Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

I waited on the decant a bit after the 03 d’Armailhac. Could have shorted that pause.

I have been writing about older Phelps Napa vintages until the cows come home. This started at 93 but when we had the back-half of our steak buffet (Porterhouse, NY & Ribeye) it blossomed. It is pure finesse, elegance, integration & evolution. These do not sing until they are 15-20 years old. Fruit & earth balance and elegance. Nothing that bites back. If you like this producer, you owe it to yourself to seek out a bottle with this kind of age in good vintages. This is somewhere around its peek. Make no mistake it is better than many $150 bottles I’ve opened.

Happy holidays. 🎅🧑‍🎄 ☃️ 🎄 🎁 ❄️

The nose reveals, floral, ripe; blueberries blackberries, dark cherries, plum, boysenberries, strawberries and black raspberries. Limestone minerals, dry crush rocks, dark spice, sweet tarry notes, steeped tea, vanilla, some clove, a whiff of nutmeg, dark chocolate, saddle-wood to cedar, some black licorice, garrigue with blue flowers, violets and withering dark florals.

The body is medium full, round and lush. The tannins are around 80% resolved and still have some sticky tar. The structure, tension, length & balance have nearly come about to full evolution. Ripe; blueberries blackberries, dark cherries, baked plum, boysenberries, strawberries and black raspberries. Limestone minerals, dry crush rocks, dark spice, sweet tarry notes, steeped tea, vanilla, some clove, a whiff of nutmeg, dark chocolate, a little mushroom on the last glass, saddle-wood to cedar, some black licorice, garrigue, dry clay & top soil with blue flowers, violets and withering dark florals. The acidy is like a waterfall. The finish is ripe, elegant, well balanced, polished with powdery dry tannins on the long set. It’s finish is persistent for minutes.

Photos of; the Joseph Phelps tasting terrace, inside lounge area with original old vats and the spectacular view off the terrace.

@Dawn Emory Sampling wines along their evolutionary path is amazing. My thoughts still haven’t changed great wine for less $ with patience.

Our dinner bottle at the best steakhouse in Napa Valley, Cole’s Chop House. There is only one steak to order at Cole’s with your Old World or Napa Cabernet...their Bone-in Ribeye. It’s clearly their best steak.

Each time I have a good year Phelps Napa Cabernet that is 15 years and older, I now find myself asking, why did I even bother buying their Insignia & Backus for three times the price? Because right now, this is so good, one has to wonder is it worth it? Not that older Insignias & Backus aren’t great but, are they worth three times the price?

One this nose, sweet, ruby, ripe; dark cherries, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, poached strawberries, blue fruits and a hint of cooked rhubarb. Dark chocolate, vanillin, cinnamon, clove, black cherry cola, sweet, rich black turned earth, crush red rocks, used leather, sweet tarry notes, stems, green dry herbs, volcanic minerals, limestone and fresh red & blue floral with violets.

The body is lush, ruby and full. Tannins 75% resolved, slightly tarry and a touch sticky. The length, structure, tension and balance are right at its peak. It so fresh and glides over the palate. Ruby, ripe; dark cherries, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, poached strawberries, blue fruits and a hint of cooked rhubarb. Dark chocolate, vanillin, cinnamon, clove, black cherry cola, eucalyptus, mint, sweet, sweet rich black turned earth, crush red rocks, used leather, stems, green dry herbs, volcanic minerals, limestone and fresh red floral and violets. The acidity is like a waterfall and perfectly executed. The long ruby, ripe, lush, elegant, floral fruit finish is incredible and lasts minutes. So good.

If you are drinking the Joseph Phelps Napa Cabernet in good vintages before 15 years, you are cheating yourself out of a very special experience!

Photos of, the view from the terrace at Joseph Phelps, the entrance to Cole’s Chop House, Cole’s outside dining and barrels inside the Joseph Phelps tastings room.

Time to check in on the 2002 Napa Cabernet. As good as it tastes tonight, I’ll wait another 7-10 years to open another one. For me, their Insignia & the Backus are their big expensive wines, but not necessarily my favorite. In fact, the Backus; which is their most expensive is my least favorite. The Insignia in good years is hard to beat with 20+ years of age. However, it’s their regular Napa that is my favorite with around 25 years of age. This 02 is no different. The 02 Insignia was WS’s wine of the year. So, how bad can the 02 Napa be? It’s quite good tonight, but I’m thinking how awesome it’ll be in 2025. Their 25 year old regular Napa Cabernets are more often than not my favorite. Pound for pound & dollar for dollar hard to beat if you show patience. That’s why I say, start collecting as young as possible! On the nose the 02 shows; dark currants, burnt ambers, shades of menthol, graphite, pine tar, blackberries, black plum, dark cherries, black raspberries, notes of blue fruits, raspberry cola, saddlewood, well layered soft baking spices, mocha, milk & dark chocolate, light bay leaf & sage, volcanic minerals, dry crushed rock powder, dry & fresh dark florals with violets. The body is still big & full. Strong, rounded tannins that still have teeth. The structure, tension, length are very nice but still need development. The balance is quite nice. The palate reveals; ripe, ruby, dark currants, burnt ambers, shades of menthol, graphite, pine tar, blackberries, black plum, dark cherries, black raspberries, notes of blue fruits, raspberry cola with strawberries & cherries painting the background, chewy leather, saddlewood, well layered soft baking spices, mocha, milk & dark chocolate, light bay leaf & sage, steeped black tea, volcanic minerals, dry crushed rock powder, loamy wet clay, dry & fresh dark florals, lavender with violets. The acidity is perfectly round and runs like a river. The well polished, elegant finish lasts minutes and doesn’t dip or fade. Beautiful, complex well made wine that still needs time to show what an all-star it will be in 2023-25. Photos of; a couple of JP’s terrace views, tasting area with their old large vats and their remodel sitting area with actual wine aging in the main relaxing lobby area.

What a different wine after Coravining it a week ago. Much; softer, rounder, richer with floral, blue fruit mix explosion!

Initial nose of stewed fruits fades in about 30 minutes then its set to go as @David T recommended

'97,'02 are two of my favorite vintages. '13 is in that league but the difference is you don't have to come to my wine cellar to enjoy it. If you like Napa Cab buy, buy, buy the '13. You don't have to buy the $200 bottles. Load up on the $40 bottles and enjoy for 20 years plus🍷🍷🍷

Took a bit to open up, but this 2002 Phelps cab was delicious.

2002

The corkage fee at Capitol Cellars is reasonable and this'02 from my cellar is aging marvelously. Lots of fruit with hints of smoke.

Anybody know anything about this wine?