Joseph Phelps Vineyards
2016 Insignia; 2013 Insignia; 2006 Insignia
I recently wrote about Joseph Phelps Vineyards having its roots dating back to 1973, and reviewed some of their wines I tasted on my Napa trip. While many of the early Joseph Phelps wines were made with grapes from the Home Ranch in St. Helena, Joe also sourced fruit from outside growers. But as the winery continued to grow and he traded earlier efforts in Riesling and Chardonnay for Cabernet, Merlot and other red Bordeaux varieties, he began acquiring vineyard land in the Rutherford, Oakville, Stags Leap District, and Oak Knoll District AVAs. These vineyards became important sources of Insignia and Phelps’ other red wines. Today I will discuss Insignia, two I tasted at the winery and one from my cellar. Insignia was first made in 1974 as their first proprietary Bordeaux blend.
Joseph Phelps Vineyards also have several “Wine Clubs” and additionally offering some “Library Wines” which provide a tremendous insight on how their wines develop year to year. I recommend to check out their availability, click this link “WineClubLink” to go to their site and join a club! If you find your travels to Napa, I recommend a visit to their captivating Napa winery.
Keep checking back with SippingFineWine.com as I share my experiences tasting wines, visiting wineries, and meeting and interviewing some outstanding individuals. I’ll continue to report on my discoveries.
2016 Insignia
A blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec and 3% Cabernet Franc, aged for 24 months in 100% new French oak. Deep Ruby, purple edges with developing youthful restrained aromas of black berry fruits, sweet spice and notes of blossom, oak and graphite. On the palate pronounced layered flavors of blackberry, black cherry and black plum preserves, some meaty spice, espresso and cacao notes. Fine grain structured soft tannins, well integrated, long finish, ending with fresh berry fruit character, just starting to add some leather, nutty notes and earthy oak. Outstanding and elegant, drinking well for a ’16 but needs some bottle age, try this in 2021 and over the next decade! Tasting Sample.
2013 Insignia
A blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot, 3% Merlot, 3% Malbec and 1% Cabernet Franc, aged for 24 months in 100% new French oak. Deep dense Ruby with pronounced developing aromas of blue and black fruits, sweet baking spices and notes of earthy oak. On the palate elegant layered flavors of blackberry, plum and black raspberry, sweet vanilla and cinnamon spice, espresso and cedar notes. Fine graceful tannins, well integrated, long finish, ending with fruit, cacao, leather and pepper spice and an earthy mineral character. Exceptional and elegant, drinking well, decant before sipping, enjoy over the next decade! Tasting Sample.
2006 Insignia
From my Cellar, a blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot, aged for 24 months in 100% new French oak. Deep Ruby with pronounced aromas of ripe red and black fruits and notes of oak, rich cacao, licorice, vanilla with earthy oak. On the palate pronounced layered flavors of ripe blackberry, black cherry and fig, with some leathery spice, espresso and cacao notes. Fine smooth tannins, well integrated, long finish, ending with fresh berry fruit character, just starting to develop some tertiary flavors and aromas, but fruit is dominant. Still tasting young, hard to believe its an ’06, has a lot of time to run! Wonderful! Exceptional!
Cheers!