Joseph Phelps Syrah 2009
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Winemaker Notes
The 2009 Syrah is deeply colored and has heady aromatics of blueberry syrup, plum, vanilla cream, hints of gardenia, spicy white pepper and nutmeg. Layers of fruit, and sweet, well-structured tannin's finish this wine brilliantly. The 2009 vintage marks the 36th Syrah release from Joseph Phelps Vineyards.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Well-structured, intense and minerally, tightly wound, with dried berry, sage, roasted herb and cedar; a classy effort that is best cellared or given a long decant, as it is just beginning to ease into approachability. Drink now through 2022.
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Wine Enthusiast
One of the most pleasurable Syrahs now on the market. Really hits the spot, with soft, lush tannins framing ripe flavors of black cherries, milk chocolate, pepper, cloves and sandalwood.
Other Vintages
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Robert
Parker
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Robert
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James
Suckling
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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.
Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.