2014 Joseph Phelps "Backus" Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon
SKU #1344219
96 points
Jeb Dunnuck
The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Backus Vineyard (there's 4% Malbec in the blend) is a more opulent, hedonistic, and sexy wine compared to the Insignia and offers awesome notes of crème de cassis, earth, blackberries, toasted spice, graphite and truffle. With a full-bodied, opulent profile, ripe tannin, and a stacked mid-palate, it's one of those wines that has the richness and fruit profile to deliver incredible pleasure in its youth, yet the balance and depth to keep for 2-3 decades.
(12/2017)
96 points
Wine Advocate
Bottled in January 2017, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Backus Vineyard is a blend of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Malbec and was aged in 100% new French oak. It has a deep garnet-purple color and is scented of blackberries, black cherries and kirsch with nuances of dark chocolate, espresso, sautéed herbs, dusty earth and cedar. Full-bodied, big, rich and densely packed with red and black fruits, it has a wonderful frame of fine-grained tannins and great freshness, finishing long with some exotic spice notes coming through. (LPB) 96+
(10/2017)
93-96 points
Vinous
The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Backus Vineyard has developed nicely over the last year. Less forbidding than it once was, the 2014 offers lovely depth in the mid-weight style of the year. Cherry compote, raspberry jam, mint and wild flowers grace this super-expressive Cabernet Sauvignon. The aromatics need time to fully develop, but all the elements are nicely balanced. (AG)
(3/2018)
K&L Notes
95 points Robert Parker for Wine Advocate: "The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Backus Vineyard is 96% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Malbec. This is much more fruit forward wine, with plenty of blackberry fruit, licorice and floral scents backed up by some earthy new saddle leather notes. It is deep, round, juicy, savory and concentrated, but much softer and more approachable than the 2013. Drink it over the next 25-30 years." (10/2016)