The Buck Stops Here ;^)

Thanks for notes. Too bad about the '86 Backus (the '85 is still strutting). I agree the '98 Insignia did far better than many of it's brethren in that difficult year. Dale

Dale Williams Drop "damnspam" to reply

I have almost a case each on Insignia going back almost 12 years....love that stuff. I think I need to start drinking it now.

No hurry, Dick. The older Insignias I've had were in great shape even after 15-20 years. I'm not sure that the '93 or '98 will make it that far, but I wouldn't bet against them either...

Mark Lipton

The '93 is still quite youthful with a preponderance of fruit at the front end and smooth, well resolved tannins on the finish. It's well within it's drinking window and should last for years to come. Bi!!

Anyone with thoughts on the '00? It's generally an earlier drinking vintage for Cal Cabs, but I've held off on opening my only bottle of the

In article , snipped-for-privacy@dontspampacbell.net says... [SNIP wonderful TN's]

Phelps has been a favorite of ours for some years. Membership in their club has been the reason that I have maintained a locker in Napa, since they cannot yet ship to AZ - well Groth Red Stripe is another, but...

Even if I've just had the pleasure of doing a tasting there, I'll always stop by on each trip, and recommend it to all. They do several different tastings, so it depends a bit on who the host is, as to what you'll get. As I recall, Claude is a Sommelier (maybe Master, but I forget), from Belgium and does a wonderful, understated job. His are probably the best of the tastings, though all are great.

Last time by, I was sorting out some errors in the wine in my locker back in town, and ordering some of their Viognier and Marssane. While they looked over the paperwork, and helped me out, they gave us some of the 2000 Insignia, for our "wait." About that time, a tasting started, and they offered us admission, though we had not planned on it, nor did we have reservations. As soon as it finished, the office staff noted that they were about to do a new tasting, hosted by a PhD who was doing his thesis on the "preception of taste." We were asked to help him out by doing his tasting. No sooner than that had finished, we were informed that one of the winemakers was hosting a tasting and we were invited. When he finished, he asked that we remain behind, and brought out an unmarked bottle of red. We tasted, and commented, amidst our palette fatigue. I placed the Cab as a Rutherford, and asked if JP had acquired property there. He smiled, and proclaimed that this was HIS first Cab for about 2 acres in Rutherford! A fine, well-crafted CA Rutherford Cab. Unfortunately, he only had three cases, and all were promised - or I'd have bought a case on the spot. Well, we finally had to excuse ourselves, as we still had to drive back to SF that night and it was getting late. I think they would have kept us there until after closing :-}

Phelps is always about as good as it gets, when it comes to hospitality. And the wine ain't bad either!

Thanks for the memories, and the TN's, Hunt

Hunt, I have a few questions for you. Could you e-mail me at my Purdue address at your convenience?

TIA, Mark Lipton

Mark,

I'll be glad to. I assume that all I need is a "mirror," correct?

Hunt