i liked this a lot, others preferred the Beaulieu Vineyards Georges des Latour '95, this had good acid, nice red'ish fruits, some xmas spice... classic phelps backus but a little more high toned / med minus bodied than some other vintages (e.g. 1984)
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NR as no tasting notes (and had at significant elevation, which always seems to screw up my ability to judge palate, nose etc... anyone have that experience??), anyway my buddy loved this on our ski trip, for him it beat out the '97 Calera Mills Vineyard P/N, I thought this good but not great, hard to judge on this particular night
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Perfect fill and cork... Still has a good color, showing some ruby at the rim. Initially, this was out of sorts and showed a bit stewed, but it pulls together with some air and a cooler temperature. The bouquet is truly lovely, showing lots of mint-menthol, wrigley's gum, black tea, smoky notes, loam, some capsicum. The palate marries delicious candied fruit like cherry cordial with lots of cranberry brightness, a smooth mid palate, and a long woodsy-earthy-tannic finish. Grows pleasantly leafy and deeper with air. Despite some flamboyant notes, this is quite buttoned-down over all, with a dry palate impact. I really dig this, as its has the charms of an old school Cali Cab without that rounded softness that can make these flabby with too much age. Drink now or soon. 92-93 pts.
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really good, my Jan '15 note applies, though it was slightly more aged / secondary than on that occasion, beautiful especially if you like old-school, aged Cali cabs (which i do), this was slight less fruit and slightly more dry, fantastic again and a great wine to pour folks to show them what old Cali cab can be (at least many of those those made before 1996 or so)
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cellartv's note below resonates with me, but i didn't get as much of the non-fruit elements on the palate… drank around the fire with Buz, we drained it, cigars so no thoughts on the nose, palate was filled with red and blue fruits, medium plus body but exceptionally easy/elegant, enough acid but not in the forefront, therefore - esp with effectively no tannins left - super super smooth… what a joy to drink, if you had a headache or were stressed out, four or five sips of this wine would immediately put you at ease… what a pleasure, even if not monumental like some bottles of the '84
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Andes mint, campfire, sweet wood, potting soil, currant nose. Old school Cali, muscular with some tannin still and good acidity. Peppermint, sweet fruit, curry powder palate. Lovely.
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Velvet and vital, but light with slightly orange/ brown rim. Elegant and light-weight aromatics of Red and Dark fruit with mostly Red Currant and Cherry. Traces of Earthy and Leathery characteristics. Fresh Herbs and (Kitchen) Vegetables. Later also some Licorice and generally broader. Intriguing coolness in a minty freshness with decent scents of oak. Fascinating elegance with fine, multi-layered complexity! Fine, Dark Fruit flavors of Cassis and Blackberry comes with a play of Dried Herbs and Spices. Subtle minerality and tannins as well as filigree acidity. Soft and light mouthfeel- no weakness (!) Finishes medium-long with velvet Red Fruit, Anise and Peppery Spiciness. Beautifully integrated, complex and smooth on the palate.
Even though the 1987 Backus Vineyard Cabernet seems to be past its prime, it still shows its distinct virtues. Yet, on a more quiet, but fascinating level! Nice complexity and great elegance in a very harmonious, medium-bodied wine, which should be enjoyed now or within the next years. See more details at cellartv.wordpress.com
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From magnum with signs of leakage. Cork fell into bottle in one piece, so I was seriously worried from the first minute. Lots of bold black fruit on nose with aromas of eucalyptus and mint. Blackberry and black currant flavors, very intense to start followed by good spice in middle. Well structured, well balanced.
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Charity Lafite Dinner (Holyoke, MA): Slipped in blind as a ringer in a flight with an '83 and an '86 Lafite. Huge nose, eucalyptus/mint, clearly new world, no chance of confusion with the Lafite.
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9/6/2019 - Burgnick Likes this wine: 92 Points
Mint, ecalyptus, tobacco, and sweet dark fruit. Soft and elegant with fresh acidity. Enjoyable.
