Best Of The Best

One of the rewards of being patient and allowing wines to age for years is that sometimes you simply forget the wines are still there until………………………….that magic moment.  Well, over the last few weeks I scanned the cellar only to rediscover a few wines that had been laid to rest years ago and were just waiting for their time.  As you’ll see, these wines are primed for drinking.  And oh yes, rounding out this edition is a gorgeous white from Arizona vintner Kief Joshua.

Joseph Phelps Insignia, Napa Valley, 2002:

A stunning Bordeaux blend of 78% Cab Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot and a 1% trace of Malbec, this is just another example of the perfection that the estate has offered over the last twenty years.  In fact, every vintage since 1991 has yielded wines that are outstanding to simply magnificent.  The 2002 is characterized by a dense and deep purple color, expresso, Asian spices, crème de cassis, and cedary notes.  The finish is just to die for…………..intense yet voluptuous.  What a package.  For Cab lovers, it just doesn’t get any better than this!  While you can enjoy this now, don’t hesitate to allow some bottles to age.  They have another good decade, at least, to go.  Runs ~$200