David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

1998 not the best Napa Cabernet vintage. However, good producers still find their way through difficult vintages. Joseph Phelps is the rule rather than the exception.

This was poured out of magnum and drinking beautifully by their Hospitality Manger.

Nicely ripe, lush juicy fruits of blackberries, blackberries, both plums, some purple & blue fruits. Dash of spice & lead pencil, anise-black licorice, soft baking spices, caramel notes, some dark chocolate, fresh dark flowers, round acidity and a well balanced, softened structure & tension, elegant, nicely evolved finish that lasted a full minute. — 21 days ago

Nathan Renfro

9.8

2010 is one of the best. Loaded with dark black and blue fruit, nice minerality, graphite, bright fresh long finish. Perfect for a Christmas Eve dinner. — 4 months ago

Finnie

9.0

Another crunchy red. Barnyard. Drink again — 7 months ago

Paula Duarte

9.0

Pale straw color. Smells sweet tastes like tangy white grape juice, with a touch of lemon chiffon pie. Smooth. — 2 months ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.1

Dark purple/black color. Intense aromas of blueberry, vanilla, smokey bacon fat and caramel. The bold palate is quite complex. Flavors of blue/black berry fruit, dark chocolate, maple, ripe plums, black pepper and coffee. Rich and plush. Mouth coating texture. Long finish and chewy tannins. Ultra full bodied and quite expressive. Works especially well with grilled meat. — 3 months ago

Brian Hearty

9.4

2012. I’ve really enjoyed several vineyards and vintages of Walt Pinot Noirs, but this may be my favorite. Still big, but not as high %abv as some of the others, this wine paired great with a steak with blue cheese and mushrooms, but was even better after dinner. — 5 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.6

1990 vintage. Wow. Whattanose. Best BDX nose I've ever had the pleasure to dip into. Trace amounts of barnyard brett overwhelmed by the Ron Burgundy traditional leather-bound books and mahogany. All that + spices galore. In its' infancy, this wine rocked a medium-heavy bod with generous baby fat and overt blue fruit. That be gone with the bod now a light-medium impression. Elegant, yet, concerted finish. Hadn't tasted this vintage in fifteen years but not removing my disclaimer of this as the best Lynch-Bages vintage ever. This is singing and swinging. More Jeff Buckley/Sam Cooke vs Ozzy/James Brown. No rush to crush as it's at the top of the bell curve and smells/tastes like it'll be there for the majority of the next decade. Drinking as desired and expected. Decanted and open for approx 4 hours. Respectable but underwhelming/less than expected amount of sed. A massive "Thank you” to Sir Bill Bender, Esq. @Bill Bender for his heavy lifting here. — a year ago

with Bill

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

I compare the Heitz Napa to the Joseph Phelps Napa in many ways. I believe the Phelps is slightly less vintage dependent than Heitz. But, this 07 like the vintage in Napa, sensational.

This 2007 is peaking. Perfectly ripe & juicy; brambly blackberries, creamy black raspberries, black plum, dark cherries/kirsch, blueberries come on late and poached strawberries on the edges. The tannins are still dark and tarry. Rich, sweet, dark soils, mid & dark berry cola, anise, steeped black tea, dry tobacco, used leather, cedar/sandalwood, clove, nutmeg, some cinnamon & vanillin, moist, grey volcanic clay, dry crushed rocks, limestone, mid spice, hints of grilled meat, some fresh/dry herds, a tad of eucalyptus, stewy/tumble weed, fresh & withering dark, red, blue florals framed in violets, excellent round acidity, the scope of the finishes encompasses; balance for days, nice structure & tensioned, elegant, polished and lasts two minutes.

Photos all taken around their tasting room on Hwy 29 when their tasting was still the last free tasting in Napa. Still not over the family selling to a corporation that has no wine experience. — 2 months ago

Shay A

9.4

This was given a short 30min decant before being consumed over the next two days.

My note is likely going to be reminiscent of my experience with the 2015 Panek I opened 3yrs ago. Out of the RM Cabernet lineup, Panek is the pleasure bomb. One of the signature traits I get from some of TRBs cabs is his ability to pull the entire fruit spectrum (entry of bright red fruits, mid palate of fresh and sweet blue fruits before a commanding and juicy black fruit finish). From the start, this was uber concentrated, but in an elegant way (not brawny). 2hrs later, this smoothed out and channeled a silky profile. This leans to a more floral, dark cherry, mocha fruit flavor profile up front before an inky, juicy, dark chocolate covered black cherry with mint and savory notes. Still on the upswing. Decant 2hrs or hold another 2-3yrs. However, it’s in a hedonistic stage now with minimal air. — 4 months ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland

9.3

Lafite Rothchild and Harlin Estate side by side tasting. Both are 2008 vintages

Lafite Rothchild - A magenta color. Initial aromas of dark black cherry and currants with beautiful floral and subtle vanilla notes. Herbaceous and leather secondary notes. Taste - blue-black fruit, licorice and cedar/tar coat the palate followed by crushed rock, minerals and mocha giving it dry med-long finish. 9.3 rating

Harlin Estate - color is a dark garnet. Nose - notes are restrained and muted. Dark fruits, perfume and dark chocolate followed by notes of graphite and planting soil. Taste - creamy and coats the palate with notes of dark fruits, chocolate espresso, pencil lead and cedar with a long dry finish. Tannins are still present giving the wine more time to age. 9.3 rating



— 8 months ago

with Leslie, Karin and 1 other