Joseph Phelps Winery has secured its place as one of Napa Valley’s original cult estates, with a history dating back to the 1970s. Most known for the Joseph Phelps Insignia label, recent vintages have seen the rise of Backus Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, a single-vineyard bottle from the hills of Oakville. These wines are absolute gems, rarely seen on the open market and difficult for discerning customers to source.
Backus Vineyard
Joseph Phelps Backus was originally released in its inaugural 1977 vintage after Joe Phelps leased the land from Marion and David Backus. Nearly twenty years later, Phelps purchased the 21-acre vineyards, ensuring his estate was the only one to ever use the land. Located on the eastern side of the Silverado Trail, sandwiched between Screaming Eagle and Dalle Valle, the Backus Vineyard is planted to 90% cabernet sauvignon and remaining amounts of petit verdot and malbec. Its rocky red soil creates the perfect terrain to produce deep and powerful final blends, a stark contrast to the fruit-driven red blends of Phelps Insignia.
The Oakville vineyard contains two parcels on the valley floor and two blocks 500 feet above the floor. According to assistant winemaker Kelly Fields, the site is known for its early ripening, as the harvest typically ends around late September. While she and head winemaker Ashley Hepworth opted to end biodynamic farming, sustainable practices are still used to ensure the vineyard’s long-term viability.
Backus Wine by Joseph Phelps: A Rare Napa Gem
The Backus label was named after the Roman god of wine, Bacchus, and designed by the famed Napa creative studio, CF Napa Brand Design. Each bottle can be found with richly textured cream paper, juxtaposing the dark brown label found on Phelps Insignia. The stylistic difference in labels reflects the two wines’ unique identities, as Backus is a single-vineyard cabernet-driven bottle, while Insignia is famous for its use of multiple, top vineyards from Napa, acting as a proprietary blend of various grapes.
While Joseph Phelps Insignia has remained the estate’s flagship label for nearly 50 years, Phelps Backus has seen a stark rise in popularity over the past 15 years. The bottle is particularly popular in restaurants across the country, though it is notoriously difficult for collectors and enthusiasts to acquire for personal cellars. Furthermore, Backus wine is priced higher than its brother label and intended for long-term drinking, as Kelly Fields recommends aging for at least 10 years before opening.
Joseph Phelps Backus 2019 and Other Top Vintages
The 2019 vintage of Backus has made a claim for being the label’s greatest release. Top critics and publications such as Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate, James Suckling, and Vinous Media each rated the bottle a score of 98 points or higher, illustrating the high quality of the Napa cabernet.
As one of Napa's rarest bottles on the secondary market, now is the chance to acquire a top wine from a cult estate. Discover your next cellar addition and check out our entire offering of Joseph Phelps Backus Wine today.
