2005 Joseph Phelps Insignia

Community Tasting Notes (221) Avg Score: 94.1 points

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  3/29/2024 - AllRed wrote: 97 Points

  Our penultimate bottle, double decanted off its sediment and poured three hours later. Appearance is darker and more youthful than one might expect for its age. Aromas of plum, black currants, mocha, tobacco, blueberry cedar and violets. Complex and absolutely gorgeous. Full-bodied and mearly fully-integrated with just the slightest bit of tannin remaining. Flavors of black fruit, tobacco, chocolate and plum with a long finish. Will hold for quite a while yet but when it’s drinking this well, why wait?

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  3/21/2024 - jacodav Likes this wine: 96 Points

  Paired with steak and fried onions. Excellent. Decanted 30min in advance

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  3/10/2024 - Capt Cutlass wrote: 90 Points

  I agree with Highlander, this is not on a par with other vintages in the 15-20 year age. I found it in an uncomfortable place with spiky alcohol. It is no longer primary and not enough tertiary with an unbalanced ethanol component. I am not sure this is going to go to a good place - feels like I missed the boat when it was young and opulent which may have been its best era. Note to myself: sell up instead of drink up!!

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  2/11/2024 - Ex-Ray Likes this wine: 93 Points

  Dark garnet and opaque, but the slightest bit of amber edge. Pronounced nose of cassis, dark cherries and plums, but none of the mint-herbal notes I usually associate with Insignias going back several decades, to the 70s and 80s. The flavors are deep and concentrated, still with moderate tannin...blackberries predominate, with cassis and plums. The aftertaste is very long, a bit hot, and moderately tannic. An excellent wine, ready now, the only surprise is the persistent tannin which is more than I would expect. Definitely a bigger and more tannic wine than the 2005 Hundred Acre Kayli Morgan from a few nights ago. I think these should be drunk soon.
  ADDENDUM: the second evening it had changed...still garnet and opaque, but the nose had opened to show mocha, leather, cedar, some toasty oak, and cassis. On the palate much more smooth, balanced and round, with tannins barely noticeable. Cassis-blackberry flavors. Very long, slightly hot aftertaste. More of a Bordeaux style, increased my rating from 93 last night to 97 now!
  Note to self: open these hours before drinking, to let them evolve.
  Ric

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  12/19/2023 - fraliavin Likes this wine: 95 Points

  Nose of raspberry, mocha and smoked meat; Rich, smooth and still vibrant; excellent depth; substantial tannins and good finish.

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View all 221 Community Tasting Notes

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