November 20, 2023 - 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.
February 2, 2023 - 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.
August 23, 2022 - 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.
July 2, 2022 - 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.
June 22, 2022 - Cannot elaborate on the many previous comments, only to add that it is still holding beautifully in Yr. 2022.
December 27, 2021 - Medel+ strävhet fortfarande. Visst finns det kvar lite klassiska cab-aromer med vinbär i spetsen. Men vinet har tyvärr passerat sin peak och börjar bli lite i obalans - struktur av syra och tannin är intakt medan frukten är på avtagande. Hittar tyvärr heller inga angenäma tertiära aromer.
July 18, 2021 - Second Sunday Group: 2008 Ken Wright Pinots (Fontina’s Italian Kitchen (MiY)): Popped and poured. Black fruit, cassis and violets. Softened tannins. Black fruit; balanced. In a great place and should hold here for a while. (KH)
February 14, 2021 - With 423 tasting notes, I'm not sure there's much that I can add, so just quickly: still holding up nicely, both color and nose showing the age, but still definitely has some life left in it, particularly if you have a well stored bottle. Secondary elements of ripe raspberry, cedar, smoke with medium/soft tannins. Waxy viscosity makes for a nice lingering finish. Still very nice, but drink up !
November 18, 2020 - Beautiful nose of dark fruit, cocoa and leather. Taste of dark fruit with dark plum and black cherry with a beautiful finish of cherry and cocoa. Tannins were elegant! A beautiful Napa Cabernet.
September 5, 2020 - Still wonderful colour, brilliant mid-ruby, bluish tones. Surprisingly young with plenty of fruit expressed and tanins well rounded by now. Not super long but still classic cab. Good surprise!!