Part of an outlandish night spent out on the porch drinking Cabernet Sauvignon and enjoying the spring weather, this wine gave us all something to think about. The last vintage that Joseph Phelps himself helped to craft before his death, wine became, as ever, a chance to stop and to reflect.

A masterpiece, the nose alone boasted aromas of cocoa and graphite mingling in the fruit. A full body, complex and well structured, contained similar flavors alongside forrest floor and lush, stewed fruits to accompany the ensemble. A long, dessert dry finish completed the experience.

A splurge for someone like me, but a tour de force in its own rite, this wonderful Cab gets 93 points on my scale. Cheers!