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Joseph Phelps Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Fantastic new Joseph Phelps Napa Cabernet release.Robert Parker: "Not surprisingly, the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon is a deeper, richer, fuller effort with a more saturated ruby/purple color as well as lots of creme de cassis, smoke, forest floor, incense and background wood. Medium to full-bodied and rich in fruit with low acidity and extremely sweet tannin, this will be a crowd-pleasing, delicious Cabernet Sauvignon to drink early on or cellar for 10-15+ years... ...Winemaker Ashley Hepworth has done a fabulous job with these new releases. While most of the attention at Phelps centers around the flagships Insignia and Backus, over the last few years I have been equally impressed with the straight Cabernet Sauvignon, a wine that delivers tremendous bang for the buck. In addition to these wines, I also tasted a few Syrahs from the 1970s. Today, Phelps is known for their Cabernet Sauvignons, but it is also worth remembering Joe Phelps was the first grower to introduce Syrah to the Napa Valley several decades ago."
Ratings on Delectable
Rob Brobst III 
Wow what a difference 8 years make!
Wow what a difference 8 years make!
9.4
Kellin
Plum tart, neoprene, and vanilla on the nose. Deep, rich cacao, currant, light smoky barrel notes. Beautiful.
Plum tart, neoprene, and vanilla on the nose. Deep, rich cacao, currant, light smoky barrel notes. Beautiful.
9.6
"Odedi"
Time for my #FridayCabernetfix. Here is a gorgeous Napa Valley Cabernet. Dark ruby in color with a short purple rim. Great nose of blackberries, blackcurrants, blueberries, cooked cherries, raisins, figs, vanilla, earth, tobacco, licorice, graphite, leather, chocolates, mocha, black pepper and spices. Full-bodied and bold with medium acidity and long legs. Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, black currants, sweet cherries, raisins, vanilla, cola, oak, licorice, spices, coffee, pencil lead, peppercorn, leather, tobacco, earth and spices. Long finish with round tannins and spices. This is an awesome Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. Well balanced and fruity with nice complexity and a great mouthfeel. Good right out of the bottle and way better after 3 hours in the decanter. Good by itself or with food, like a big piece of steak. This is a great wine from a great vintage. Could age for another 20 years. I paired it with cheeses and light appetizers. 14.5% alcohol by volume. 93 points. $75.
Time for my #FridayCabernetfix. Here is a gorgeous Napa Valley Cabernet. Dark ruby in color with a short purple rim. Great nose of blackberries, blackcurrants, blueberries, cooked cherries, raisins, figs, vanilla, earth, tobacco, licorice, graphite, leather, chocolates, mocha, black pepper and spices. Full-bodied and bold with medium acidity and long legs. Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, black currants, sweet cherries, raisins, vanilla, cola, oak, licorice, spices, coffee, pencil lead, peppercorn, leather, tobacco, earth and spices. Long finish with round tannins and spices. This is an awesome Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. Well balanced and fruity with nice complexity and a great mouthfeel. Good right out of the bottle and way better after 3 hours in the decanter. Good by itself or with food, like a big piece of steak. This is a great wine from a great vintage. Could age for another 20 years. I paired it with cheeses and light appetizers. 14.5% alcohol by volume. 93 points. $75.
9.3
Greg Ballington
Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog
Last of the three year vertical and our favorite (2004, 2010 and 2012). Medium ruby red. Complexity from the start on the nose with purple floral notes mingling with cinnamon and red berries. Moderate tannins (7/10) with a medium body. Nicely rounded, thick and warm mouthfeel. Layered palate with some smoked meat, dried spices, dark cassis and blackberries. Earthy and slightly dry medium plus finish. In a sweet spot right now. Drink till 2019.
Last of the three year vertical and our favorite (2004, 2010 and 2012). Medium ruby red. Complexity from the start on the nose with purple floral notes mingling with cinnamon and red berries. Moderate tannins (7/10) with a medium body. Nicely rounded, thick and warm mouthfeel. Layered palate with some smoked meat, dried spices, dark cassis and blackberries. Earthy and slightly dry medium plus finish. In a sweet spot right now. Drink till 2019.
9.1
Mitzi Inglis
Marketing/Public Relations, Joseph Phelps Vineyards
Biased review #josephphelps
Biased review #josephphelps
9.3
Matt Sterr
Medium-full palate and a silky mouthfeel. Very well balanced with almost imperceptible tannin wound nicely into the smooth body. Red raspberry fruit core all the way through. Long finish.
Medium-full palate and a silky mouthfeel. Very well balanced with almost imperceptible tannin wound nicely into the smooth body. Red raspberry fruit core all the way through. Long finish.
9.2
Rebecca Fletcher
Cassis, black currant, blackberry, blueberry, floral and spice. On the palate, m- acid, m tannin, long finish. Sweet tobacco, leather. Drinkable now but will be awesome in a few more years.
Cassis, black currant, blackberry, blueberry, floral and spice. On the palate, m- acid, m tannin, long finish. Sweet tobacco, leather. Drinkable now but will be awesome in a few more years.
9.3
Ryan Carey
Founder Wine Confidential
Smoky sweet cherry nose. Solid, not overly complex finish. Drinks well but needs time to smooth out its tannins
Smoky sweet cherry nose. Solid, not overly complex finish. Drinks well but needs time to smooth out its tannins
8.9
Kevin Walsh
Wine blogger doxologywine.com; Freelance Sommelier (Court of Master Sommeliers) Doxology Wine Consulting
Very young and the tannins could use some time to lay down, but lush fruit will give this plenty of length when the time comes
Very young and the tannins could use some time to lay down, but lush fruit will give this plenty of length when the time comes
8.4
David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
Ripe blackberries, blueberries, ollie berries, sage jumps out of the dry herbs, under brush, stem inclusion, baking spices. This is best JP Napa Cabernet I've had. Can't wait to have in 10-15 years when it really hits it stride.
Ripe blackberries, blueberries, ollie berries, sage jumps out of the dry herbs, under brush, stem inclusion, baking spices. This is best JP Napa Cabernet I've had. Can't wait to have in 10-15 years when it really hits it stride.
9.3
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