David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

The best Phelps Napa I’ve had & had a ton. This 97 was stored perfectly & still just the other side of its peak. Balanced, lovely w/ nothing that bites back. Well worth the $75 or so that I paid. Likely around $25 on release. Now, 24 yrs in bottle better than some other Napa wines I’ve paid $150. The nose is also one of the better Napa Cabernet’s I’ve inhaled. Ruby; blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, poached, dark cherries, spiced strawberries with raspberries hovering. Anise to black licorice, dark Indian/Asian spices, slightly dry tobacco, nutmeg, cinnamon, sandalwood, hints of sweet lead pencil shavings, dry & fresh herbaceousiness, charcoal, black tea, hints of menthol, dark, slightly withering florals, framed in lavender & violets.

The palate is lush, ruby, juicy fruits. Those that think fruit is lost at this age, not the case here and in many of the well stored wines I’ve had. Ripe & juicy; blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, black plum, plum, poached, dark cherries, spiced strawberries with raspberries hovering. Anise to black licorice, tarry notes, some fig & dates, dark Indian/Asian spices, slightly dry tobacco, dry brush/twig, nutmeg, cinnamon, sandalwood, hints of sweet lead pencil shavings, dry & fresh herbaceousiness, charcoal, black tea, hints of menthol, moist volcanic clay, very fine, dry, crushed rocks, dark, slightly withering florals framed in lavender & violets, perfect acidity. The finish is outstandingly; knitted, tensioned, structured, layered, balanced for days that lasts minutes. Outstanding!!!

What a treat. The integration & evolution is epic & everything you hope for in every wine you open. You’ve heard of a velvet wine wrap in an iron fist. This is a velvet wine wrapped in a velvet glove. — 16 days ago

mr toast

9.2

Cassons, 5 Nov 2023 — 15 days ago

Paul T- Huntington Beach

9.7

4 hour decant as well, still a little tight but a great match for the Ribeye, Strip & A5 Wagyu
Consensus # 2 wine of the night — 12 days ago

Austin Hohnke

9.1

Smoky violets. Savory with a whiff of grapefruit. Whole cluster. Thoughtful. — 3 days ago

Carter White

9.3

Smooth, deep, lively, and well balanced, good fruit with accents of underbrush and vanilla. — a month ago

Kamall

9.2

Gorgeous St Joseph. Layered with meat and olives and iron. — a month ago

Matt Perlman

9.4

Stunning. Marzipan, smoke, cheese rind, lemon, almond. Very clean and chiseled but with ample roundness on the finish. Should continue to evolve for some time — 4 days ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.0

Deep red color. Bright aromas and flavors of red berry/cassis fruit, wet soil, dark chocolate and baking spices. A pronounced vanilla note on the mid-palate. Well balanced but a bit short on the finish. Very smooth tannins. Young and fruit forward. Could benefit from additional bottle age. Thank you for sharing this one, Chris B! — 2 days ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.1

Vintage 1976 | wow, mesmerizing smell! Autumnleaves, truffle, flint. A small taste but certainly good drinkable. — 14 days ago

Raun Kupiec

9.0

Surprisingly good. Just enough structure to stand up to the food. Nice fruit, nice forest floor. Restaurant U Modré Kachničky, Prague — a month ago