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  • Country ranking ?

    383
  • Producer ranking ?

    38
  • Decanting time

    3h
  • When to drink

    now to 2030
  • Food Pairing

    Game

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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.

 

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Wine Information

93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot and 3% Malbec from the estate-owned Backus Vineyard in Oakville.

Grapes were harvested at an average 25.0° Brix, fermented in stainless steel tanks, then aged 24 months in new French oak barrels manufactured by Taransaud, Dargaud, Jaegle and Darnajou. The wine was subsequently bottled without filtration in January, 2008.

Winemaker Notes

The 2005 Backus Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon yielded a classic, more European-style wine early on as it aged in barrel. The wine evolved slowly, showing beautiful weight and aromatics after one year which continued to increase after the second year. The result is a deeply ruby colored wine with hints of graphite, freshly ground espresso bean, crushed stones, ripe dark berries and plum, all of which contributes to an enticing bouquet. The texture is layered with ripe, well-integrated tannins along with a velvety, seamless finish. The 2005 wines are sure to be long lived.

Vintage Notes

The beginning of 2005 was wet; between January and the end of June there was an accumulation of approximately 25 inches of rain, which helped sustain the larger than normal crop load. It is interesting to note that the significant bud fruitfulness and larger than normal cluster size in 2005 was due to perfect weather conditions in June/July of 2004 when the buds were forming. In 2005, what turned into optimum weather conditions during bud break, bloom and set just solidified the crop size. Shoots had three clusters instead of the normal two, and thinning passes were conducted during the unusually temperate summer to balance the vine, improve air and light distribution within the vine canopy and ensure optimal quality. The extended hang time in 2005 also allowed for the development of balanced sugar and acidity in the cluster.

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Latest Pro-tasting notes

<10 tasting notes

Tasting note

color

Deep and Ruby red

ending

Long and Lingering

flavors

Blackcurrant, Vanilla, Tobacco, Floral, Chocolate and Spice

taste

High in Acidity, Full-bodied, Firm, Rich and Ripe

Information

Origin

Napa, Napa Valley

Vintage Quality

Above Average

Value For Money

Good

Investment potential

Below Average

Fake factory

None

Glass time

2h

Other wines from this producer

Cabernet Sauvignon

Chardonnay Pastorale Vineyard

Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Eisrébe

Freestone Pinot Noir

Freestone Vineyards Chardonnay

Insignia

Le Mistral

Pinot Noir Pastorale Vineyard

Sauvignon Blanc

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