Paul T- Huntington Beach

9.9

Perfectly stored for a secondary market purchase.
Fabulous with Wagyu Fillet Mignon — 8 days ago

David D

9.1

At Sailor. Very funky, farmy, mineral, but on the lighter end of medium. Bramble with mushrooms and volcanic soil. Prune, red fruit, some anise. 02/21/24 — 2 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

2008 vintage. Tasted more like a 2018 or 2019 vintage. So youthful and full of punch. Great stuff. 9.14.23. — 8 months ago

Natalie Hicken

9.0

Great with steaks à la Paul — a year ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

I tasted this at cork pull and it looked & tasted a bit brickish. Waited to decant but it still needed a hour in the decanter. 97 a great Napa vintage. Well stored bottle bought from auction.

The fruits are lush, velvety & ruby; blackberries, black plum, plum pudding, black raspberries, dark cherries, strawberries & blueberry hues. Dark chocolate, mocha, salted caramel, malt balls on the long decant, black licorice, there is a touch of v/a-bandaid but it’s not spoiling and dissipates some in time, dusty to slightly moist top soil, olive tapenade, herbaceous notes, soft, dark spice, half used, dry tobacco w/ ash, sandalwood, moist, grey volcanic clay, limestone, dry crushed rocks, notes of black pepper, candied, liquid, fresh & mostly withering, dark, red, purple flowers, very round acidity and a very well balanced, tensioned, nicely structured and a smartly polished, round finish that lasts two-minutes.

Second wine to pair with/ Allen Brothers Cover Ribs. — 10 days ago

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. — 6 months ago

Matt Perlman

9.2

Volcanic island wine! Juicy red fruit and saline—could pair with olives and cheese, melon and cured meat, grilled seafood — 2 months ago

Brandi Bratek

9.4

Volcanic rock meets berries in a glass. — 4 months ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.1

100% Nerello Mascalese. Inky ruby color. Lovely nose of cherry/strawberry, rose petals, fresh herbs and volcanic ash. Vibrant cherry and raspberry fruit flavors with hints of minerals and earth with a nice smokey finish. Fine tannins (but a little tight) and lovely structure and freshness. Nice. Thanks for sharing, Ron B! — 6 months ago

Dawn E.

8.9

Wine Spectator top 100 in 2022 (#49).
Medium + body, black raspberries, graphite, smoke, tar, vegetal nuances, and volcanic minerals. Old World in style. — 9 months ago