Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Backus Vineyard 2008

97 points Antonio Galloni (Wine Advocate): "The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Backus is a beautifully delineated wine endowed with tons of personality and sheer class. The wine comes alive in the glass, with crushed rose petals, dark raspberry jam, licorice and spices. There is an exotic element to the fruit that is highly appealing. Today the tannins are quite firm, suggesting the wine needs at least a few more years in the cellar. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2038. (Dec 2011)"

94 points Wine Spectator: "Firm and intense, this is beautifully structured, with a tight, vivid core of mineral-laced raspberry, black cherry, anise and cedar flavors. Full-bodied and firming nicely on the finish, where the minerality provides a flinty edge. (11/15/11)"

93 points Stephen Tanzer (International Wine Cellar): "(this wine and the 2009 version are 100% cabernet sauvignon, as Joseph Phelps is replanting some petit verdot and malbec): Bright ruby. Aromas of blueberry, crushed stone, licorice and violet. Very tight and energetic, with dark berry flavors complicated by meaty, smoky and saline nuances. Ultimately creamier than the Insignia, this saturates the entire mouth and leaves the taste buds vibrating. Finishes with major tongue-coating tannins, superb persistence and captivating minerality. (May/Jun 2011)"

Producer notes: "94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot and 2% Malbec from the estate-owned Backus Vineyard in Oakville. Aromas in the 2006 Backus are layered with classic notes of crushed rock, ripe blackberry, plum, dark chocolate and violet. The full mid-palate is dominated by flavors of mineral, mocha and dense fruit. Incredible concentration, structure and depth are the backbone of this wine and lead to the rich long finish."