Ratings & Tasting Notes:

98 points Wine Advocate

The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Backus Vineyard is a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Malbec and 5% Petit Verdot, aged for 24 months in 100% new French oak and bottled in Jan 2019. Deep garnet-purple colored, it charges out of the gate with bold blackberry pie, black currant pastilles and warm blueberries notes with touches of menthol, mocha, cardamom, iron ore and cinnamon stick plus a waft of black olives. The full-bodied palate delivers mouth-coating black and blue fruits with a vast array of earth and spicy sparks, framed by firm, grainy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long and mineral laced. (LPB)

98 points Jeb Dunnuck

Looking at the Backus Vineyard, which was purchased by the Phelps team in 1996, this wine is a tiny production, single vineyard release that’s normally 85% or more Cabernet Sauvignon and small amounts of Malbec and Petite Verdot. The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Backus Vineyard is an incredible wine, and I suspect the finest of the three vintages reviewed here. Gorgeous blackcurrants, graphite, lead pencil, chocolate, and gravelly, earthy minerality all give way to a powerful, concentrated Cabernet that has flawless balance, building tannins, and a huge finish. Count yourself lucky if you have bottles of this in the cellar, as it’s going to offer up tons of pleasure over the coming three decades or more. (JD) 98+

Cult Wines International Notes:

The wine is sourced from the Backus Vineyard, a small, 21-acre property located on a steep hillside in the Oakville appellation of Napa Valley. Joseph Phelps leased the land in the 1970s and made his first Backus vintage in 1977. He later purchased the vineyard, ensuring that his winery would be the sole producer of wines from this unique site. The vineyard’s rocky, red volcanic soil and hillside location are key to its character, producing grapes with concentrated flavors and a powerful structure.

Bottle Size:

750 mL

Storage History:

Always stored on its side in a climate-controlled cellar.

Condition:

Perfect.