Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Didn’t really have enough time for this to open up. Solid wine but will be better in a few years or with a decent decant. Dark fruits, oak, medium tannins and nice acidity. Decent selection for a restaurant that’s primarily a lounge.

Founded in 1973 when Joe Phelps purchased a former cattle ranch near St. Helena in Napa, the winery now controls and farms nearly 375 acres of vines on 8 estate vineyards. Aromas of dried berry fruits and spice. On the palate of predominately Cab Sauvignon which sat in oak for 18 months, flavors of ripe berry, cacao and smoky nuts, firm sweet tannins on lingering finish ending soft. Will age well.

Well integrated tannins, lush fruityness, sweet vanillin notes, overripe plums, juicy, dusty minerality ...my buddy says it smelled like Copenhagen chewing tobacco

2015, a little less heavy on the oak like the insignia, thus has good balance and is a value all things considered

I snagged a few of these when we visited in February, as I remember the ‘14 being very open and plush. Those thoughts still remain here, but I must admit...at pop and pour, I was a bit perplexed. Very fruit forward (raspberry jam, blackberry, fig) and soft, but there was also a dirty/earthiness to it in the middle that threw me for a loop. Just didn’t seem like it belonged. On day 2, the structure and finish really beefed up and showed what I remember having a few months ago. More blueberries and spicy red fruit came in to play which added the ying to the mineral and earthy yang in the middle, and the finish was quite a bit more tannic. I’m saving a little to see how this shows on day 3.
EDIT: Day 3 was like day 2 on steroids. This wine showed substantial tannic structure and the middle was quite a bit more complex. Worthy of 9.3+ if you hold/decant appropriately.

Boring in a good way. Juicy, ripe blackberry-oak sauce. Hint of smoke. Tannins are drying. Lots of appeal, but not much for me. No complexity. Just high end simple Cab sauce

Dark ruby. Rich nose with dark cocoa, black fruits, vanilla, and cinnamon. Medium plus tannins (6.5/10) and full bodied. Well balanced with oak influences. Notes of a cigar box, black fruits, cocoa, vanilla and a little earthy. Long finish. Drink till 2026.

Nose of leaner red fruits of; blueberries, blackberries, dark cherries, dry earth & minerals and more nice red, fresh dark florals than most vintages. On the palate, M-M+ tannins, good presence of spice-box, savory meats, blackberries, blueberries, dark cherries, cherries, mocha powder, cigar, leather, cinnamon, clove, dry stems, underbrush, haunting presence of additional blue fruits as it sit on the palate & fresh acidity. The finish is leaner than the 13 and in general many other vintages. At this early stage, it's also drinking smoother with softer edges. Photos of one of the larger private tasting rooms and the outdoor patio on the front of their estate. The 14 vintage came very close to me giving it a 9.3.

Nice lime/lemon and cut grass. So refreshing on a warm day.

Joseph phelps @ napa 7/16
Alex y nana