From a perfect looking bottle. Fully mature, BDX-like weight but sweetness spells Napa. Lots of classic tertiary notes and a nice long, balanced finish. Certainly won't get better but absolutely nothing wrong with it today.
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Gorgeous nose of graphite and smoke. Drinks like a mature Bordeaux. A lighter body than many Cali cabs but super elegant. The red fruit is deftly balanced by a nice streak of acidity. Super enjoyable!
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Didn't have flavors/profile I associate with over the hill wines, rather just seemed thinner than I remember, but otherwise OK. Tannins resolved, but not flabby and good taste, just not as much stuffing as I'd like.
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1990s Insignia Tasting; 12/5/2009-12/6/2009: Similar to the 91/92, this shows a lot of olive and green pepper on nose; some tart acidity on the palate that is noticeably different from the 91/92/94. Overall this is definitely cut from the same cloth as the 91/92 but seems to lack some of their depth and vitality.
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The cork on this bottle disintegrated such that it could not be retrieved. I had to use a filter pourer to get a clean glass of wine. I was a little worried that the wine would be spoiled but the color was dark with a nice bright surface and no sign of premature aging. The nose was also clean with cassis and menthol. Pure classic Napa cab with cassis and blackberry fruit and sold tannin and acid structure. Old style with real grip compared to today's softer styled more lush wines. It seems to have all the requisite components for a superlative wine but something is missing. It just doesn't meld together quite right. Just a bit disjointed with the tannis maybe not quite ripe or spikey acidity. Somehow lack purity. I think that the 1990 vintage was around the time when Phelps was changing their vineyard sources fo Insignia. Subsquent vintages becaome estate only A very nice wine that requires food but not the best Insignia that I have had. Pretty good for a $30 purchase at the time, however.
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Cork disintegrated upon opening. Stained, brick red color. Decent cabernet nose – cassis mostly. Supple and mature palate --- time to drink up. This was very nice but not exciting. (17.5)
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in reading the reviews on this wine I wonder what people are looking for? This wine is excellent. Loads of cherry and blackberry with great structure and a very long finish. I had only one of these bottles but after the 88 Dominus I decided to drink before it became flat and old. Great wine.
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This was served blind by Otis last Saturday during a dinner at his home. It was served alongside 5 Bordeaux. This was the first time I had the Insignia from this vintage. I thought it was quite lively and open which contrasts with the last TN that WS published on this wine in 2001 when they said it was still tight and unyielding. It had a round texture with berry and currant notes. The tannins were still solid but not overpowering. Medium to full bodied. Correctly guessed this was a California wine. I liked this better than the 2000 Insignia but not as much as most of the other Insignia's I've had. Outstanding wine though which is expected from this label. 91 points.
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Purchased on release for $24.99. This was my last bottle and it fared well in the company of Bordueax from the '80s. Flavors and aromas of black raspberry, charcoal, mint, and earth. Not as much depth as the '82 G-L, but broader in the mouth. A sturdy frame and plenty of tannins. Long finish. Definitely ready to drink, if not slightly past its prime. Excellent pairing with the prime rib.
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Tasted at BirDungy's London off-line. I purchased this bottle upon release at the old Gold Chalet wine store for $24.99 (marked down from $27.99). Nice dark purple color, with little signs of age. A pretty pine nose, with lots of blackberries. For the first 90 minutes, this wine was skittish, with high-toned acidic cherry flavors. It came off as unbalanced and hot. It got a lot smoother with time, but still paled in comparison with the bordeaux on the table. The 1990 vintage of Insignia has always been a bit rugged. It still is. If you're opening one, give it at least 3-4 hours in the decanter.
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3/10/2024 - Fuel55 Likes this wine: 93 Points
From a perfect looking bottle. Fully mature, BDX-like weight but sweetness spells Napa. Lots of classic tertiary notes and a nice long, balanced finish. Certainly won't get better but absolutely nothing wrong with it today.
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12/23/2016 - nywine68 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Gorgeous nose of graphite and smoke. Drinks like a mature Bordeaux. A lighter body than many Cali cabs but super elegant. The red fruit is deftly balanced by a nice streak of acidity. Super enjoyable!
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11/7/2014 - levinml wrote: 90 Points
Didn't have flavors/profile I associate with over the hill wines, rather just seemed thinner than I remember, but otherwise OK. Tannins resolved, but not flabby and good taste, just not as much stuffing as I'd like.
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10/1/2014 - slywka7 wrote:
Bordeaux, Aged Cali Cabs and Burgundy with the Benchmark Wine Group in Port Chester (Il Sogno, Port Chester, NY): Unfortunately their was only a sip left of this by the time I got to it. Not really enough to give it a fair shake. From what I had it seemed promising.
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2/23/2013 - guribh Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great mature cab. Classy. A bit drying, so it is probably on the down slide, but to me - it is good drinking now and in the next few years.
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11/14/2010 - yotaiwan wrote: 85 Points
smells good with great aged fragrance, but tastes were very tight and seems over the hill.
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4/11/2010 - RoccoSydney wrote: 90 Points
A bit over, but still reasonable. Tiny bit of fruit.
