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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 94.6 pts. and median of 95 pts. in 832 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by ONEFIVE on 4/21/2024: Deep red/ruby in the glass.
Nose comes off a bit reductive, dried black fruit, a touch of VA, and vanilla.
On the plate this is med+ weight, med+ tannin, med-acid.
Powerful and structured but the fruit is a bit muted or falling out at this point. Some air will resolve that.
Drink up in my opinion. (455 views) | | | Tasted by MagicJuan on 3/3/2024 & rated 92 points: Amazing...have had this wine cellared since it was released, did not disappoint (1401 views) | | | Tasted by gymnastpro on 2/10/2024 & rated 96 points: I bought 3 bottles of this wine directly from JP. The previous bottles were ok, but nothing to brag about. This last bottle was one of the best Insignia's I've ever had. I have had more consistent bottles with the 01 and preferred it to the 02. But in this instance, the 02 outperformed the previous 01's I've had. Beautiful dark fruit plum fruit with a beautiful bouquet. The tannins were so resolved and the secondary nuances were so pronounced but balanced. My favorite Insignia bottling yet. (1499 views) | | | Tasted by tunaguy on 2/10/2024: This is in the zone right now. Dense dark fruits, figs, espresso, dried tobacco. All joy at this point. Likely years more in the tank but for me this is at peak (1369 views) | | | Tasted by SonnyChiba on 2/3/2024 & rated 94 points: Had this bottle in the cellar for 12 years and was excited to finally open it. Very Insignia like or aged Napa cab- dried fruit, prune, rich and dense flavor profile. These older Napa wines of this era still come off somewhat one dimensional at times and lack structure, or port like. But I think this 2002 was more interesting than other vintages of Insignia from the late 90s. It has a luxurious feel to it and paired well with a T-Bone steak. (1460 views) | | | Tasted by panadera on 1/23/2024: Fruit still tastes young. Full, smooth , velvety finish. (1775 views) | | | Tasted by N.Bonaparte on 1/12/2024 & rated 94 points: 3.5 years since my last bottle. 90 min in the glass was about right but an hour decant would be better as this has the structure and balance to drink well for a decade. This has just enough fruit and heft to identify as new world. This is a complete wine from start to finish. This paired well with Japanese Wagyu New York strips. This is in its prime with absolutely no rush to drink. Revisit 2026 (1718 views) | | | Tasted by VindependenceDay on 12/25/2023 & rated 95 points: Wow. Could be wine of the year for me. PnP (start of 3 hr decant prior to dinner). Beautiful nose - very floral (violets and roses?), raisins and currants, milk chocolate. Tart freshness in the mouth. Good length. Not tannic at all. Velvety. What a pleasure to drink. I could drink this right now out of the bottle but hoping it gets better with a few hours airtime.
(7 hrs after decanting) The wine is still going strong, but I’m not sure it really improved over that time. If anything, I think the nose has lost some of its power and tannins are more noticeable. Started out 95 pts and ended up at maybe 93 pts after 7 hrs. (1310 views) | | | Tasted by hrazdiiv on 12/3/2023 & rated 92 points: With 800+ tasting notes, I’m not sure what to add other than this was good but not as great as other vintages I’ve had of this wine. Solid structure, great nose, but not outstanding. Still, it does amaze me how this mass produced wine can still be so good and consistent, year over year. (1859 views) | | | Tasted by davidandrose on 11/25/2023: Purchased from the winery upon release, this has moved cross country several times and like one of my earlier bottles seems worse for the wear. From somm stems there's kirsch, watery blackberry, old leather and tea on the nose.
Comes across the palate like a Bordeaux but there just isn't as much structure as id like. There's a bit there, but it's fleeting the wine is generally fruit driven.
