2006 Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
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Tasting notes
Very, very heavy bottle. Scented, sandalwood and a little like putting your nose in the neck of a man who has just put on some very classy cologne. Serious and self-conscious wine. Smooth, manicured and elegant with lots of smartly cut, ripe modern fruit and background notes of coffee and chocolate. Very balanced, very polished. But somehow, for me, all a little bit toooooo smooth. (TC)
Critic scores
Robert Parker
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa has gotten slightly better over the past year. It exhibits plenty of black currant fruit notes intertwined with hints of tobacco leaf, licorice, and forest floor as well as deep, medium to full-bodied flavors, ripe tannins, and a long finish. Enjoy it over the next 12-15+ years. 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
Less flamboyant and complex than the flagship Insignia blend, it still offers measured berry/cherry fruit, plus cigar box, mocha and fresh herb notes. Medium-full, with mature tannins and a cedary, sturdy finish. (LM)
Good red-ruby. Raspberry and lead pencil on the nose. Sweet and lush, with a slightly roasted quality to the fruit syrup flavors. I find this a bit chunky today, with the tannins quite apparent.
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.