2017 Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 750 ml

From the seminal Napa Valley winery best known for their iconic Insignia, the 2017 Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley delivers the same brand of power, elegance, and age-worthiness. 

The 95-point score it earned from James Suckling puts the 2017 Napa Valley Cabernet just one point off of Phelps’ multi-100-point flagship—and it comes in at a quarter of the cost.

This is a true Napa icon flexing its muscles with serious Cabernet value, and we know the Wine Access members who’ve had an eye on their inbox for the past two years will be thrilled to see the Joseph Phelps name return—along with the latest edition of a Cabernet with a history for racking up dozens of perfect 5-star ratings from Wine Access members.

We’ve got this California icon’s massively over-achieving Cabernet today for just $70, while they last. And knowing how our Cabernet fans have been thirsting for Joseph Phelps, we don’t expect that to be long. Just 44 cases available. 

Joseph Phelps is a Napa Valley rarity: It’s an iconic, pioneering winery that remains family-owned and -operated to this day. We first tasted this vintage with third-generation Will Phelps at Napa’s Angèle, where the (arguably) best-in-town burger serves as the perfect foil for a benchmark Napa Valley Cabernet. And as the 2017’s deep and dark fruit, seductive mouthfeel, and notes of espresso, cassis, tobacco, and graphite confirmed, they just don’t get any more classic: If Napa Valley’s cult Cabs are Teslas, Phelps is a V-8 Corvette.

Will’s grandfather founded Joseph Phelps Vineyards in 1973, and—despite the fact that his name is now synonymous with a Cabernet-based wine—was interested in far more than Cabernet Sauvignon. In fact, he conceived of his trademark Insignia bottling as simply the finest wine he could make from a vintage: maybe it would be Syrah or Merlot, maybe it would even be a white wine. But Cabernet Sauvignon quickly distinguished itself as the key to Phelps’ signature wine, which would become famous as the first proprietary red blend in Napa Valley.  

But for every year they’ve made Insignia they’ve made their Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, which has always stood as an outstanding Napa Valley Cabernet—even if it stood in the shadow of its world-famous sibling. Dominated by estate-grown grapes (echoing the 100%-estate Insignia), the blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc also evokes its elder. After 18 months in 48% new French and American oak barrels, this dense, deep Cabernet is accented with gorgeous vanilla and oak spice, and does its big brother proud. 

At a quarter of the price, it’s a cellar steal perfect for any red wine lover.