious and well balanced. Bold and full bodied with medium plus tannins, blackberry, earth, tobacco and vanilla with a hint of spice. and tobacco notes on the nose. No doubt the wine could have lasted another 10-12 years, but after an hour decant, it was superb!
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8/14/2022 - nickducey Likes this wine: 91 Points
We are big fans of Phelps and their Napa Cab is a go to and makes up a decent part of our cellar. My wife likes them a little younger while I prefer a little bottle age, so we find that somewhere in the 6-7 years after the vintage appeals to both of us.
We brought one of the 2016s to Jenny Lake Lodge at Grand Teton National Park to have with dinner and it was showing really well. We had the restaurant open it about an hour before our reservation, and the little decant really helped open it up. The tannins are well integrated and lead to a smooth, lingering finishing. Lots of cocoa and leather notes on the nose, and still lots of pronounced dark berries and cocoa on the palette.
This is in a good spot for both my wife and I’s taste, so I image we drink most of the case we have left over the next year or so. I’ll pry carve off one or two to let age for a few more years to see if/how they develop, but I’m not 100% sure they will. Having a 2017 Cade tonight, so it will be interesting to see how they compare.
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4/24/2022 - davudvl Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very smooth well balanced fruit forward wine. Lacking in complexity.
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4/17/2022 - Jayarr wrote: 91 Points
Everyone was impressed with this one. Smooth, well balanced and worth the price.
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3/31/2022 - markcic Likes this wine: 91 Points
Opened and pnp'd over a few hours. Dark fruit on the nose. The palate was berry, plums, tobacco and mocha. The finish was moderate to long.
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3/17/2022 - Cliff Booth Likes this wine: 92 Points
4-hour decant; opens with light cassis, tobacco and cherry aromas; plush and round mid-palate with perfect spice notes; an outstanding balance of fruit, acidity and allspice; fine tannins built for long term cellaring; 2025 ++
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2/26/2022 - Winechat63 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking fantastic. Powerful nose, bright crimson color. Blend of spices hits you on the first sip. Had to fight myself from drinking it too fast over the evening. Similar comments from our first bottle in September of 2020.
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2/1/2022 - PJT Likes this wine: 93 Points
Absolutely delicious classic Napa Cabernet. Well integrated fruit and oak. Great balance.
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1/29/2022 - Lktorp Likes this wine:
Buddy
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1/20/2022 - garcia156 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Blackberry spices, fantastic vintage. This is a great wine, can’t imagine it will get better. Drink now will not be disappointed.
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11/28/2021 - Colorado3G Likes this wine: 91 Points
Solid Napa Cab PNP! Very nice!
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10/16/2021 - DragonflyCellar Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still too young but clearly an exceptionally made cabernet. Surprising green bell pepper on the mid pallet. Tannins are smoothing out nicely. Finish was dark fruit forward and again surpassed my expectations on its length. Decanted for a total of 2 hours.
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10/16/2021 - EMark Likes this wine:
Typical CS characteristics. Dark Fruit, Some "tarry sensations" but with a touch of sweetness. More complexity as the wine passes back. Earthiness or minerality. A mouth-filling full-bodied wine. Pleasant, long-lasting finish, Just a terrific wine which is, probably nowhere near competion of its development.
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7/28/2021 - markcic Likes this wine: 91 Points
We had to pnp at lunch. Dark fruit on the nose. The palate is berries, plums, mocha and tobacco. The finish is moderate to long.
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7/16/2021 - azscot wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for 2 hrs. Would have preferred to have left this for a few more years but had to open a bit sooner.
Pleasant red fruit bouquet, red and black fruit on the palate with some vanilla and herbs. Medium length and some tannins. Approachable but needs more time.
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5/31/2021 - Mike1369 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Good with steaks. Should get better with age. Lots of dark fruit with hints of oak and eucalyptus. Some fennel, vanilla, and other spices detected. Earthy flavors just starting to show.
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4/4/2021 - Rond Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very jammy; not something I would expect from a Calif Cab, but nonetheless very enjoyable and ready to drink.
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1/30/2021 - Bacchus8378 wrote: 90 Points
Very nice Cabernet with lots of cellar time needed. Rich ruby color in the glass, influenced by the petit-verdot blend. Initial taste of fresh berries, thought I was drinking a merlot. A bit left and looking to compare on Day 2.
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1/30/2021 - Dawilba wrote:
Needs to be an hour or so.
