2018 Cabernet Sauvignon opens with floral notes, cedar and pencil shavings followed by ripe blackberry, cassis and red currant jam. A fresh and focused wine with pleasing acid and tannin structure building tension along the palate to a lingering finish.
97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc, 1% Malbec from select Napa Valley Vineyards in St. Helena, south Napa Valley, Oak Knoll District and the Stags Leap District of Napa Valley.
96pts James Suckling "Very pretty blackberry, blackcurrant, walnut, forest-flower and dark-walnut aromas follow through to a full body with round, juicy tannins that are fine-grained and beautiful. Lovely length and generosity, but reserved at the finish to give it tension. Mostly from the Suscol vineyard. 97% cabernet sauvignon. Drink or hold."
93pts Wine Spectator "Ripe and lush up front, with waves of cassis, mulled plum and blackberry compote underscored by single alder and graphite on the finish, adding grip. This is packed and well-built. Best from 2022 through 2032. Tasted twice, with consistent notes."
92pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate "A blend of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Malbec, coming from vineyard locations in south Napa Valley, St. Helena, Oak Knoll District and Stags Leap District. It was aged for 18 months in 40% new (51% American, 49% French) and 60% one- to two-year-old French and American oak barrels. Deep garnet-purple colored, it does pirouettes out of the glass with notes of crushed blackberries, wild blueberries and ripe blackcurrants plus hints of lilacs menthol, forest floor and pencil shavings with a touch of wild sage. Medium-bodied, the palate is as intense as it is elegant, featuring layers of fresh black and blue fruits and gentle herbal accents, framed by firm, grainy tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing long and minerally."
Joseph Phelps Vineyards is a family-owned and operated wine estate with vineyards and wineries in Napa Valley and on the western Sonoma Coast. The winery was founded in 1973 by Joseph Phelps, a successful construction executive and entrepreneur whose early interest in wine led him to establish vineyards on a 670-acre former cattle ranch in Napa Valley. Over the next 42 years Joe became one of the most respected figures in the California wine industry, building Joseph Phelps Vineyards into a critically-acclaimed winery internationally known for its iconic wines and unwavering commitment to quality.
750ML / 14.5% ABV
