Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

9.21114 ratings
9.177 pro ratings
Napa Valley, California, USA
Cabernet Sauvignon
Onion, Shallot, Garlic, Pasta, Venison, Tomato-Based, Potato, Pork, Chocolate & Caramel, White Rice, Mushrooms, Beef, Lamb, Chili & Hot Spicy
Top Notes For
David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Bottle in and bottle out, always delivers regardless of vintage with this kind of age and more. Hour and a half decant.

Still round, softened medium plus tannins. Ripe, ruby; blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, plum, black raspberries, some fig & date, dry, crushed, ripe crushed rocks, dry top soil, dark, bit driven spice, sandalwood to barrel shavings, fresh & used tobacco w/ ash, nutmeg, clove, cinnamon stick, vanilla, some black licorice/cola, withering, candied; dark, red, purple flowers, round rainfall acidity, balance for days, nicely tensioned and elegance & polish that lasts two-minutes.

Bottle in and bottle out, always delivers regardless of vintage with this kind of age and more. Hour and a half decant.

Still round, softened medium plus tannins. Ripe, ruby; blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, plum, black raspberries, some fig & date, dry, crushed, ripe crushed rocks, dry top soil, dark, bit driven spice, sandalwood to barrel shavings, fresh & used tobacco w/ ash, nutmeg, clove, cinnamon stick, vanilla, some black licorice/cola, withering, candied; dark, red, purple flowers, round rainfall acidity, balance for days, nicely tensioned and elegance & polish that lasts two-minutes.

May 22nd, 2024
M. Christopher Roebuck

Good job Joey PRock!!!

93+ points

Good job Joey PRock!!!

93+ points

Oct 31st, 2021
Rob Brobst III

Wow what a difference 8 years make!

Wow what a difference 8 years make!

Mar 21st, 2020
Sipping Fine Wine

100% estate-grown Sauvignon Blanc from their Home Ranch Vineyard in St. Helena. Pale lemon color, aged for 7 months in 30% new & 70% once used French oak. Aromas of ripe stone and tropical fruits with some floral notes, wonderful phenolics. On the palate fresh fruit flavors of mango, pineapple and peach, some citrus zest with wafts of honeysuckle notes. Balanced acidity, medium+ length ending with creamy spice texture. Wow! Very Nice! Tasting Sample.

100% estate-grown Sauvignon Blanc from their Home Ranch Vineyard in St. Helena. Pale lemon color, aged for 7 months in 30% new & 70% once used French oak. Aromas of ripe stone and tropical fruits with some floral notes, wonderful phenolics. On the palate fresh fruit flavors of mango, pineapple and peach, some citrus zest with wafts of honeysuckle notes. Balanced acidity, medium+ length ending with creamy spice texture. Wow! Very Nice! Tasting Sample.

Oct 25th, 2019
Kellin

Plum tart, neoprene, and vanilla on the nose. Deep, rich cacao, currant, light smoky barrel notes. Beautiful.

Plum tart, neoprene, and vanilla on the nose. Deep, rich cacao, currant, light smoky barrel notes. Beautiful.

Nov 22nd, 2018
"Odedi"

Time for my #FridayCabernetfix. Here is a gorgeous Napa Valley Cabernet.

Dark ruby in color with a short purple rim.

Great nose of blackberries, blackcurrants, blueberries, cooked cherries, raisins, figs, vanilla, earth, tobacco, licorice, graphite, leather, chocolates, mocha, black pepper and spices.

Full-bodied and bold with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, black currants, sweet cherries, raisins, vanilla, cola, oak, licorice, spices, coffee, pencil lead, peppercorn, leather, tobacco, earth and spices.

Long finish with round tannins and spices.

This is an awesome Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. Well balanced and fruity with nice complexity and a great mouthfeel.


Good right out of the bottle and way better after 3 hours in the decanter. Good by itself or with food, like a big piece of steak.

This is a great wine from a great vintage. Could age for another 20 years.

I paired it with cheeses and light appetizers.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$75.

Time for my #FridayCabernetfix. Here is a gorgeous Napa Valley Cabernet.

Dark ruby in color with a short purple rim.

Great nose of blackberries, blackcurrants, blueberries, cooked cherries, raisins, figs, vanilla, earth, tobacco, licorice, graphite, leather, chocolates, mocha, black pepper and spices.

Full-bodied and bold with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, black currants, sweet cherries, raisins, vanilla, cola, oak, licorice, spices, coffee, pencil lead, peppercorn, leather, tobacco, earth and spices.

Long finish with round tannins and spices.

This is an awesome Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. Well balanced and fruity with nice complexity and a great mouthfeel.


Good right out of the bottle and way better after 3 hours in the decanter. Good by itself or with food, like a big piece of steak.

This is a great wine from a great vintage. Could age for another 20 years.

I paired it with cheeses and light appetizers.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$75.

Nov 9th, 2018
Bill Bender

I tend to dismiss the Phelps Cab in favor of the Insignia or Backus but this is still a tremendous wine and Phelps in general has maintained amazing quality as it’s grown. Most of my fond memories of Napa during the mid 2000s involved weekends that started at Phelps for Insignia Release Weekends. They would walk around with decanters or mags of old Insignia, Cab or Backus all day. It was nirvana.

I tend to dismiss the Phelps Cab in favor of the Insignia or Backus but this is still a tremendous wine and Phelps in general has maintained amazing quality as it’s grown. Most of my fond memories of Napa during the mid 2000s involved weekends that started at Phelps for Insignia Release Weekends. They would walk around with decanters or mags of old Insignia, Cab or Backus all day. It was nirvana.

Nov 2nd, 2018
Rob Brobst III

Yes 95 points...... properly decanted.

Yes 95 points...... properly decanted.

Feb 21st, 2018
Peter van den Besselaar

Vintage 2012 - spicy, warm, good acidity, long aftertaste #napavalley2012 #napavalleyred

Vintage 2012 - spicy, warm, good acidity, long aftertaste #napavalley2012 #napavalleyred

Jan 6th, 2018
Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.0

Deep ruby red. Green and herbal on the nose to start but blew off leading to a touch of heat, anise, cinnamon and dark berries. Medium plus tannins (6.5/10) and medium plus bodied. Layers of black fruit on the palate with some more cassis and a touch of gravel. Solid structure and medium plus to long finish. Drink till 2028. (90+)

Deep ruby red. Green and herbal on the nose to start but blew off leading to a touch of heat, anise, cinnamon and dark berries. Medium plus tannins (6.5/10) and medium plus bodied. Layers of black fruit on the palate with some more cassis and a touch of gravel. Solid structure and medium plus to long finish. Drink till 2028. (90+)

Oct 21st, 2017