Phelps Insignia Vertical 15+ Years

Tasted Thursday, December 8, 2005 by Burgundy Al with 675 views

Introduction

1986-2002, quite an evolution in style, great time.

Flight 1 (10 Notes)

  • 1985 Joseph Phelps Insignia 93 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Good herbs and spices on the nose that continue on to the palate. Bright red fruit nicely still primary as well with some earthy traces that come out on the long finish. Very balanced and elegant. I'd expect this still has plenty of life ahead, certainly 5 years, perhaps as much as 15.

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  • 1986 Joseph Phelps Insignia 89 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Soft velvety fruit with some herb character on palate. Nose showed a bit more age than palate. Seemed to get a bit weightier and spicier with time in glass. Moderate length and finish. Probably not getting better.

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  • 1991 Joseph Phelps Insignia 94 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Tasting. Insignia starting get to 80% Cabernet. Interesting dark berry and minty spice on the nose. Very nicely structured in every way with strong tannins and good acidity. Big fruit when first poured, this evolved into something more complex and started showing more and more spice. To me this had a good powerful and elegant Left Bank feel to it, with great aging potential for another 5-20 years.

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  • 1994 Joseph Phelps Insignia 88 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Vertical tasting. Perhaps an off bottle, but this don't show the fruit on the nose I expected and had a slightly herbal almost vegetal aspect. Fruit was reasonably interesting but showing reasonable age.

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  • 1995 Joseph Phelps Insignia 91 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Veritcal tasting. Black fruit on nose with just traces of spice. Still somewhat backward with lots of dry slightly roasted fruit, I think this is still really picking up weight and complexity. Very finish with good spice.

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  • 1997 Joseph Phelps Insignia 94 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Vertical tasting. Really impressive fruit, still getting better (vs. many 97s that seem to be fading). Very concentrated fruit, black cherry and currant, with interesting cocoa and espresso elements as well. Wish the finish were a bit longer.

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  • 1999 Joseph Phelps Insignia 88 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Vertical tasting. Primary and slightly jammy, less interesting than when I tried it at Phelps a few years ago. Big berry flavors showing perhaps a bit more heat than I'd want. Moderate length. Drink young.

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  • 2000 Joseph Phelps Insignia 91 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Vertical tasting. Really great aromatics display lots of dark fruit and a wonderful perfumed, floral character. Big blackberry fruit follows through on the palate,still good structure, particularly given the vintage reputation. Finish shows the fruit nicely with some nice interesting earthy touches.

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  • 2001 Joseph Phelps Insignia 90 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Vertical tasting. Not my favorite vs. others in the group. Lots of good fruit but this was the one vintage that came across as somewhat manipulated to me, and came across as a bit oaky, which (to me) his what seemed to be wonderful fruit with great acidity. I think this just needs time for the oak to integrate so I hope to try again 2010 or later - i think there's something I will find very exciting.

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  • 2002 Joseph Phelps Insignia 94 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Vertical tasting. really enjoyed this tremendously, big upside potential here. An almost St. Julien spice mix on the nose, this showed some real power and elegance. Rich black fruit with great mouth texture. Oak contributes just the right amount of spice without dominating (compared to 2001 where I felt oak overshadowed everything).

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