Joseph Phelps Vineyards
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley, California, USA
I will say straight up, I am very disappointed that LVMH bought this historical Napa property. I imagine that Joseph isn’t happy about that. What was the family thinking? First guess, is they lacked their fathers passion & just wanted the money. Maybe, future climate played apart? 🤷♂️
I have had the 95 a couple-three times. Again, sounding like a broken record, these are good young, but not great until they are 13-28 yrs in bottle. I’ve had plenty of older JP’s to know.
Once again, I count bottle yrs, not from vintage creation. Human life doesn’t is not counted until birth. Wine for me is no different.
The nose shows slightly brambly fruits, blackberries, black raspberries, black cherries, both plums, baked strawberries, hovering raspberries, mid berry cola, anise to black licorice, black tea, soft leather, dryish tobacco, dry twigs, softly layered baking spices-cinnamon, clove, nutmeg & vanillin, understated, dry spice-sage/bay leaf lead, dark, rich, slightly sweet forest floor w/ dry leaves, dark, fresh/withering, dark, red, flowers, red roses framed in lavender.
The palate shows resolved, mushy, thick tannins, insanely fresh, ripe, juicy, brambly fruits; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, both plums, baked strawberries, hovering raspberries, mulberries, goose berries, red to mid berry cola, anise to black licorice, black tea, soft leather, dryish tobacco, dry twigs, dark, rounded spices, incense, softly layered baking spices-cinnamon, clove, nutmeg & vanillin, understated, dry spice-sage/bay leaf lead, dark, rich, slightly sweet forest floor w/ dry leaves, limestone powder, dry crushed rocks, dry river pebbles, moist, grey volcanic clays, dark, fresh/withering, dark, red, flowers, red roses framed in lavender and liquid violets, insane, summer rainfall acidity, the balance, length are off the charts, soft spoken tension is still apart of this cuvée with lush, elegance for days that lands gently on fruit, clay and spice.
This 95 is not tired and, just, and, I mean, just the other side of its peak with a very drinkable decent over the next 5 yrs.

Glorious evolution & style! 94+ a bit. Cork near perfect and some sediment.
I will say straight up, I am very disappointed that LVMH bought this historical Napa property. I imagine that Joseph isn’t happy about that. What was the family thinking? First guess, is they lacked their fathers passion & just wanted the money. Maybe, future climate played apart? 🤷♂️
I have had the 95 a couple-three times. Again, sounding like a broken record, these are good young, but not great until they are 13-28 yrs in bottle. I’ve had plenty of older JP’s to know.
Once again, I count bottle yrs, not from vintage creation. Human life doesn’t is not counted until birth. Wine for me is no different.
The nose shows slightly brambly fruits, blackberries, black raspberries, black cherries, both plums, baked strawberries, hovering raspberries, mid berry cola, anise to black licorice, black tea, soft leather, dryish tobacco, dry twigs, softly layered baking spices-cinnamon, clove, nutmeg & vanillin, understated, dry spice-sage/bay leaf lead, dark, rich, slightly sweet forest floor w/ dry leaves, dark, fresh/withering, dark, red, flowers, red roses framed in lavender.
The palate shows resolved, mushy, thick tannins, insanely fresh, ripe, juicy, brambly fruits; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, both plums, baked strawberries, hovering raspberries, mulberries, goose berries, red to mid berry cola, anise to black licorice, black tea, soft leather, dryish tobacco, dry twigs, dark, rounded spices, incense, softly layered baking spices-cinnamon, clove, nutmeg & vanillin, understated, dry spice-sage/bay leaf lead, dark, rich, slightly sweet forest floor w/ dry leaves, limestone powder, dry crushed rocks, dry river pebbles, moist, grey volcanic clays, dark, fresh/withering, dark, red, flowers, red roses framed in lavender and liquid violets, insane, summer rainfall acidity, the balance, length are off the charts, soft spoken tension is still apart of this cuvée with lush, elegance for days that lands gently on fruit, clay and spice.
This 95 is not tired and, just, and, I mean, just the other side of its peak with a very drinkable decent over the next 5 yrs.

Glorious evolution & style! 94+ a bit. Cork near perfect and some sediment.
A night caper! And a treat. Nothing like a sterling aged wine. Soft tannins. Dreamy nose.
A night caper! And a treat. Nothing like a sterling aged wine. Soft tannins. Dreamy nose.
Apr 28th, 2018Third course. Cabbages, Root Vegetables, Natural juices. Oooh la la! Still fresh and dancing on the palate. What a complex tango on the palate. Just meat stock in this dish to pair with such a beautifully resolved soft complex wine that is still holding its fruit. @PlateandBottle
Third course. Cabbages, Root Vegetables, Natural juices. Oooh la la! Still fresh and dancing on the palate. What a complex tango on the palate. Just meat stock in this dish to pair with such a beautifully resolved soft complex wine that is still holding its fruit. @PlateandBottle
Jan 28th, 2018A nice cab. Tannins have mellowed a bit, but still packed a nice nose and dark cherry.
A nice cab. Tannins have mellowed a bit, but still packed a nice nose and dark cherry.
Jan 26th, 2017This '95 from mag was tasty, even if I wanted more from it.
This '95 from mag was tasty, even if I wanted more from it.
Aug 10th, 2016
This cab was tasted out of 5 liter. The nose had touches of eucalyptus, red fruit and cedar. The pallet showed red fruit, spice and was balanced with nice acidity and subtle tannins.
This cab was tasted out of 5 liter. The nose had touches of eucalyptus, red fruit and cedar. The pallet showed red fruit, spice and was balanced with nice acidity and subtle tannins.
Jul 17th, 2015Still surprisingly lively. Fruits still intact. Nice
Still surprisingly lively. Fruits still intact. Nice
Jan 29th, 2015