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  1. VAGenius

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Community Tasting Notes (371) Avg Score: 93.2 points

  • part of veryical tasting

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  • 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...)

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  • 1999 Joseph Phelps Insignia

    Cellared since release in 2001.
    Enjoyed on September 18, 2023 with dinner after it was opened and placed in decanter, drinking it over the next two and a half hours.
    The glass revealed a purple core, surrounded by deep crimson with slight browning at the rim. The nose featured black fruit and tobacco. The wine seemed a bit closed initially, but within 15 minutes it opened to reveal lush cassis fruit that was deep, and pure. The tannins were integrated and soft, and the wine had an enjoyable textural mouth feel along with a definite “grip” to go along with a 20 second finish.
    It is a beautifully aged California Meritage with five to seven years of enjoyable drinking life ahead.

    94 points.

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  • Still alive and kicking, definitely ready to drink but can also go longer in the cellar. Very enjoyable now though.

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Vinous

  • By Stephen Tanzer
    Vintage Retrospective: The 1999 Napa Valley Cabernets (May 2019), 5/1/2019, (See more on Vinous...)

    (Joseph Phelps Vineyards Insignia Napa Valley Red) Login and sign up and see review text.
  • By Stephen Tanzer
    Vertical Tasting of Phelps Insignia (Apr 2016), 4/1/2016, (See more on Vinous...)

    (Joseph Phelps Vineyards Insignia Napa Valley) Login and sign up and see review text.

JancisRobinson.com

Vinous

  • By Stephen Tanzer
    May/June 2001, IWC Issue #96, (See more on Vinous...)

    (Joseph Phelps Vineyards Insignia Proprietary Red Wine Napa Valley) Login and sign up and see review text.

RJonWine.com

  • By Richard Jennings
    8/1/2003, (See more on RJonWine.com...) 93 points

    (Joseph Phelps Insignia) Sexy, berry nose; very tasty, concentrated, cherry, berry, chocolate palate; medium-plus finish 93+ pts.

NOTE: Some content is property of Vinous and JancisRobinson.com and RJonWine.com.

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