Joseph Phelps Vineyards

The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Insignia is a towering, statuesque wine bursting with blackberry jam, tar, spices, leather and licorice. It shows fabulous depth and richness backed up by serious, imposing tannins that suggest it has a long life.

Dense and chewy... the glimpses of fruit offer tight mineral, crushed rock, graphite, dried currant, cedar and anise. Full-bodied... this needs time, but should provide years of rewarding drinking. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Merlot. Best from 2014 through 2026.

I really like the mint and floral notes on the nose that opens up to dark fruits. Full-bodied and rich, with plums, berries, and currants. This starts off slow, then takes off with a bang. A stylish wine with wonderful potential. This will be bottled in January 2011.

Once again, Insignia takes its accustomed place near the very head of the class, and, as usual, it is one of the most polished and well-balanced Cabernets to be had. That is not to say that it in any way lacks for authority, richness or size, for it is an intense and impressively filled wine, and it vies for top honors in a vintage that has provided more than a few noteworthy wines. It drives home the point that big wines can be wonderfully balanced, and, while delicious even now, it will not reach its peak for a good many years to come.

A glamorous wine, rich and complex, with lots going on. With rich blackberry and cassis flavors wrapped into thick tannins and fine new oak sweetness... Give it a rest until 2015. Cellar Selection.

Floral with flavors of blueberry, cassis and spice. Great acidity. Firm tannins. The Ferrari of wine.

The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Insignia is a towering, statuesque wine bursting with blackberry jam, tar, spices, leather and licorice. It shows fabulous depth and richness backed up by serious, imposing tannins that suggest it has a long life.

Dense and chewy... the glimpses of fruit offer tight mineral, crushed rock, graphite, dried currant, cedar and anise. Full-bodied... this needs time, but should provide years of rewarding drinking. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Merlot. Best from 2014 through 2026.

I really like the mint and floral notes on the nose that opens up to dark fruits. Full-bodied and rich, with plums, berries, and currants. This starts off slow, then takes off with a bang. A stylish wine with wonderful potential. This will be bottled in January 2011.

Once again, Insignia takes its accustomed place near the very head of the class, and, as usual, it is one of the most polished and well-balanced Cabernets to be had. That is not to say that it in any way lacks for authority, richness or size, for it is an intense and impressively filled wine, and it vies for top honors in a vintage that has provided more than a few noteworthy wines. It drives home the point that big wines can be wonderfully balanced, and, while delicious even now, it will not reach its peak for a good many years to come.

A glamorous wine, rich and complex, with lots going on. With rich blackberry and cassis flavors wrapped into thick tannins and fine new oak sweetness... Give it a rest until 2015. Cellar Selection.

Floral with flavors of blueberry, cassis and spice. Great acidity. Firm tannins. The Ferrari of wine.

"The 2007 Insignia (a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot) looks to be one of the greatest wines yet produced at this historic winery. Beautiful aromas of crème de cassis and flowers jump from the glass of this dense purple-colored effort. Sweet oak is present, but it is pushed to the background by the wine’s extravagant wealth of fruit and full-bodied power. This is finesse and flavor authority put into a classic Napa Valley Cabernet with a seamless integration of all its component parts. Already complex and approachable, it should evolve for three decades or more, but who can resist it now? It is a staggering, complex expression of Napa viticulture. Anticipated maturity: now-2030."

"Its inky/purple color is followed by aromas of crème de cassis, incense, crushed rocks, lead pencil shavings, cedar and spice box. It possesses a massive, opulent mouthfeel, serious tannins, and no hard edges. This stunning effort should hit its peak in 5–8 years, and last 40 years."

"Firm, intense and concentrated, massive yet well-proportioned, with a dense, focused core of graphite, dried currant, blackberry, black tea, forest floor and blueberry flavors. Full-blown, finishing with rich, layered tannins that beg for cellaring. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2013 through 2025."

"Bottled three weeks prior to my visit. Bright ruby. Claret-like nose offers cassis, minerals, bitter chocolate and strong soil tones. Densely packed and quite tight today, in a classically dry style. But there’s also superb sex appeal and excellent energy to the flavors of plum, currant, licorice, bitter chocolate and spices. Most impressive today on the long, chocolatey aftertaste." Website.

"The 2006 Insignia (95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot; 16,000 cases produced) is a superb effort in this vintage. Another 30+ year wine, it boasts a dense plum/purple color as well as abundant notes of licorice, black currants, charcoal, black olives, and graphite. Full-bodied, pure and rich with moderately high tannins, it represents a California version of a Bordeaux from Pauillac or St. Julien. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2045.