Resampled from a std stem and while the finish is more watery and less satisfying, there's more structure and depth. Interesting evening but still disappointed that last years bottle didn't show up to the party. (1825 views) | | | Tasted by Fftjr on 9/2/2023 & rated 96 points: Beautiful appealing nose. Deep ruby color, satin finish. Extremely well balanced fruit and tannin. A top notch Insignia. Has a solid 5 years left. (2559 views) | | | Tasted by ereed on 8/6/2023 & rated 98 points: Perfect in every way. Great body and structure. Very quaffable. No acid. Not too much fruit. Wonderful after three hours decanting. Of course, served w filet. (2542 views) | | | Tasted by Rollerball on 6/20/2023: Spectacular, still very fresh, and so very drinkable. Three hours in the decator and what a star. Recommend drinking one now if you've got it. Probably on point like this for another few years. best -2025 (3015 views) | | | Tasted by grossie on 6/9/2023 & rated 96 points: Amazing bottle of Napa Cab. Pure sweet fruit, luscious in the mouth, fantastic long ending with nothing impure in any way. The tannic structure remains but seems mature. A real gem and a serious treat. Ready to drink now or in the next 10-15 years! (2671 views) | | | Tasted by sfwinelover1 on 5/28/2023 & rated 96 points: Best of the World Wine Night (ex-Italy) (The csimm_M Estate): Another late evening, one shot taste. Classic, excellent vintage Insig, bang on in its drinking window, with ample and perfectly ripe dark berries and cassis, earth, mixed spice, dark florals, leather, dark chocolate, beautifully integrated but still present structure. Not quite the sophistication of the ‘96 mag of this from last fall, which was super BDX-y, but a step above the also excellent ‘01 of this from our tasting a year and a half ago. I’m with BS that every time I drink this wine from a good vintage, I really love it, and it brings back memories of past bottles and other longtime Napa and NorCal favorites like PM LP, Montelena, Montebello, Merryvale Profile, Heitz Martha’s, HSS, etc. It didn’t quite hit the top group—and I hear what IRBDW said about this perhaps being even better enjoyed on its own than against a group like this—but to be, for me, right there with the far dearer Scarecrow and Mag 7, well, as Bananarama sang, that’s really saying something. Beautiful now, but should hold well for at least several years, maybe more based on the ‘96. Seems like more unanimity among the tasters who’ve written TNs than any other wine, and that’s kinda nice to see. 96+ (3607 views) | | | Tasted by I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine on 5/28/2023 & rated 96 points: Wild and Crazy Memorial Weekend - Sunday (Chris' Castle aka Melissa's Manor): Tasting this wine reminds me of what a privileged life I lead sometimes! Unfortunately, I have tasted this twice, and while this is an awesome wine which I would thoroughly enjoy (and should enjoy) by itself, both tastings where I had the privilege of drinking this were marked with unbelievable wines. While it didn't get lost in the shuffle, it likely didn't get the attention and accolades it richly deserves.
2002 Insignia - 2002 was a stellar vintage and Joseph Phelps makes some stellar wines! Insignia is a wine that when it is on, is one of the best Napa wines, and this bottle was definitely on! Dark, brooding fruit and a nice earthiness and leathery palate all in perfect harmony, together with some spice, toasty oak and tobacco and throw in some creamy dark chocolate and you have a stellar wine! Wish I could just sit down with this bottle and enjoy it for the delicious wine it is! Don't bring this wine to a tasting, rather open it for a dinner or just with a friend and sit back and enjoy the ride! Solid 96....slightly better than last bottle! In a great place right now, IMO. (2745 views) | | | Tasted by bsumoba on 5/28/2023 & rated 96 points: Memorial Madness at Case de Chris y Melissa - Day 2 of 2: Again, one of those nostalgia wines that when I saw it on the table, I couldn’t help but think of my early days collecting wines, tasting wines, reading WS and Robert Parker’s books. Very pretty nose and well integrated in terms of the tannins, fruit and the oak. No qualms here. Very good. 96+ (2758 views) | | | Tasted by WineBurrowingWombat on 5/28/2023 & rated 95 points: Memorial Day Weekend, Day 2: The Great Gatsby: Very pretty and light flowers on the nose that covers dark red fruits, like giant overgrown flowers acting as a canopy for the fruits underneath.
