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Vintage Notes
The 2008 growing season started out with lower than normal rainfall for the second year in a row and the longest cold and frosty spring recorded since 1971. May brought unusually high temperatures in the midst of bloom during the latter part of the month. Such drastic weather changes lead to imbalances in the vine, especially at this important time in the lifecycle, prompting flower fertilization to cease prematurely in some Cabernet Sauvignon clones. Surprisingly, this was a blessing in disguise leading to looser and lighter cluster formation. This natural thinning allowed adequate airflow within the clusters during maturation and also nicely balanced out the crop load on each vine.
June, July and August had consistently warm temperatures that led to even and healthy vine development.
The overall heat accumulation for September and October was much higher than our nineteen year average by 7 to 17 percent respectively. We began picking Cabernet Sauvignon in our Backus Vineyard on September 8th and concluded harvest on October 24th in our St. Helena Ranch Vineyard. Overall the 2008 vintage yielded highquality tannins resulting in age-worthy Cabernets.
Release Date
Fall 2011
Wine Description
The Story
In the late 60s, Joseph Phelps was running one of the largest construction companies in the U.S. when he won the bid to build Souverain Winery (now Rutherford Hill) located a few miles outside of St. Helena. Enamored with the beautiful Napa Valley and contemplating a career change, in 1973 he bought the 600-acre Connolly cattle ranch in Spring Valley, and began planting vineyards. The winery was completed in 1974 and that same year the first Syrah was made, the first grapes were crushed at the new facility and the first Insignia was produced. It was a period of unparalleled activity, creativity, ingenuity, entrepreneurship and risk-taking and it put Joe Phelps on the map of top Napa Valley wine producers. Nearly four decades later, the flagship wine, Insignia, is recognized as one of the world’s great wines. Twenty nine of 34 vintages have been rated ninety or more points by various wine publications. The 2002 vintage was awarded “Wine of the Year” by Wine Spectator Magazine. Over the years, the goal of becoming 100% estate grown resulted in carefully planned acquisitions of prime vineyards in the Napa Valley. Today, the Phelps estate consists of the Spring Valley Home Ranch outside of St. Helena, Banca Dorada in Rutherford, Las Rocas and Barboza vineyards in Stags Leap, Yountville Vineyard in Oak Knoll, Suscol Vineyard in South Napa and Backus Vineyard in Oakville.
Wine Information
100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the estate-owned Backus Vineyard in Oakville, Napa Valley.
Winemaking Data
The Backus vineyard grapes were hand-picked at dawn during the early morning cool temperatures at an average 24.5o Brix and hand sorted. Grapes received 5 days of cold soaking in stainless steel tanks before fermentation followed by extended maceration for up to 48 days, adding deeper color and full mouthfeel to the young, concentrated wine prior to aged for 24 months in new French oak produced by Taransaud, Marcel Cadet and Darnajou. Each barrel was carefully selected to highlight the unique characteristics throughout the Backus vineyard. The wine was bottled in January, 2011.
Winemaker Notes
Beautiful aromatics of dried flowers, cassis, blueberry, black cherry and licorice set the stage for the opulent palate of the 2008 Backus Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. Flawless texture, minerality and concentrated flavors create a balanced and intense long finish.
