Joseph Phelps Backus Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 Liter Magnum) 2012
-
Robert
Parker
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Blend: 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Malbec, 3% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The Cabernet Sauvignon Backus is their single-vineyard wine made on the lower hillsides of the Vaca Mountains at the Oakville crossroads. The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Backus, a blend of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Malbec and Petit Verdot, spent 24 months in 100% new French oak. There are 2,900 cases of this massive wine, which is certainly the most backstrapping, highly extracted, muscular Cabernet in the Phelps portfolio. It is inky bluish purple to the rim, showing notes of underbrush, dusty soil notes and plenty of blackberry and blueberry fruit. An elegant and relatively large production for this vineyard, the 2012 is a beauty and the tannins are surprisingly civilized for such a young Backus. It can be drunk in 3-4 years, but will keep 30 or more.
Other Vintages
2017-
Robert
Parker -
Jeb
Dunnuck -
James
Suckling
-
Robert
Parker -
Jeb
Dunnuck -
James
Suckling
-
Jeb
Dunnuck -
Robert
Parker
-
Robert
Parker
-
Robert
Parker -
James
Suckling
- Vinous
-
Robert
Parker
-
Robert
Parker
-
Robert
Parker
-
Robert
Parker -
Wine
Spectator -
Wine
Enthusiast
-
Robert
Parker -
Wine
Spectator -
Wine
Enthusiast
-
Robert
Parker -
James
Suckling -
Wine
Enthusiast -
Wine &
Spirits
-
Wine
Enthusiast -
Robert
Parker -
Wine
Spectator
-
Robert
Parker -
Wine
Enthusiast -
Connoisseurs'
Guide -
Wine
Spectator
-
Robert
Parker
-
Robert
Parker -
Connoisseurs'
Guide -
Wine
Enthusiast -
Wine &
Spirits
-
Robert
Parker -
Wine
Enthusiast -
Connoisseurs'
Guide
-
Wine
Enthusiast -
Wine
Spectator
-
Wine
Enthusiast -
Wine
Spectator -
Robert
Parker
-
Robert
Parker
-
Robert
Parker
-
Robert
Parker -
Wine
Spectator
-
Robert
Parker
-
Robert
Parker -
Wine
Spectator
-
Robert
Parker
-
Wine
Spectator
Joseph Phelps Vineyards is a family-owned winery committed to crafting world class, estate-grown wines. Founded in 1973 when Joe Phelps purchased a former cattle ranch near St. Helena in the Napa Valley, the winery now controls and farms nearly 375 acres of vines on eight estate vineyards in St. Helena, the Stags Leap District, Oakville, Rutherford, Oak Knoll District, Carneros and South Napa Valley. In 1999, the Phelps family added 100 acres of vineyard property near the town of Freestone on the Sonoma Coast, where Phelps now grows Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Phelps is best known for its flagship Napa Valley blend of red Bordeaux varietals, Insignia, first produced in 1974. Awarded Wine Spectator's "Wine of the Year" in 2005, Insignia is widely regarded as a qualitative benchmark for California winemaking.
One of the most prestigious wines of the world capable of great power and grace, Napa Valley Cabernet is a leading force in the world of fine, famous, collectible red wine. Today the Napa Valley and Cabernet Sauvignon are so intrinsically linked that it is difficult to discuss one without the other. But it wasn’t until the 1970s that this marriage came to light; sudden international recognition rained upon Napa with the victory of the Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon in the 1976 Judgement of Paris.
Cabernet Sauvignon undoubtedly dominates Napa Valley today, covering half of the land under vine, commanding the highest prices per ton and earning the most critical acclaim. Cabernet Sauvignon’s structure, acidity, capacity to thrive in multiple environs and ability to express nuances of vintage make it perfect for Napa Valley where incredible soil and geographical diversity are found and the climate is perfect for grape growing. Within the Napa Valley lie many smaller sub-AVAs that express specific characteristics based on situation, slope and soil—as a perfect example, Rutherford’s famous dust or Stags Leap District's tart cherry flavors.