I have been writing about older Phelps Napa vintages until the cows come home. This started at 93 but when we had the back-half of our steak buffet (Porterhouse, NY & Ribeye) it blossomed. It is pure finesse, elegance, integration & evolution. These do not sing until they are 15-20 years old. Fruit & earth balance and elegance. Nothing that bites back. If you like this producer, you owe it to yourself to seek out a bottle with this kind of age in good vintages. This is somewhere around its peek. Make no mistake it is better than many $150 bottles I’ve opened.
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Great wine. Huge bouquet of dark fruits—black cherry, cassis, raspberry, and a hint of rose petals. Lush, long palate of black currant, blueberry, raspberry, hints of pencil lead. Tannins are present but in the background, smooth and supportive.
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With Beef Roast new potatoes ….. Very crumbly cork but, Wow surprising for the regular bottling. Lots of cassis and smooth with herbs creeping in and out. Seems stable enough with good color to drink within 6 years. Impressive drinking like it’s only 12 years old. Explosive graphite and minerals at the 3 hour mark. Bumping the score up to 93
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12/22/2023 - Somm David T Likes this wine: 94 Points
I have been writing about older Phelps Napa vintages until the cows come home. This started at 93 but when we had the back-half of our steak buffet (Porterhouse, NY & Ribeye) it blossomed. It is pure finesse, elegance, integration & evolution. These do not sing until they are 15-20 years old. Fruit & earth balance and elegance. Nothing that bites back. If you like this producer, you owe it to yourself to seek out a bottle with this kind of age in good vintages. This is somewhere around its peek. Make no mistake it is better than many $150 bottles I’ve opened.
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8/13/2023 - Coleman wrote: 93 Points
Great wine. Huge bouquet of dark fruits—black cherry, cassis, raspberry, and a hint of rose petals. Lush, long palate of black currant, blueberry, raspberry, hints of pencil lead. Tannins are present but in the background, smooth and supportive.
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12/11/2022 - JoeDwine Likes this wine: 93 Points
With Beef Roast new potatoes …..
Very crumbly cork but,
Wow surprising for the regular bottling.
Lots of cassis and smooth with herbs creeping in and out.
Seems stable enough with good color to drink within 6 years. Impressive drinking like it’s only 12 years old.
Explosive graphite and minerals at the 3 hour mark.
Bumping the score up to 93
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6/3/2021 - Duce wrote: 93 Points
Dark fruit, soft tannins, drink now
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12/5/2018 - rcurry wrote:
Tasting 12-2-18 with Jeff and Vicki. Liked very much. Smooth.
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