2006 Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon Backus Vineyard
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Tasting notes
The single vineyard 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Backus Vineyard from the Oakville Corridor is a monster. A 1,100-case blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Petit Verdot and Malbec, it is bursting with aromas of charcoal, scorched earth, barbecue smoke, lead pencil shavings, graphite, cassis, blackberries, and oak. Dense purple to the rim and very closed, this is a big, muscular, full-bodied effort meant for serious long-term aging. Its potential is extraordinary, but I wouldn’t want to touch a bottle for 5-8 years. It should last for three decades or more. In case you think the aging curves I have described are unrealistically long, I have the Joseph Phelps regular Cabernets from the mid-seventies as well as the Insignias in my cellar, and those wines are still drinking beautifully at 30+ years of age. Today’s wines are better made. Tel. (707) 963-2745; Fax (707) 963-4831
Critic scores
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
(bottled in January of '09) Bright ruby. Superripe aromas of cassis, graphite and mint. Sweeter and more aromatic in the mouth than the Insignia, showing a finer-grained texture and more early finesse. A rocky character and enticing violet perfume lift the middle palate, but the substantial tannins currently cut off the wine's finishing fruit. This will need patience.
Bright ruby. Classic Backus aromas of black fruits, tar, bitter chocolate, mint, minerals and dried herbs. Lush, sweet and broad but youthfully closed and a bit musclebound today. This will be a powerhouse for the cellar, but the strength and length of fruit here is already apparent. Ripe acidity and strong, broad tannins give this great structural underpinning. An impressive showing today.
About the producer
California winery Joseph Phelps is best known for its flagship Insignia cuvée, one of the first and finest proprietary red wines in the Napa Valley.