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12/5/2009 - amateurwino wrote: 89 Points
1990s Insignia Tasting; 12/5/2009-12/6/2009: Similar to the 91/92, this shows a lot of olive and green pepper on nose; some tart acidity on the palate that is noticeably different from the 91/92/94. Overall this is definitely cut from the same cloth as the 91/92 but seems to lack some of their depth and vitality.
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3/14/2009 - HamishR wrote: 90 Points
Great - still firm, sophistaicated, elegant
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11/11/2007 - GA wrote: 89 Points
11/07 Cherry fruit - fading - with structured chocolate mocha finish - on its back end of its drinking window.89 pts
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10/13/2007 - Dave Dalluge wrote: flawed
Thirty Years of Phelps Insignia (1974 through 2004): This was definitely an off bottle. I felt it had a stewed fruit quality that had me thinking this had been heat damaged.
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10/13/2007 - Siggy wrote: flawed
Insignia Vertical Tasting 1974-2004 (WA Frost, St. Paul): VA on the nose. Mildly corked.
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10/9/2007 - Chateaunewf wrote: 91 Points
The cork on this bottle disintegrated such that it could not be retrieved. I had to use a filter pourer to get a clean glass of wine. I was a little worried that the wine would be spoiled but the color was dark with a nice bright surface and no sign of premature aging. The nose was also clean with cassis and menthol. Pure classic Napa cab with cassis and blackberry fruit and sold tannin and acid structure. Old style with real grip compared to today's softer styled more lush wines. It seems to have all the requisite components for a superlative wine but something is missing. It just doesn't meld together quite right. Just a bit disjointed with the tannis maybe not quite ripe or spikey acidity. Somehow lack purity. I think that the 1990 vintage was around the time when Phelps was changing their vineyard sources fo Insignia. Subsquent vintages becaome estate only A very nice wine that requires food but not the best Insignia that I have had. Pretty good for a $30 purchase at the time, however.
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4/18/2007 - Lwelfley wrote: 87 Points
definitely past it's peak, still not bad
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2/25/2007 - dbkitc wrote:
Cork disintegrated upon opening. Stained, brick red color. Decent cabernet nose – cassis mostly. Supple and mature palate --- time to drink up. This was very nice but not exciting. (17.5)
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7/15/2006 - nob8dnkr wrote: 93 Points
in reading the reviews on this wine I wonder what people are looking for? This wine is excellent. Loads of cherry and blackberry with great structure and a very long finish. I had only one of these bottles but after the 88 Dominus I decided to drink before it became flat and old. Great wine.
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2/8/2006 - Vino Me wrote: 91 Points
This was served blind by Otis last Saturday during a dinner at his home. It was served alongside 5 Bordeaux. This was the first time I had the Insignia from this vintage. I thought it was quite lively and open which contrasts with the last TN that WS published on this wine in 2001 when they said it was still tight and unyielding. It had a round texture with berry and currant notes. The tannins were still solid but not overpowering. Medium to full bodied. Correctly guessed this was a California wine. I liked this better than the 2000 Insignia but not as much as most of the other Insignia's I've had. Outstanding wine though which is expected from this label. 91 points.
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2/4/2006 - otisabdul wrote: 91 Points
Purchased on release for $24.99. This was my last bottle and it fared well in the company of Bordueax from the '80s. Flavors and aromas of black raspberry, charcoal, mint, and earth. Not as much depth as the '82 G-L, but broader in the mouth. A sturdy frame and plenty of tannins. Long finish. Definitely ready to drink, if not slightly past its prime. Excellent pairing with the prime rib.
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4/17/2004 - Jason wrote: 89 Points
The nose shows blackberry, vanilla, and earth. The palate is deep, brooding, and spicy. I do, however, find a touch of green on the finish.
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4/17/2004 - Eric wrote: 87 Points
Seattle Tasting Group does 22 years of Phelps Insignia (Bellevue, WA, USA): Iron and cranberry on the nose. Wow, this was quite less ripe than other vintages, tart. It does show reasonable structure, but the fruit is unimpressive.
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2/27/2004 - otisabdul wrote: 88 Points
Tasted at BirDungy's London off-line. I purchased this bottle upon release at the old Gold Chalet wine store for $24.99 (marked down from $27.99). Nice dark purple color, with little signs of age. A pretty pine nose, with lots of blackberries. For the first 90 minutes, this wine was skittish, with high-toned acidic cherry flavors. It came off as unbalanced and hot. It got a lot smoother with time, but still paled in comparison with the bordeaux on the table. The 1990 vintage of Insignia has always been a bit rugged. It still is. If you're opening one, give it at least 3-4 hours in the decanter.
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5/8/1999 - mdefreitas wrote: 90 Points
Insignia Vertical @ Surf Village (Milford): Plummy color. Not as ripe as other Insignias of the 90's tasted this night. A bit herbal? Not bad.
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6/13/1998 - mdefreitas wrote: 92 Points
Insignia Vertical @ Joe C: Nice youthful, purple color. Fine fresh black fruits. A bit monolithic right now. Shows promise. Very good.
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