1997 Joseph Phelps Syrah

Community Tasting Notes (11) Avg Score: 89.8 points

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  5/12/2022 - forceberry wrote: 79 Points

  13,5% alcohol. Tasted half-blind from a magnum.
  
  Evolved, somewhat translucent ruby-red color with a slightly evolved brick-red hue. Ripe, bold and quite sweetish nose with aromas of sweet toasty oak spice, some blueberry, light vanilla notes, a little bit of toffee, light cherry jam and blackberry marmalade tones, a hint of peppery spice and an extracted touch of licorice. The wine is ripe, round and juicy on the palate with a full body and rich, sweet-toned flavors of mocha oak, some vanilla, a little bit of toasted oak spice, light blackberry marmalade tones and a hint of licorice. The overall feel is big, noticeably ripe and rather soft - the latter is thanks to the quite modest medium acidity, so the structure relies more on the ample yet very ripe tannins that slowly grow in grip, but remain quite gentle. The finish is rich, juicy and soft with a long and somewhat warm aftertaste of sweet blackcurrant marmalade, some toffee oak, a little bit of vanilla-driven spices, light licorice nuances and a hint of chocolate blueberry milkshake.
  
  I had been told that Phelps wines might be big and oaky when they're young, but they just need some age to come around. Well, I don't know how much age one should give to a wine, but at 25 years of age, this was still a huge, oak-drenched blueberry milkshake that was relatively youthful for its age (perhaps due to the magnum format) but bore very little relation to the variety I know as Syrah. The emphasis here was on heavy-handed oak influence and what little fruit was to be found, was very ripe, sweet and borderline jammy. Apparently 25 years wasn't enough to integrate all that oak, but I have a hunch that no amount of aging will make this wine become nuanced or graceful. This is just a soft, ripe and sweetly-fruited blockbuster that feels more of a pastiche on the idea of the "classic Napa Syrah". Not in my wheelhouse.

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  11/25/2020 - Somm David T Likes this wine: 92 Points

  Recent purchase for $45 on the secondary market.
  
  Amazing purple, red & blue perfume florals on the nose upon cork pull. Ripe, creamy; blackberries, dark cherries, mulberries, black raspberries, black plums, raspberries, dry cranberries & plums. Mid dark spice, black pepper, clove, cinnamon, vanillin, purple fruit cola, light sweet tarriness, dry crushed rock powder, limestone minerals & steep fruit teas.
  
  The palate & wine are still very solid but, better served 4-5 years ago when it was still peaking. Round, soft, powdery tannins. Ripe, creamy; blackberries, dark cherries, mulberries, black raspberries, black plums, raspberries, dry cranberries & plums. Mid dark spice, black pepper, clove, cinnamon stick, vanillin, saddle-wood, purple fruit cola, light sweet tarriness, forest floor with dry leaves, dry crushed rock powder, limestone minerals, used charcoal, moist clay & steep fruit teas. Amazing ruby & slightly candied purple, red & blue perfume florals. The acidy is a gentle rain shower. The finish is; lush, ruby, elegant, well balanced fruit & earth that slides juicy fruits to earth & spice & persists nicely for minutes. Wine flows beautiful elegance wire to wire.
  
  Treat to drink Joseph Phelps wine at this age.
  
  Excellent back in the day 13.5% ABV that I appreciate & miss!!!
  
  Happy Thanksgiving Eve.

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  10/6/2019 - Ncmmckeen Likes this wine: 87 Points

  Strong earthly flavors, medium tannins, light acidity. For a too late to drink wine, showed amazing bottle aging. Sticky feel and very structured.
  
  Light cherry and plumb with a strong berry backing.

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  3/16/2012 - JDRFoster wrote: 90 Points

  Surprisingly strong showing for an older Napa Syrah. Medium bodied and nicely balanced, with some layers of flavor developing with time in the glass. Soft tannins, earth, herbs, and a mixed bag of berries here.

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  12/3/2010 - wine maestro wrote: 93 Points

  Fabulously well preserved, aged Syrah that has evolved into a fine old wine. Musky
  tobacco leaf nose with ornate, rich and vibrant color. Restrained and subdued at the
  onset, this Phelps red opened up after an hour boasting dried cranberry with plum,
  grilled meat and coffee. Fine grain tannins holding complex flavors of fresh earth,
  sage and dusty berry in check. A dominant note of sweet pipe tobacco leads to a
  sharply defined and focused cigar box finish. Soared well beyond my expectations,
  and is impressive for this varietal at 13.

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View all 11 Community Tasting Notes

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