Dark rich fruits and matching dark earth on the palate.
Integration is strong in this one but seems to be missing some character. Would've liked a little bit of extra something to make this just a notch more exciting. (2499 views) | | | Tasted by Travislee0113 on 5/2/2023 & rated 97 points: I tasted at Wolfgang Steakhouse with friends this wine in a magnum bottle, which a friend bought during his VIP visit to the winery just a couple of weeks ago. This wine was stored in the most excellent condition. Without a doubt this wine was a typical great R.P. 100 points wine, a full-bodied, hints of sharpened pencil, charcoal and others. Tannin was mostly melted away, but with pleasant hint of it. (2120 views) | | | Tasted by Cailles on 3/4/2023 & rated 94 points: Tasted double blind. This is in a beautiful drinking window, well put together and harmonious. A bit ripe like the 2002s are but still on the good side of things. 94/95pts.
TN: Intense, super intense dark berries, some herbs and and some minerality. On the palate very much dark fruited, cassis, some sugary notes, herbs, beautiful minerality, and a strong meatiness that made me believe that this might be a Syrah. It is ripe, but not too ripe. Velvety tannins, so soft and round, good, medium+ acidity, round and harmonious with a velvety texture. Superb showing.
Decanting: A short 1-2 hours decant should be sufficient. (3148 views) | | | Tasted by sirpat00 on 3/2/2023 & rated 97 points: Tasted blind, decanted approx. 1h. Sugar-coated, ripe and extracted fruit of red currant and cassis with a plethora of spice such as cloves, anis as well as mint and menthol. Also liquorish. A bit of wet earth adds just a hint of age. The palate is incredibly smooth, well integrated, but still with masculine vigor and great tension. Lots of structural tannin, but soft and caressing. The attack is already strong and an ideal set-up for the pompous mid-palate and expansive finish. What a testament to the 2002 vintage and the second-best 2002 from Napa I’ve had (nr 1 so far Shafer Hillside Select). (2552 views) | | | Tasted by gteran76 on 2/14/2023 & rated 96 points: Placed upright for a week in my bedroom at 70°F. Double decanted for a short 5 minutes and start consuming about one hour later.
This wine is beautiful, complex and at its peak for sure. Very dark, no noticeable oak, a hint of chocolate and tabaco, medium plus body and sensational finish.
Sadly my last bottle. Drink up without rush! (2586 views) | | | Tasted by Topper on 1/2/2023 & rated 96 points: My 5 th time with this vintage and always sublime. Power, flavor and finesse. I think if you be told me that I could only drink one bottle of California red wine for the rest of my life, I would choose 02 Insignia. (3178 views) | | | Tasted by jsternh on 12/31/2022 & rated 97 points: Absolutely beautiful, drinking at its peak. Opened and decanted, poured a small glass to get an idea of the condition. Very dark in color. Beautiful, so well balanced, incredible length. No issues with corkage. Fruit is very strong, whole room smells like red wine. This is intense. Had with grilled t-bone, wine is overwhelming. Alcohol in check. Finally just stopped eating and focused on the wine. Incredible experience, wine is in perfect condition. (2492 views) | | | Tasted by moorewine3 on 12/17/2022 & rated 97 points: Excellent with beef tenderloin filet (2741 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, Vertical Tasting of Phelps Insignia (Apr 2016) (4/1/2016)
(Joseph Phelps Vineyards Insignia Napa Valley) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (3/21/2013)
(Joseph Phelps, Insignia Napa Valley Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (5/25/2006)
(Joseph Phelps, Insignia Napa Valley Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, May/June 2004, IWC Issue #114
(Joseph Phelps Vineyards Insignia Proprietary Red Wine Napa Valley) Subscribe to see review text. | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (1/25/2014)
(Joseph Phelps Insignia) Bricking, nearly opaque red violet color; lifted, tart currant, tart plum, cedar, light coconut nose; rich, raspberry preserves, coconut, baked berry, black currant, raspberry puree palate; long finish 93 points |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Vinous and JancisRobinson.com and RJonWine.com. (manage subscription channels) |
| Joseph Phelps Producer website
In the late 60s, Joseph Phelps was running one of the largest construction companies in the U.S. when he won the bid to build Souverain Winery (now Rutherford Hill) located a few miles outside of St. Helena. Enamored with the beautiful Napa Valley and contemplating a career change, in 1973 he bought the 600-acre Connolly cattle ranch in Spring Valley, and began planting vineyards. The winery was completed in 1974 and that same year the first Syrah was made, the first grapes were crushed at the new facility and the first Insignia was produced. It was a period of unparalleled activity, creativity, ingenuity, entrepreneurship and risk-taking and it put Joe Phelps on the map of top Napa Valley wine producers.
