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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 93.3 pts. and median of 94 pts. in 521 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by Capt Cutlass on 4/1/2024 & rated 95 points: After a two hour devant. In a really good place now. Surprised me with its elegance despite not being a top flight vintage. There is refined opulence with obvious Cab Sauv character and just a dash of prunes but less than the 2008 which has a more cooked quality to it. Note to me: drink before its 20 year mark. (547 views) | | | Tasted by Neras on 12/30/2023 & rated 96 points: Fully integrated, but still young and fresh. Really enjoyable. (1240 views) | | | Tasted by ppearson9 on 12/25/2023 & rated 95 points: drinking beautifully. magnum 3 hour decant on xmas 2023. strong recommend. doesn’t seem close to done. could have a few more years life in the bottle. (1098 views) | | | Tasted by Windacre in the Slope on 10/22/2023 & rated 93 points: After two hours decanted it opened up finally into a really nice balanced wine, earthy and spicy, but not as rich as some other years. (1773 views) | | | Tasted by Darwine on 8/4/2023 & rated 95 points: This wine has aged perfectly! The nose was filled with rior dark fruits and a touch of leather. The taste followed with beautiful flavors of ripe dark raspberry and black cherry. Plum came as everything passed. The finish was long with these aged tannins and a tweak of acid. Great wine!! (2001 views) | | | Tasted by Wineshington on 6/16/2023 & rated 96 points: Fantastic wine in a perfect place one hour decant at Cap Grille. (1937 views) | | | Tasted by tom.mueller on 4/26/2023: Clearing stock list. Inventory count by Leo/LRC on 26.04.23 (1960 views) | | | Tasted by JoeDwine on 3/4/2023 & rated 94 points: With Tritip….
Before food-Starting to show some age. Savory. Still some dusty tannins.
Candle wax, creosote , baked plums, earth, dark chocolate, pencil lead, caramel. At 90 minutes cardamom, Soy sauce.Graphite.
With food- very complimentary and nice acidity.
Great herbal potpourri. Baking spices. Becoming softer and creamier at 3 hours
Just short of Outstanding. Peaked but should hold into mid 2030’s. (2017 views) | | | Tasted by JS199 on 12/24/2022 & rated 92 points: After a couple hours in the decanter it settled down. Very concentrated. One dimensional and a bit sweet. (2070 views) | | | Tasted by Rickfor on 9/24/2022 & rated 92 points: - Garnet color. (2546 views) | | | Tasted by Brett on 5/27/2022 & rated 100 points: If this is not a perfect wine….., (3294 views) | | | Tasted by Brett on 4/9/2022 & rated 99 points: Fantastic, has just become better and better with age! (3190 views) | | | Tasted by edjBoca on 4/2/2022 & rated 95 points: Decanted for an hour...and drank 2 hours later,,,,drank complex and long....amazing. Not old. (2832 views) | | | Tasted by MemorialWineFan on 3/24/2022 & rated 90 points: Very concentrated wine. Reminded me of higher concentration wines like Harlan. Not thin in any way. Wine was good, but not spectacular. I don't think this is worth the high price point. (2638 views) | | | Tasted by WojoWineCave on 3/11/2022 & rated 94 points: I agree this wine is in the middle of its drinking window. Perhaps it’s peak. Took to restaurant. Pop & pour for two hours. Very little tannins. Fruit secondary. I’ve had several of these along with 2008 and 2010. This one drank the best. I don’t see it improving unless you preferred old style well aged reds. Not my thing so plan to consume remaining bottles over next two years. (2314 views) | | | Tasted by wineshaman on 1/1/2022 & rated 93 points: Decanted 1hr, personally cellared for 11 years, very elegant for a Napa wine, outstanding balance between fruit, oak and minerals, fully integrated and ready for action but should drink well for several more years. Paired with filet, roasted red potatoes and roasted cauliflower. (2302 views) | | | Tasted by Grand12 on 9/5/2021 & rated 94 points: Excellent nose and flavor. Let it decent for an hour, improved the smoothness even at this late date. Good cherry notes, terms toward the red fruit side. Great with the rib eyes (3165 views) | | | Tasted by cebo2hot on 7/23/2021 & rated 92 points: Two hours wonderful wine. (3031 views) | | | Tasted by EricDilda on 7/11/2021 & rated 94 points: Stewed prunes- lovely
Drinking well- not much more age required (3076 views) | | | Tasted by winelover1808 on 5/16/2021 & rated 90 points: Excellent. Lots of bright raspberry and cherry fruit with some dark chocolate and very very slight tobacco notes. Medium bodied with a smooth graceful medium plus finish. Terrific wine (3223 views) | | | Tasted by eags25fla on 5/5/2021 & rated 92 points: Big fruit and high alcohol heat. Decanted for an hour + but could have used more time or more time to lay down. Soft well integrated fruit - casis, blueberry, big dark fruit - heat from alcohol and tannins overwhelm on finish. It's a beautiful wine - big Napa style. Another 5 years in the bottle wouldn't hurt. Cork in 375ml split when opening. (2669 views) | | | Tasted by gew71walsh on 3/19/2021 & rated 94 points: Last bottle. This one from winery two years ago, rather than my other bottles purchased from winery on release. Paired with grilled ribeye with chimichurri sauce. As previously reviewed, this is fully integrated, tannins mellowed with complexity of dark fruits and woodsy aromas and flavors. Lingers on the palate. A great steak wine. (2501 views) | | | Tasted by dase13 on 3/15/2021 & rated 95 points: Color of dark red. Scents of raspberry and currants. Tastes consistent with scents, with smooth mouthfeel and integrated (not harsh) tannins. (2315 views) | | | Tasted by enderle160 on 3/13/2021 & rated 89 points: Drink it, Drink it now!!!! (2053 views) | | | Tasted by JDB on 12/26/2020 & rated 92 points: Accompanied a 6 lb slow roasted Flannery rib eye roast & yorkshire beautifully on Christmas Day. Quite muted on the open but poured into a decanter and then back to the bottle it opened beautifully as the evening meal progressed. I do not see this improving but should last for a while (2440 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. | i-WineReview.com, Joseph Phelps Wines (10/31/2010)
(Joseph Phelps Insignia Napa Valley) Subscribe to see review text. | By Tamlyn Currin
JancisRobinson.com (3/17/2010)
(Joseph Phelps, Insignia Napa Valley Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, May/June 2008, IWC Issue #138
(Joseph Phelps Vineyards Insignia Proprietary Red Wine Napa Valley) Subscribe to see review text. |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Vinous and i-WineReview.com and JancisRobinson.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.2006 Joseph Phelps InsigniaWinemaker: Ashley Hepworth
Producer WebsiteRed 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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