2018 Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon

具力量又不粗糙的 Napa 風格赤霞珠，吃得開也能放得久。

【為什麼選它？】
- 產區混合（St. Helena、Oak Knoll、Stags Leap）→ 層次感明顯，果味有深度。
- 18 個月橡木桶熟成（40% 新桶，法美橡木）→ 木香與果味融合，單寧有支撐不擋路。
- 多家權威高分、陳年窗口長 → 立刻飲或收藏都安心。

【侍酒師私房筆記】打開先是花香、雪松與像鉛筆屑的香料，再進到黑莓、黑加侖與紅醬果的核心。入口酸度清爽，單寧緊實但細緻，舌面有層次的苦甜交替，收結是耐人回味的餘韻。建議開瓶醒 1 小時，香氣會多一截。

【場景化配餐指南】在香港：週末煎牛扒配炸薯條、朋友小聚的燒味拼盤、或是高檔日式燒肉與熟成芝士組合。

【降維打擊對比】比起同級別的名牌單一園，這瓶給你相似的結構與陳年潛力，但價格更實際，買來用餐或收藏都划算。

A Napa Cabernet that balances muscular structure with polished finesse—classic, age-worthy and immediately gratifying.

【Why choose it?】
- Multi-site Napa sourcing -> layered complexity from St. Helena, Oak Knoll and Stags Leap.
- 18 months in 40% new oak (French & American) -> ripe dark-fruit depth and refined grip.
- High critic acclaim (low 90s) & broad drinking window -> confident buy for now or cellar.

【Sommelier's note】This 2018 opens on floral lift, cedar and pencil-shaving spice, then folds into ripe blackberry, cassis and red-currant jam. The palate is focused — brisk acidity and fine-grained tannins build tension across a long, lingering finish. Shows both power and poise; decant for an hour to let aromatics bloom.

【Occasion】Weekend steak night at home, celebratory roast, or a relaxed wine-tasting with aged cheeses and friends.

【Competitive edge】Offers Napa pedigree and near-cult quality at a more accessible price point than single-vineyard cult bottlings—structured, ageable and versatile on the table.

Specification

• Alcohol %: 14.5%
• Decant Time: 60-90 minutes
• Taste: blackberry, blackcurrant (cassis), red currant jam, cedar, pencil shavings, tobacco, dried herb, dark chocolate, vanilla oak, fresh acidity, firm fine-grained tannins, lingering finish
• Food Matching: Grilled ribeye / sirloin steak with frites, Cantonese salt-and-pepper pork ribs, Beef donburi / yakiniku, Roast venison or lamb chops, Aged hard cheeses (Mimolette, aged cheddar)
• Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon : 97%, Cabernet Franc : 2%, Malbec : 1%,

Winery

Joseph Phelps 是 Napa 的資深酒莊，擅長結構分明又有細緻度的酒款。這支酒從多個 Napa 區塊取果（St. Helena、南 Napa、Oak Knoll、Stags Leap），以法、美橡木桶混合熟成 18 個月（40% 新桶），做法重視果味與單寧的平衡與陳年潛力。

Joseph Phelps Vineyards, founded in the 1970s, is a Napa Valley stalwart known for precise winemaking and flagship blends. For this Cabernet they source fruit from multiple Napa subregions—St. Helena, southern Napa, Oak Knoll and Stags Leap—then age the wine for 18 months in a mix of French and American oak (40% new). The style aims for concentration, balance and ageability.