Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard 1985

Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard 1985The backward 1985 Eisele Vineyard is marvelously concentrated, but extremely tannic and at least 5 10 years away from full maturity. Impressively endowed, well focused, dense, powerful, thick, and tannic, this wine leaves little doubt that the extract, ripeness, and quantity of fruit are more than sufficient to balance out the wine's tannic ferocity.

I like the focused drive of the finish

An overtly spicy and floral-scented nose reveals additional notes of plum

From their steep hillside vineyards on Pritchard Hill

it has great purity on the nose

Both the 1992 and 1993 are wines to seek out

and great richness

licorice flavor

vanilla and black truffle with a stylish ‘garrigue’ touch

but with no sense of heaviness

Joe Wender

have persuaded me that this wine is one of the most exciting and remarkable young Cabernet Sauvignons I have tasted

This terrific effort is very clearly built-to-age and I wouldn't dream of touching a bottle for at least 10 years and it should easily reward 20