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12/12/2018 - Burgnick wrote: flawed
Corked
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3/11/2016 - WoodieBayArea wrote: 92 Points
i liked this a lot, others preferred the Beaulieu Vineyards Georges des Latour '95, this had good acid, nice red'ish fruits, some xmas spice... classic phelps backus but a little more high toned / med minus bodied than some other vintages (e.g. 1984)
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2/28/2016 - WoodieBayArea wrote:
NR as no tasting notes (and had at significant elevation, which always seems to screw up my ability to judge palate, nose etc... anyone have that experience??), anyway my buddy loved this on our ski trip, for him it beat out the '97 Calera Mills Vineyard P/N, I thought this good but not great, hard to judge on this particular night
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10/8/2015 - blanquito wrote: 92 Points
Perfect fill and cork... Still has a good color, showing some ruby at the rim. Initially, this was out of sorts and showed a bit stewed, but it pulls together with some air and a cooler temperature. The bouquet is truly lovely, showing lots of mint-menthol, wrigley's gum, black tea, smoky notes, loam, some capsicum. The palate marries delicious candied fruit like cherry cordial with lots of cranberry brightness, a smooth mid palate, and a long woodsy-earthy-tannic finish. Grows pleasantly leafy and deeper with air. Despite some flamboyant notes, this is quite buttoned-down over all, with a dry palate impact. I really dig this, as its has the charms of an old school Cali Cab without that rounded softness that can make these flabby with too much age. Drink now or soon. 92-93 pts.
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4/9/2015 - WoodieBayArea wrote: 92 Points
really good, my Jan '15 note applies, though it was slightly more aged / secondary than on that occasion, beautiful especially if you like old-school, aged Cali cabs (which i do), this was slight less fruit and slightly more dry, fantastic again and a great wine to pour folks to show them what old Cali cab can be (at least many of those those made before 1996 or so)
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1/31/2015 - WoodieBayArea wrote: 93 Points
cellartv's note below resonates with me, but i didn't get as much of the non-fruit elements on the palate… drank around the fire with Buz, we drained it, cigars so no thoughts on the nose, palate was filled with red and blue fruits, medium plus body but exceptionally easy/elegant, enough acid but not in the forefront, therefore - esp with effectively no tannins left - super super smooth… what a joy to drink, if you had a headache or were stressed out, four or five sips of this wine would immediately put you at ease… what a pleasure, even if not monumental like some bottles of the '84
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11/27/2014 - andtheodor wrote: 92 Points
Andes mint, campfire, sweet wood, potting soil, currant nose. Old school Cali, muscular with some tannin still and good acidity. Peppermint, sweet fruit, curry powder palate. Lovely.
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5/5/2014 - WineCellarTV Likes this wine: 92 Points
Velvet and vital, but light with slightly orange/ brown rim.
Elegant and light-weight aromatics of Red and Dark fruit with mostly Red Currant and Cherry. Traces of Earthy and Leathery characteristics.
Fresh Herbs and (Kitchen) Vegetables. Later also some Licorice and generally broader.
Intriguing coolness in a minty freshness with decent scents of oak.
Fascinating elegance with fine, multi-layered complexity!
Fine, Dark Fruit flavors of Cassis and Blackberry comes with a play of Dried Herbs and Spices. Subtle minerality and tannins as well as filigree acidity. Soft and light mouthfeel- no weakness (!)
Finishes medium-long with velvet Red Fruit, Anise and Peppery Spiciness.
Beautifully integrated, complex and smooth on the palate.
Even though the 1987 Backus Vineyard Cabernet seems to be past its prime, it still shows its distinct virtues. Yet, on a more quiet, but fascinating level!
Nice complexity and great elegance in a very harmonious, medium-bodied wine, which should be enjoyed now or within the next years.
See more details at cellartv.wordpress.com
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9/17/2011 - Burgundy Al wrote: 92 Points
From magnum with signs of leakage. Cork fell into bottle in one piece, so I was seriously worried from the first minute. Lots of bold black fruit on nose with aromas of eucalyptus and mint. Blackberry and black currant flavors, very intense to start followed by good spice in middle. Well structured, well balanced.
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12/4/2010 - robmatic wrote:
Cool and classic old Phelps, with that bit o' mint. Lovely, balanced, and nuanced.
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1/24/2010 - indiscriminate palate wrote:
Charity Lafite Dinner (Holyoke, MA): Slipped in blind as a ringer in a flight with an '83 and an '86 Lafite. Huge nose, eucalyptus/mint, clearly new world, no chance of confusion with the Lafite.
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12/10/2001 - danstrings wrote: 90 Points
Dinner at Wild Hare Rob and Phoebe -- holding up great (in 2001), with more herbal and mint chocolate notes.
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