May 30, 2012

NYC Wine Tasting Group, Cult Cabernets Part IV, Sojourn, NYC

2007 Joseph Phelps Backus Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) – Cabernet Sauvignon grape
The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Backus Vineyard boasts a stunningly pure nose of blueberries and blackberries with notions of toast and flowers in the background. The floral nature of the fruit only adds to the wine’s complexity. Full-bodied but civilized, this wine’s tannins can be borderline rustic, but that’s not an issue with this glorious, full-bodied, opulent 2007 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink it over the next three decades. Joseph Phelps’ flagship wine, which they have been making for 36 years, is the Insignia, which boasts a remarkable track record. Phelps, always a visionary, was the first to recognize that a blend of grapes could be better than a single varietal cuvee. Phelps produces a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Backus Vineyard situated on the eastern slopes of the Oakville Corridor overlooking Screaming Eagle and Rudd Estate. Rated 97 The Wine Advocate

2007 Harlan “The Maiden” Oakville (Napa Valley) – Cabernet Sauvignon grape
As outstanding as the 2008 is, it is eclipsed by the brilliant 2007 The Maiden, perhaps the finest second wine yet made here. Sweet tobacco leaf, fruitcake, creme de cassis, black currant and licorice aromas emerge from this round, opulent, voluptuously textured wine. It is very much in keeping with the 2007 vintage. Enjoy it over the next 10-15 years. Run by Bill Harlan, Harlan Estate’s debut vintage was 1990. The second wine culled out from this extraordinary estate’s barrels is called The Maiden, with a production generally under 2,000 cases,. Yet it often represents 50% of the estate’s production given the Draconian selection process employed at Harlan. Rated 93 The Wine Advocate

2007 Altamura Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) – Cabernet Sauvignon grape
Probably the best Cabernet Sauvignon I have ever tasted from Altamura, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon is aged 30 months in 70% new oak from the same high-elevation vineyard as the Sangiovese. Notes of espresso roast, graphite, black currants, sweet black cherries and earthy, loamy terroir are all present in this dense purple, full-bodied, exuberant, concentrated and expressive Cabernet Sauvignon. It can be drunk now or cellared for two decades. This is an interesting, still somewhat under-the-radar, small producer with all dry-farmed vineyards and obviously impeccable winemaking. Rated 95 The Wine Advocate Rank #5 Wine Spectator TOP 100 wines for 2010!

2007 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection (Napa Valley) – 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grape
The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection (100% Cabernet Sauvignon, now bottled earlier than in the past) exhibits an inky/blue/purple color in addition to sweet aromas of cassis, graphite, licorice, tobacco leaf and toasty oak. Bold, flamboyant and opulent, it should drink well for 15+ years. From one of Napa Valley’s historic winemaking families, these are two very strong back to back vintages for Caymus. Rated 93 The Wine Advocate

2007 Joseph Phelps Insignia Proprietary Red Wine (Napa Valley) – 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot & 4% Petit Verdot
The 2007 Insignia (a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot) looks to be one of the greatest wines yet produced at this historic winery. Beautiful aromas of creme de cassis and flowers jump from the glass of this dense purple-colored effort. Sweet oak is present, but it is pushed to the background by the wine’s extravagant wealth of fruit and full-bodied power. This is finesse and flavor authority put into a classic Napa Valley Cabernet with a seamless integration of all its component parts. Already complex and approachable, it should evolve for three decades or more, but who can resist it now? It is a staggering, complex expression of Napa viticulture. Anticipated maturity: now-2030. Another great success for Phelps, the 2007 and 2008 Insignias may be the best back-to-back vintages they have produced since 1995 and 1994. The 2008 has some tannins to resolve whereas the 2007 has already assimilated them. Joseph Phelps’ flagship wine, which they have been making for 36 years, is the Insignia, which boasts a remarkable track record. Phelps, always a visionary, was the first to recognize that a blend of grapes could be better than a single varietal cuvee. Verdot
Rated 98 The Wine Advocate

2007 Buccella Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) – Cabernet Sauvignon 94%, Petit Verdot 3%, Malbec 2%, Cabernet Franc 1%
The blockbuster 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon is more primary, but it does display enormous fruit concentration, massive body, and wonderful purity, balance, and elegance. It is an extraordinarily promising 2007 with awesome fruit, depth and richness as well as a long finish. This offering will be even better with 5-7 years of bottle age, and should keep for 20+ years. Buccella, under the guidance of well-known winemaking consultant Celia Masyczek has fashioned brilliant Cabernet Sauvignons in both 2006 and 2007. The 2007s are slightly more powerful, backward wines (alcohol levels range from the upper 14% to low 15%), but they have enough structure as well as sensational concentration and depth to support the tannins. Rated 96 The Wine Advocate