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Label borrowed from 1995
Label borrowed from 1995
Community Tasting Notes 288
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Valaprop Likes this wine: 96 points
April 13, 2024 - Exceptional. Enjoyed over dinner at an excellent restaurant (main dishes were pork in a red wine sauce and a strip steak). 30 years in, this wine is fully mature but at least this bottle still had lots of time left. This is a full-bodied wine, with gorgeous fruit, great structure, and a wonderful long finish. One of the best California reds I have had in quite some time. While this is unmistakably a California wine, it has complexity, structure and nuance -- it's not an OTT "fruit bomb". I have had many bottles of the 1999 Insignia over the years -- I thought this was even better and doesn't seem even close to decline.
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jgh123 Likes this wine: 95 points
February 7, 2024 - Rich, fully developed and delicious! At a perfect place. Will last at least 5 more years but there's nothing to be gained by waiting.
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Pinotfanbg Likes this wine: 93 points
January 27, 2024 - Drank this with family at our covid delayed Christmas dinner of prime rib roast. Very elegant wine. Plummy red and black fruit, good structure and balance. Perfectly resolved tannins, long silky finish. Maybe just past peak. Throwing lots of sediment.
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ljl wrote: 80 points
January 21, 2024 - I knew I was in trouble when I removed the lead cap. The cork had a stain of wine and was soft. Color was good. Deep red and clear. At first the wine was acidic which reduced after decanting. Although the acid taste disappeared, the wine was flat.
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dkwins Likes this wine: 97 points
October 24, 2023 - Perhaps my favorite Napa year and more than held its own as my WOTN in an amazing lineup. Impressive richness that belies its age with superb nose and long, memorable finish.
1 person found this helpful Comment
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More notes
Pro Reviews 6
Add a Pro ReviewVinous
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By Stephen Tanzer
Vertical Tasting of Phelps Insignia (Apr 2016), 4/1/2016 (link)(Joseph Phelps Vineyards Insignia Napa Valley) Subscribe to see review text.
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By Stephen Tanzer
Horizontal Tasting of Napa Valley’s 1994 Cabernets (Jul 2015), 3/1/2015 (link)(Joseph Phelps Vineyards Insignia Napa Valley) Subscribe to see review text.
JancisRobinson.com
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By Jancis Robinson, MW
3/21/2013 (link)(Joseph Phelps, Insignia Napa Valley Red) Subscribe to see review text.
Vintage Tastings
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By John Kapon
Dom Perignon, 12 Angry Men, Auction Lunch and a Holiday Party, 12/13/2004(Insignia) Subscribe to see review text.
RJonWine.com
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By Richard Jennings
7/4/2013 (link) 93 points(Joseph Phelps Insignia) From magnum; ripe berry, blackberry, black currant nose; ripe berry, baked berry, black currant palate; long finish
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By Richard Jennings
12/15/2009 (link) 94 points(Joseph Phelps Insignia) Dark red violet color; bright, ripe cassis, raspberry nose; youthful, charming, cassis, blackberry palate with a touch of mint and depth; long finish 94+ pts.
Wine Definition
- Vintage 1994
- Type Red
- Producer Joseph Phelps
- Varietal Red Bordeaux Blend
- Designation Insignia
- Vineyard n/a
- Country USA
- Region California
- SubRegion Napa Valley
- Appellation Napa Valley
- UPC Codes 010465708922, 010465709400, 010465709431, 010465709509, 010465709608
Community Holdings
- Pending Delivery 7 (0%)
- In Cellars 3,184 (57%)
- Consumed 2,444 (43%)
Food Pairing
Community Recommendations
Drank with cheese, pizzaWho Likes This Wine
100% Like It 69 votes
More About This Wine
Articles
- ProducerJoseph Phelps
- VarietyRed Bordeaux Blend
- DesignationInsignia
- CountryUSA
- RegionCalifornia
- SubRegionNapa Valley
- AppellationNapa Valley
Add Articles
- Wine1994 Joseph Phelps Insignia (add)
- FamilyJoseph Phelps Insignia (add)
- ProducerJoseph Phelps
- VarietalRed Bordeaux Blend
- DesignationInsignia
- CountryUSA
- RegionCalifornia
- SubRegionNapa Valley
- AppellationNapa Valley