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: 2001 Joseph Phelps "Backus" Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon

2001 Joseph Phelps "Backus" Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon

SKU #1044198 97 points Wine Advocate

Outer quote mark From a steep eastern hillside vineyard in Oakville, the excruciatingly youthful, intense 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon Backus Vineyard possesses an opaque purple color (that resembles a barrel sample rather than a 10-year old wine) as well as an extraordinary perfume of raspberry jam, creme de cassis, acacia flowers and crushed rocks. Full-bodied with magnificent concentration, purity and texture, this modern day legend should still be drinking beautifully in 2035. (RP) 97+ Inner quote mark (6/2011)

97 points Wine Enthusiast

Outer quote mark Tasted alongside a bevy of Oakville Cabs, this beauty was the star of the show. It’s a huge, masculine wine, authoritative and ageable. Pours dark and drinks tannic and oaky, with a massive core of cassis, cherry and chocolate fruit encased in perfect tannins. What grace and power, what balance. *Cellar Selection* Inner quote mark (12/2005)

93 points Connoisseurs Guide

Outer quote mark Where the Insignia strives for and achieves a careful balance of refinement and richness, its deep, big-bodied sibling leans more to the latter. Loaded with oak and even more generous in the curranty qualities of classic Napa Valley Cabernet, it teases with touches of olive and loam and dusty earth spice. Big in almost every dimension save for excessive ripeness and alcohol, it ends with a flourish of full and sturdy young tannins that will need ten or more years to fully resolve. Inner quote mark (12/2004)

92 points Int'l Wine Cellar

Outer quote mark Deep ruby. Wild aromas of black fruits, leather, violet, meat, fruit cake and pungent oak, with the liqueur-like ripeness displayed by the 2001 Insignia. Superripe, fat and sweet, with slightly roasted aromas of black fruits, leather, meat and fruit cake. (ST) Inner quote mark (5/2004)

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2001 Joseph Phelps "Backus" Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon

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Varietal:

Cabernet Sauvignon and Blends

- Cabernet Sauvignon has come a long way from its role as a blending varietal, however dominant, in the wines of Bordeaux. Today it is the most planted red varietal in the world. Identified as a descendent of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc, the late-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon needs to be planted in warmer climates to fully ripen. Its small berries can easily be identified for their distinctive blue color, thick skins and high tannins. And while the varietal has its own definitive characteristics: green pepper-like aromas and black currant flavors among them, it is perhaps most prized for its ability to convey terroir, vintage and winemaking. A relatively new varietal, Cabernet Sauvignon started making inroads into the wines of the Médoc and Graves in the late-18th century. Today it is also dominant in the up-and-coming Entre-Deux-Mers region of Bordeaux and can also be found in Southwest France. It is the companion varietal to Sangiovese in Italy's Super Tuscans and is planted all over Europe, stretching to lesser-known winegrowing regions like Russia and Lebanon. In the Americas Cabernet Sauvignon has found champions in every nook and cranny of California and among winemakers in Washington, where it complements plantings of Merlot. In South America, Cab thrives in Chile, but can also be found in smaller amounts in Argentina and even in Mexico.

Country:

United States

- When people consider domestic wine, they normally think about the state of California. The fine viticultural Region within California, including the Napa Valley, Sonoma, Santa Cruz Mountains, Mendocino and Santa Barbara, are capable of growing grapes of world-class quality. But there's plenty of fabulous wine coming from other states, too. Oregon, Washington and New York are also causing eyebrows (and glassware) to be raised around the world.

Sub-Region:

California

- With the explosive growth that California's wine industry has seen the past several years, it's easy to view winemaking and grape growing in the Golden State as a recent phenomenon. And while it's true that California's viticultural history is brief compared to several European countries, this state's roots date back well over 200 years. Due to the enormous response to California wine within the United States and worldwide, there are thousands of excellent and diverse wines being produced within the state each year.

Specific Appellation:

Napa Valley

- America's most famous wine region, which encompasses a varied geographical territory running about 20 miles long from the San Francisco Bay northward to the foot of Mount St. Helena. Napa's great diversity, both in terms of climate and terroir, has led to the creation of a number of smaller AVAs like Stags Leap District, Rutherford, Howell Mountain, Oakville and Mount Veeder, among others. Cabernet and chardonnay still reign supreme, but just about everything under the sun is grown in Napa Valley, in quality levels ranging from $2 jug wine to $500 a bottle California cab.