Nearly four decades later, the flagship wine, Insignia, is recognized as one of the world’s great wines. Twenty nine of 34 vintages have been rated ninety or more points by various wine publications. From 1990 to 2007, the average score from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate is 94.5 pts., with the lowest score still a fabulous 91. The 2002 vintage was “Wine of the Year” by Wine Spectator Magazine, and the 2007 vintage has been rated 98 points by Robert Parker and 96 points by Wine Spectator Magazine.
Over the years, the goal of becoming 100% estate grown resulted in carefully planned acquisitions of prime vineyards in the Napa Valley. Today, the Phelps estate consists of the Spring Valley Home Ranch outside of St. Helena, Banca Dorada in Rutherford, Las Rocas and Barboza vineyards in Stags Leap, Yountville Vineyard in Oak Knoll, Suscol Vineyard in South Napa and Backus Vineyard in Oakville.
Beginning with the 2009 vintage, estate-grown wines include Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Insignia, Backus (the single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from Oakville) and Eisrébe, a dessert wine made from the Scheurebe grape. In addition, a small amount of Syrah is produced from fruit owned by Hyde Vineyards in Los Carneros.
Though the main focus is on Bordeaux varietals, Joe Phelps has had a life-long love affair with the wines of Burgundy and a desire to craft wines in that style. Originally Chardonnay was sourced from St. Helena, later from Yountville and then from Los Carneros. Through the years, however, Joe continued to search for the ideal spot to grow both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and his search ended when the perfect combination of climate, soil and location was found in Freestone, located in the Sonoma Coast AVA, a mere eight miles from the Pacific Ocean. In 1999, 200 acres were acquired and planting began. Today, 80 acres of Pinot Noir and 20 acres of Chardonnay are producing some remarkable wines which are available for tasting at the Freestone Guest Center. Visit Freestone Vineyards to learn more.Red Bordeaux BlendRed Bordeaux is generally made from a blend of grapes. Permitted grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and rarely Carménère.Today Carménère is rarely used, with Château Clerc Milon, a fifth growth Bordeaux, being one of the few to still retain Carménère vines. As of July 2019, Bordeaux wineries authorized the use of four new red grapes to combat temperature increases in Bordeaux. These newly approved grapes are Marselan, Touriga Nacional, Castets, and Arinarnoa.
Wineries all over the world aspire to making wines in a Bordeaux style. In 1988, a group of American vintners formed The Meritage Association to identify wines made in this way. Although most Meritage wines come from California, there are members of the Meritage Association in 18 states and five other countries, including Argentina, Australia, Canada, Israel, and Mexico.InsigniaOf interest concerning the sources for grapes for this wine:
http://wine.appellationamerica.com/wine-review/669/Insignia.html
jhtUSAAmerican wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.California2021 vintage: "Unlike almost all other areas of the state, the Russian River Valley had higher than normal crops in 2021, which has made for a wine of greater generosity and fruit forwardness than some of its stablemates." - Morgan Twain-Peterson Napa Valley Napa Valley Wineries and Wine (Napa Valley Vintners)Napa ValleySt. Helena |
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