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12/25/2020 - denisontb Likes this wine: 91 Points
Good Christmas pairing with NY Strip roast. Delicious wine ... complex, long finish.
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12/5/2020 - Winechat63 wrote: 92 Points
Wow. Better than expectations. Drinking very well. But will last for years. Glad I have 4 more.
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11/27/2020 - gteran76 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drinking excellent right now and it will only get better!
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11/21/2020 - diggydan wrote: 91 Points
Ripe and big but not too much.
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11/13/2020 - Vino Loco Likes this wine: 92 Points
Yeah that’s a tasty wine. Not sure the QPR is there for us Canadian folk, but the fruit and finish are solid. Had with Pine Ridge and the JP was my pick.
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10/25/2020 - The Wine Sherpa wrote: 89 Points
A bit disappointing vintage from
Phelps. This is our second bottle and is average Cabernet especially for 2016.
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10/1/2020 - WatkinsWine wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for 1.5hrs. Dark purple in color. Nose of oak, tobacco, strawberry, rose petals. Light and silky in texture. Tastes of blueberry, chocolate, cinnamon, vanilla. Finishes with black pepper. Long finish. Consistent deliciousness from Phelps.
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9/12/2020 - wildcatjw97 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Pleasant nose but a little closed in taste. Good texture, slightly astringent. Decent but nothing exemplary jumped out at me.
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8/25/2020 - Vino Loco Likes this wine: 92 Points
Youthful but still a treat. Great mouthfeel and finish. Will only get better with a few more years in the bottle.
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8/23/2020 - ralaspech wrote: 90 Points
Despite 2 hour decant the first day seemed closed and the fruit I had previously noted in this wine was not forthcoming. The second day was remarkably better with sweet blueberry and blackberry with some cherry and cocoa. Tannins much calmer. (Score was from second day tasting)
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8/22/2020 - Alexander Smith wrote: 94 Points
Very similar to previous tasting note, this is a sublime Napa Cab and certainly in one of the top 2nd wines in Napa
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7/1/2020 - Harley1199 wrote:
Bottle decanted in a water jug for three hours before dinner. A concentrated, powerful and deep wine. Its complexity is detected from the first moment with menthol, cherry and lactic notes on the nose and ripe black berries on the palate, with acidity and an elegant spicy yet tannic essence. It is already to be done but it shows its own ways now.
Botella decantada en una jarra de agua por espacio de tres horas antes de cenar.
Un vino concentrado, potente y profundo. Su complejidad se detecta desde un primer momento con notas mentoladas, a cerezas y tambien lácticas en nariz y bayas negras maduras en boca, con acidez y una elegante esencia especiada aunque tánica. Está por hacer pero ya apunta maneras.
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6/16/2020 - denisontb Likes this wine: 90 Points
TC from Santee describes this correctly. Muted nose, nice flavor profile, but not as good as typical Phelps Cabs. Good, not great. Maybe more time in bottle will help.
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4/25/2020 - tc from santee Likes this wine: 91 Points
This was not their best vintage of JP Cab. But I enjoyed it. I recommend a 1 hour decant which I didn’t do. The nose was somewhat muted. On the pallet it was toasty with a medium to full bodied with berry notes, cassis, dark chocolates a hint of mint with edgy tannins. At $60 it was missing complexity worthy of the price.
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4/11/2020 - goonar182 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Good color- not great nose- pungent, no fruit. Taste is okay. Overall a good wine but nothing special.
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4/6/2020 - jdtonic Likes this wine: 94 Points
I'm with the boosters here.
Perfect bottle bought from restaurant cellar during the plague in Los Gatos...
Had it for the second time last night and it outshone a pair of more expensive vints from napa and spain. The profile has improved over the last 20 months---Cassis, plum, baking spices, toasty oak inflected topsoil.
If you can find a case of this around 65 per neck, it'll make a great house cab--I'm cleaning out a struggling resto right now with this in mind.
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3/27/2020 - HowardNZ Likes this wine: 91 Points
US wines in Honolulu: Deep purple red. A nose of spicy, vanillin oak, quite dominant, at present, with blackberries, crème de cassis and a hint of damp cedar. A clean, smooth entry to the palate. Very modern and international in style. Refined, spherical tannins. Depth and concentration. However, lacking a little acidity and some complexity and nuance. Drinking well now, it'd be better in 3-5+ years, I'd expect.
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3/15/2020 - wineotim wrote: 90 Points
This had that Phelps flavor profile/formula. Smokey, chocolate, oaky. I was rather turned off by this because it came across as flat and flabby, needs some lift and life. Even a petite filet didn't help. Not like previous vintages I've had.
