Grounded By Josh Phelps 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon, California

The Grounded by Josh Phelps 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon opens with familiar comfort—ripe black cherry and cassis layered with cocoa, cedar, and a faint herbal lift. The aromas feel open yet composed, more like a hillside after rain than a fruit basket in the sun.

On the palate, the fruit stretches wide before narrowing into focus. Silky at first, then firm, with graphite edges and tannins that hold steady. There’s weight, but it doesn’t lean heavy. Each sip resets itself—generous, then restrained, then gone.

The fruit is drawn from vineyards across California’s varied landscapes, stitched together into something seamless. Warm valleys bring the ripeness, while cooler coastal sites carry freshness into the mix. The vintage gave fruit time to mature evenly, so what you taste is layered, not hurried.

Winemaking follows the same philosophy—minimal handling, oak used as a frame rather than a mask, and careful attention to balance. Josh Phelps has built Grounded on the idea that Cabernet should feel approachable without losing character, and this bottling leans into that ethos.

The wine isn’t chasing grandeur. It’s content to be exactly what it is: a Cabernet that drinks easily but carries enough structure to keep you thinking. Pour it on a weeknight, set it on the table, and let it disappear without effort.

Grounded by Josh Phelps 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon—unforced, generous, and tuned for the moments that matter.