Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Joseph Phelps established his eponymous winery in Napa Valley in 1974 and built its reputation on Cabernet Sauvignon, a Bordeaux grape that found an ideal home in this corner of California. The fruit comes from Napa Valley, where warm, dry days ripen Cabernet fully and the region's well-drained soils give firm, structured tannin, while cooler nights preserve the acidity that keeps the wine balanced. This bottling is made in a fresher, more approachable style than the estate's flagship. It is aged 18 months in French and American oak barrels; the American oak lends a fuller vanilla and sweet-spice character alongside the French, while slow oxygen exchange in barrel rounds the tannins. The colour is deep ruby. The nose is fresh cherry and red berries with plum, backed by vanilla, cocoa and a hint of black pepper. The palate is medium to full bodied, with ripe, supple tannin and bright acidity through a long finish. Serve at 17 to 18 degrees, decanted briefly to open the fruit. It pairs well with grilled and roast meats.