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3/6/2020 - mark.gularte@gmail.com Likes this wine: 91 Points
Pop and pour at an Italian restaurant, black currants, blackberries, some oak and vanilla, figs, even without decanting, it opened up nicely during the course of the meal. Should have plenty of life left in it for aging.
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3/4/2020 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 92 Points
Pop and pour. Nice medium-bodied Napa Cab with blackcurrant and pumpkin spice, light tannins, mild acid. Crowd pleaser.
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2/27/2020 - fredfta wrote: 93 Points
Recepção da turma de SSA ao confrade Wall Santos (RJ) na semana de carnaval/2020, tema: Americanos.
Quando viajo geralmente tento comprar duas garrafas de cada rótulo, uma para beber logo e conhecer e outra para guardar e beber mais evoluído.
Esta era a segunda garrafa, mas dentre as opções que eu tinha foi a que Wall escolheu e ele manda.
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12/31/2019 - GranadaPedroAlarcon Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is a young wine that is going to be enjoyable for years to come. It was a hit during our New Year's eve party.
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12/25/2019 - JackCali Likes this wine: 90 Points
Strong dark fruit medium tannin will benefit with age, however significantly better than 6 months ago
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12/14/2019 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 90 Points
No real impression or thoughts here. Pretty generic middle weight Cabernet. Red fruit centric with moderate acidity.
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12/5/2019 - drdan8 wrote: 90 Points
A well crafted offering in this price range; albeit a tad generic. Lush Cabernet fruit angling more to the red spectrum. Decent finish. I just prefer the Teeter Totter and Scarlett offerings in this price range.
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11/28/2019 - jzebrack Likes this wine: 90 Points
Already is drinking well. I think this is going to be a good bottle of wine. Our experience and opinion is that the standard Phelps Cabernet varies quite a bit from vintage to vintage, but the 2016 Phelps is a good vintage.
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11/28/2019 - j_fox128 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dry, drinkeable, good with foods
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11/23/2019 - fredfta Likes this wine: 93 Points
CS temperado com outras castas bordalesas (14%) e amadurecido por 18m em carvalho francês e americano, metade de 1º uso.
Visual rubi profundo com lágrimas lentas que tingem a taça.
Intenso no olfato, exalou aromas de frutas negras maduras, coco, baunilha e especiarias, além de um frescor de bálsamo ou ervas.
Equilibrado no palato, a acidez apurada molha a boca e os taninos firmes enxugam. Corpão tamanho XXL e final amplo e redondo completam o conjunto.
Apesar de jovem, é um vinho pronto, que já merece ser desfrutado.
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11/22/2019 - James1977 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Would love to try this again once it has 5+ years bottle age. Full bodied and surprisingly well balanced given how young it was. Very soft with notes of black currents and ripe red fruits. Delicious
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11/21/2019 - ralaspech wrote: 91 Points
Nose of blackberry, cocoa and oak. Tastes of blackberry, plum, cedar, coffee and graphite. Medium acidity. Tannins are firm but well-integrated. Quite a lovely Napa cabernet.
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11/14/2019 - Jeff Leve wrote: 92 Points
Forward, soft, lush, medium-bodied, juicy and fresh, with a nice spicy component to the ripe, red fruits, you can enjoy this young, due to its ripe tannins and open approach.
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10/31/2019 - RockyII Likes this wine: 92 Points
1 hour decant. Deep semi translucent eggplant purple. Sweet nose of blackberries, oak, sandalwood and notes of vanilla and cinnamon. Taste is similar but with some sour notes on the mid palate that keep me from rating this higher. Nice balance of acidity and tannins. Full body. About 92 for now but with good aging prospects to improve.
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9/29/2019 - GranadaPedroAlarcon Likes this wine: 94 Points
It has aromas and taste of mint and blackberries. Very smooth and it can be drank immediately. This is one of the best vintages that I have tried for Joseph Phelps Cabernet and should only get better over the next 5 years.
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7/24/2019 - Woodbridge Brad Likes this wine: 94 Points
Pietros: Haven't had this in a long time but it is great. Not really ready to drink right it needs 3-4 years more bottle aging to my taste. Classic and complex, it is perfectly ripe and has great weight, depth of flavor, ample structural tannins and a long finish. Big wine with complex flavors for the real carnivore.