In case you think the aging curves I have described are unrealistically long, I have the Joseph Phelps regular Cabernets from the mid-seventies as well as the Insignias in my cellar, and those wines are still drinking beautifully at 30 years of age. Today’s wines are better made."

"Teasing with its floral, spicy cherry, wild berry and currant aromas, this is full-bodied, firm and structured, tight and focused, offering glimpses of what lies ahead with its complex mix of flavors and tightly wound tannins. Yet its finesse and refinement are apparent on the finish. Needs time. Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Best from 2011 through 2018. 16,900 cases made."

How do California’s best wines stack up against each other? Read on.

"FIRST PLACE: JOSEPH PHELPS 2006 INSIGNIA
Winning by a wide margin: it had great depth of flavor; it’s a perennial winner at our annual Best of the Best in California. Winemaker Ashley Hepworth and Director Damian Parker have not missed a beat since taking over the winemaking."

"This is so strong and fruity, so oaky, so tannic, it just overwhelms the palate in its extreme youth. Just massive in blackberries, black currants, coffee, cocoa, dried herbs and 100% new, smoky-sweet French oak."

"(Bottled in February 09.) Fresher on the nose than the Napa bottling, offering cassis, bitter chocolate and roasted herbs. Then very ripe and dense but suave, showing good energy and a slightly clenched middle palate. The tannins are serious and granular, but here there’s plenty of supporting mid-palate material. This may well merit a higher score three or four years down the road."

The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Backus is a beautifully delineated wine endowed with tons of personality and sheer class. The wine comes alive in the glass, with crushed rose petals, dark raspberry jam, licorice and spices. There is an exotic element to the fruit that is highly appealing. Today the tannins are quite firm, suggesting the wine needs at least a few years in the cellar.

Firm and intense, this is beautifully structured, with a tight, vivid core of mineral-laced raspberry, black cherry, anise and cedar flavors. Full-bodied and firming nicely on the finish, where the minerality provides a flinty edge. Drink now through 2022.

Very woody nose of grilled hazelnuts, smoke and chocolate but plenty of currants and other fruits underneath. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a fruity finish. Very rich wine. Leave it until 2015.

A big wine, saturated in color and tremendously extracted in fruity richness. Explodes in blackberries, cassis and sweet new oak, and the tannins are strong and refined. Not particularly drinkable now, because the parts are only clumsily melded, but seems like a serious cellar candidate. Should begin to blossom in 6–8 years and, given this wine’s history, will be rocking by 2020. Cellar Selection.

The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Backus is a beautifully delineated wine endowed with tons of personality and sheer class. The wine comes alive in the glass, with crushed rose petals, dark raspberry jam, licorice and spices. There is an exotic element to the fruit that is highly appealing. Today the tannins are quite firm, suggesting the wine needs at least a few years in the cellar.

Firm and intense, this is beautifully structured, with a tight, vivid core of mineral-laced raspberry, black cherry, anise and cedar flavors. Full-bodied and firming nicely on the finish, where the minerality provides a flinty edge. Drink now through 2022.

Very woody nose of grilled hazelnuts, smoke and chocolate but plenty of currants and other fruits underneath. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a fruity finish. Very rich wine. Leave it until 2015.

A big wine, saturated in color and tremendously extracted in fruity richness. Explodes in blackberries, cassis and sweet new oak, and the tannins are strong and refined. Not particularly drinkable now, because the parts are only clumsily melded, but seems like a serious cellar candidate. Should begin to blossom in 6–8 years and, given this wine’s history, will be rocking by 2020. Cellar Selection.

"The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Backus Vineyard boasts a stunningly pure nose of blueberries and blackberries with notions of toast and flowers in the background. The floral nature of the fruit only adds to the wine’s complexity. Full-bodied but civilized, this wine’s tannins can be borderline rustic, but that’s not an issue with this glorious, full-bodied, opulent 2007 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink it over the next three decades.."

"Full ruby. Plum liqueur and chocolate on the nose. Supple on entry, then quite backward in the middle, showing a restrained sweetness and a distinctly savory character. Finishes with substantial toothcoating tannins. Essentially suave wine but in need of at least five or six years of cellaring." Website.

