1999 Joseph Phelps Insignia
Community Tasting Note
cephomer Likes this wine:
Monday, October 2, 2023 - Drank at Lure Fishbar in Soho for DB#1's 65th. Quite generous nose of plums, blackberry, cedar and leather. Dark ruby core with some slight bricking at the edges, still on the inky black side in the glass. Palate of this quite masculine wine shows plenty of meat on the bone--red and black fruit, graphite, touches of earthiness, cedar and forest floor. Tannins are mostly resolved, and there remain hints of vanilla and oak--remnants of when this was a baby blockbuster way back when...
(Note: I did not decant for fear the wine wouldn't hold up, but I was quite mistaken. The wine improved immeasurably over time such that by the time the bottle had emptied, everyone--including our Somm--was quite disappointed that this lovely had gone so quickly). A wonderfully delicious wine that has maintained its high level of greatness. Pretty much certainly one of the best bordeaux blends you can find outside of the left bank.
Alas, I am saddened to think this was my last of the wonderful 1999 vintage, but it was imbibed for a very good occasion--even if my buds didn't recognize or appreciate what they were drinking (the Som did, however...)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue (1,616 views)
