The Tb points given to this wine are the world’s most valid and most up-to-date evaluation of the quality of the wine. Tastingbook points are formed by the Tastingbook algorithm which takes into account the wine ratings of the world's best-known professional wine critics, wine ratings by thousands of tastingbook’s professionals and users, the generally recognised vintage quality and reputation of the vineyard and winery. Wine needs at least five professional ratings to get the Tb score. Tastingbook.com is the world's largest wine information service which is an unbiased, non-commercial and free for everyone.
News
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 C...
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 S...
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...
