1974 Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Community Tasting Notes (5) Avg Score: 89.3 points

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  5/1/2024 - Cailles wrote: 88 Points

  23x California 1974: Do the legendary 1974s still hold up? The answer is a resounding YES, and not just for one or two top wines, but across the board. These best wines showed incredible complexity, with still vibrant fruit cores perfectly complemented by layers upon layers of tertiary aromas, a fully intact structural frame, stature, poise, and freshness. While many of these wines should continue to age well, I don't expect them to get any better than they are now. The top wines in the tasting were the Mondavi Cabernet and the Phelps Insignia (both 97pts), the Mondavi Reserve and the Mount Eden (both 96pts), and the Ridge Monte Bello (95pts). Many more wines scored in the 90-94 point range. I'm convinced that many wines would have scored even higher in a different tasting setting, where you can follow the wine over the course of an evening. Only 5 of the 24 bottles showed signs of weakness, with 1 of those already oxidized, but given the substance that could be tasted underneath, this is more likely due to weak corks or poor storage than anything nature delivered this year. All the wines had very good fill levels and had been quickly double decanted before tasting to remove the sediment.
  
  TN: The wine opens with a somewhat stinky nose that evolves into a clearer, yet unusually vegetal funk reminiscent of a Cayuse Syrah. On the palate, it improves, especially over time, showcasing fine dark berries, a pleasing sweetness, and some minerality. However, it lacks density and weight, and its balance is slightly off, making it solid but not particularly exciting.

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  2/2/2024 - G_H wrote: 93 Points

  A 1974 Napa Retrospective (Zunfthaus zur Waag Zürich): This was another example of a "regular" Napa Cab performing really well. Four-fruit jam, violets in the expressive and sexy nose. Very long!

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  11/11/2018 - Motz wrote: 91 Points

  Perhaps just a touch past peak, but still impressive. Rustic, earthy, and still showing strong varietal character. Interesting!

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  6/9/2014 - abh wrote:

  1974 Dinner: Mushroomy, slightly generic 'old wine' sort of nose, but still vinous, soft, elegant, forest floor sort of palate. Definitely well past its prime but still very pleasant to drink.

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  8/18/2013 - BurntEnd wrote: 85 Points

  Magnum - The wine has low acidity. It smells like barnyard, mushroom, raisin and very slight prune, forest floor, ripe red currant, strawberry jam and very slight hint of cherry. The body is light. The wine finishes medium. It tastes like mushroom, rose, raisin, tea, strawberry jam and still a little barnyard. The wine looks ruby colored orange brown at edges. The legs are fast. There is moderate sediment in the bottle. The wine has smooth texture. Little noticeable alcohol on finish and slight tannins. Was consumed on opening, faded quickly after open two hours.

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