"The single vineyard 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Backus Vineyard from the Oakville Corridor is a monster, a 1,100-case blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Petit Verdot and Malbec, it is bursting with aromas of charcoal, scorched earth, barbecue smoke, lead pencil shavings, graphite, cassis, blackberries, and oak. Dense purple to the rim and very closed, this is a big, muscular, full-bodied effort meant for serious long-term aging. Its potential is extraordinary but I wouldn’t want to touch a bottle for 5–8 years. It should last for three decades or more. In case you think the aging curves I have described are unrealistically long, I have the Joseph Phelps regular Cabernets from the mid-seventies as well as the Insignias in my cellar, and those wines are still drinking beautifully at 30+ years of age. Today's wines are better made."

2008 Cabernet Sauvignon is an impressive version. Their 1975 Cabernet Sauvignon is still alive at age 35. The 2008's dense ruby/purple color is followed by an attractive bouquet of crème de cassis and charcoal. Revealing full-bodied richness and lots of depth, it is one of the finest regular Cabernet Sauvignons Phelps has made in many years. The tannins have sweetened over the last year and this impressively endowed effort, while approachable now, should age for 20+ years.

Plenty of aromas of spices and tobacco on the nose. It shows lots of ripe fruit with round tannins... Long and juicy on the finish. Savory and sexy.

A cab with a great core of fruit and ripe tannins. Deep flavors. Notes of blackberry, plum, herbs and spice. A hint of chocolate. Nice length.

The '08 Phelps Cab is one of the finest Phelps Cabs in years, a well-proportioned stunner that exhibits density on the palate with layered black fruit flavors, an underpinning of supple tannin and firm acidity, and hints of cedar, forest floor and spice. Drink this impressive Napa Cab now, or cellar it for up to 15 years.

"The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa (20,000 cases produced) may be the finest regular cuvée produced here in nearly two decades. Its dense ruby/purple hue is followed by an opulent bouquet of cassis, blue fruits, crushed rocks, and floral undertones. Pure, juicy, deep, medium to full-bodied and loaded, this 2007 should drink beautifully young, yet keep for 15–20+ years."

"Good deep ruby-red. Sweet, open aromas of ripe plum and currant complemented by chocolatey oak. In a fat, lush style, showing the sweetness of the vintage in spades. Not a particularly gripping wine but one that should give considerable early pleasure. The substantial tannins are dusty and fine." Website.

"Firm, intense, concentrated and well-structured, with tight dried currant, cedar, dried herb and sage flavors. Full-bodied, gaining depth and range on the finish before the tannins take hold. Best from 2011 through 2020. 20,000 cases made." — J.L.

"The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon is richly aromatic with cassis, herbs, mint and even smoke notes showing on the nose, and deeply flavored compote-like dark plum and cassis on the palate. A muscular wine from an excellent vintage. Sees 50 percent new oak, half French and half American, and it's very well integrated."

"Smoky notes mingle with lemon curd, tangerine, peach and guava flavors in this extremely aromatic wine, which has a smooth texture, ripe flavors, nice acidity and a crisp finish."

“Made from the exotic Scheurebe grape, this is a very sweet wine, brimming with pineapple jam, ripe pear and honeysuckle flavors... Itʼs balanced with crisp acidity, so the finish is dry and clean. Just delicious now with fruity desserts, vanilla cake or a buttery lemon soufflé.”

Springtime in a Bottle: Joseph Phelps Vineyards 2009 Eisrébe
"The second strategy is to defeat winter’s ministrations by savoring something that tastes very like spring itself, and no wine better serves this purpose than Joseph Phelps Vineyards 2009 Eisrebe ($50 – 375ml). Made in the style of a German Eiswein from the Scheurebe grape, this lovely wine has delectable floral and stone fruit aromas that lead to rich apricot, lemon, honeysuckle, and creamy vanilla flavors that are balanced by lively acidity and that linger throughout a long, luscious finish. It is hard to imagine anything that would bring a splendid meal to better closure than a small glass of Joseph Phelps Vineyards 2009 Eisrebe, and while it might seem paradoxical that a wine associated with ice should be so utterly reminiscent of spring, it is nonetheless true that sipping Eisrebe invariably makes me think of an English cottage garden in full bloom, and that is exactly the sort of thought which can banish the chill of even the most tempestuous March day."

A barrel-fermented sauvignon grown at Phelps' Spring Valley Vineyard, this wine shows its oak in scents of vanilla and the solidity of the structure. Firm, juicy lime flavors last past the oak, balanced toward sweetness. A stylish white for roast veal.