2005 Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Community Tasting Notes (266) Avg Score: 90.5 points

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View Livermore Dan's profile
  • Report Issue

  11/20/2023 - Livermore Dan Likes this wine: 90 Points

  Really good for an old Cab. Had a ‘99 not long ago and that was definitely past its peak. The ‘05 was maybe just starting the decline and still very good. Lot of fruit. Decanted for awhile.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View Twowinechicks's profile
  • Report Issue

  2/2/2023 - Twowinechicks Likes this wine: 89 Points

  Cork broke while opening, so we decanted it (we may well have decanted anyway). Dark ruby red, notes of balsam, cedar, hints of oak/vanilla, and spice. Medium bodied, still has plenty of fruit, and all nicely integrated, quite smooth, albeit a bit muddy. The alcohol becomes more predominant over time, leaving a sharper note on the finish.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View oakville72's profile
  • Report Issue

  8/23/2022 - oakville72 Likes this wine: 91 Points

  Densely colored with a touch of browning. Typical mid-valley Napa Cab with some Rutherford dust + too little acid + too much alcohol (14.5%) for the structure. Nevertheless, a good Napa Cab at its peak. Could use less power and more finesse, but I guess this is the way Phelps (and many others) made their Cabs in the mid-2000s.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View hrazdiiv's profile
  • Report Issue

  7/2/2022 - hrazdiiv Likes this wine: 91 Points

  Like my Feb 2021 note, don't feel the need to really add much more here: still holding on though clearly near the end of peak drinking, arguably past. Nose is very soft, a bit of earthiness with light acidic notes and a little heat. Palate much more forceful; initially just secondary elements of oak and cassis, but developed nicely over the evening. We didn't decant but drank over a few hours and it developed much more complexity toward the end, especially some of the previously missing fruit finally showing up. Notched up my score from a likely 89 when initially opened.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View Nolch's profile
  • Report Issue

  6/22/2022 - Nolch wrote: 96 Points

  Cannot elaborate on the many previous comments, only to add that it is still holding beautifully in Yr. 2022.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

View all 266 Community Tasting Notes

Professional reviews have copyrights and you can view them here for your personal use only as private content. To view pro reviews you must either subscribe to a pre-integrated publication or manually enter reviews below. Learn more.