2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Backus Vineyard

The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Backus Vineyard is an attractive, mid-weight wine that can be enjoyed with minimal cellaring. There is lovely purity to the red-toned fruit and a good deal of grip too. The 2017 is a bit brighter and more nervous than Phelps fans are likely to expect, but that is just the personality of a year in which the fruit was picked a bit ahead of what might have been optimal ripeness. Blood orange, spice and mint accents add to that impression of vibrancy. All the 2017 needs is a few years in bottle to fully come together.