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7/6/2019 - srh Likes this wine:
Winebar [1 Rosé, 3 Whts, & 8 Reds] from 07/05/19 + 5 Shared Bottles (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): "86% C.S., 7% Merlot, 3% P.V., and 2% ea Malbec & C.F. from our vyds in South Napa, Oak Knoll District, St. Helena, Rutherford, & Stags Leap District. Cold soaked prior to fermentation; Aged 18 mos in 48% new oak barrels (62% FR & 38% AM) and 52% 1-2 yr-old FR & AM oak barrels. [The barrel coopers used include Ermitage, François Frères, Demptos (FR & AM), Canton (AM), Dargaud Jaegle, & Taransaud.]"
N: RIPE berries with notes of toast & undertones of pyrazines
P: Med body; RNDISH entry with very NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by an astringent pucker which, without losing contact with the init frt, fairly seamlessly evolves into a LONG, BALANCED, POSS very, VERY slightly bitterish finish with a tangy/swtness to the rather innocuous dusty tannins. Deserves into mid '20, then drinking through '24... min. IMPRESSIVE, & a wine I'D not *hesitate* to recommend to folks wanting to experience what valley floor Napa is at least CAPABLE of doing!™ 14.5% ABV; My EXC/EXC+. 94 pts ea Suckling & Int'l Wine Report, 93 WA, 92 Vinous (Galloni), 91 Dunnuck, and Silver @ '19 TEXSOM Int'l Wine Awards. [Check with this vendor if interested in their COMPETITIVE price, & generally be wary as pricing for this is at least somewhat skewed.]
™I'm generally NOT a fan of valley floor Napa Bordeaux var reds as they TEND to be both overdone & overpriced vis-a-vis what one can fairly readily obtain elsewhere. However, this bottling strikes me as neither...
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6/27/2019 - Alexander Smith Likes this wine: 95 Points
Let's just set the record straight, best Estate grown Cab by Phelps to date. An estate blend of 86% Cabernet, 7% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc. aged for 18 months in new/used French and American Oak. The Nose has wonderful aromas of Black Cherry, liquorice, cedar and chocolate, the palate was medium bodied with waves of dark to black fruit, velvety chocolate and sweet spices. This is one for the cellar and for drinking today. The best they have produced so far.
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5/27/2019 - WineBurrowingWombat Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nose: Dark red fruits, noticeable oak, tobacco and some grass.
Palate: Similar dark red fruits, dark earth, even more oak with a slight vanilla note, slight spice and a slight mineraly finish.
Dark Ruby. Dry with medium amounts of strong tannins. Medium body with medium-plus acidity. Good finish of about 10 seconds. The oak stands out a lot.. along with the juiciness, it makes it slightly over-oaked (is this what over-extracted means). I actually don't have much else to say about this one. If it weren't so oaked, it could've been something special. But that means, if you enjoy oak, this is something special. From this bottle, I would guess it needs considerable amounts of time for the tannins to really integrate (guessing at least 9-10 years).
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5/25/2019 - grafighter Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very primary. Good potential for aging considering the amounts of fruits, tannins and acid in this bottling.
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5/11/2019 - sfbikeguy Likes this wine: 93 Points
Surprisingly good out the gate. Better than the 2012. Buy it b fore it’s gone to drink after 2024.
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5/4/2019 - Matt Scott Likes this wine: 95 Points
Quintessential for this bottling. Blueberry, blackberry, cassis, graphite, flower shop, almond flower and ripe raspberry. Exceptionally long, with a full body and stunning middle palate concentration. This deserves a long decant or a couple more years slumbering. Layered, with gossamer tannins, including muscle and polish. Drink 2021 - 2036.
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4/14/2019 - CJM wrote: 89 Points
Clear, very deep garnet with no rim browning. Cassis, chocolate, tobacco. Low acids, high tannins. Anise. Medium tannic finish. Phelps event. Needs time.
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4/2/2019 - GranadaPedroAlarcon Likes this wine: 95 Points
Young wine with great aroma. Very smooth with coffee and blueberries taste. It needs to be decanted for a couple of hours. This should be drank in 3 years.
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4/2/2019 - ev3rthesame Likes this wine: 95 Points
Wow! Honestly I could have mistaken this for their flagship, Insignia! It has graphite which is my favorite flavor on the palate. Very Bordeaux style. Dare I say it? This is much better than their 2012 Insignia (did a side by side and the price shoots this one past the Insignia). Unbelievable. At $75 retail this is a ridiculous steal. Time to load up the b my membership price of this!!
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