Joseph Phelps - Insignia

96 points - The Wine Advocate
97 points - The Wine Advocate
96 points - The Wine Advocate
99 points - The Wine Advocate
98 points - The Wine Advocate
97 points - The Wine Advocate
98 points - The Wine Advocate
98 points - The Wine Advocate
96 points - The Wine Advocate
96 points - The Wine Advocate
95 points - The Wine Advocate
Joseph Phelps - Insignia - 2018 - 75cl - Onshore Cellars

Joseph Phelps - Insignia

96 points - The Wine Advocate
97 points - The Wine Advocate
96 points - The Wine Advocate
99 points - The Wine Advocate
98 points - The Wine Advocate
97 points - The Wine Advocate
98 points - The Wine Advocate
98 points - The Wine Advocate
96 points - The Wine Advocate
96 points - The Wine Advocate
95 points - The Wine Advocate
Vintage
Size
Regular price €417.60
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More elegant and refined than the Napa Cab, the 2019 Insignia features restrained cedar and vanilla notes (despite spending two years in 100% new French oak) and delicate herbal shadings accenting cassis and black cherry fruit. Full-bodied, velvety and somewhat open-knit on the palate, it turns plush and long on the finish, adding a touch of warmth. Production this year is approximately 17,000 cases, reflecting the increased volume coming from recently replanted vineyards. It's remarkable what a good job they continue to do with this bottling year after year, without compromising on quality.
The 2018 Insignia was aged for 24 months in 100% new French oak barrels. Deep garnet-purple coloured, it comes storming out of the glass with powerful notes of blackcurrant cordial, stewed black plums and boysenberries, plus hints of cedar chest, graphite, menthol, and wet slate with a fragrant waft of clove oil. The medium to full-bodied palate already demonstrates remarkable balance at this youthful stage, featuring a firm backbone of fine-grained tannins and bold freshness to support the tightly wound, crunchy black fruits, finishing long and spicy.
The 2017 Insignia is a blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc coming from 46% Las Rocas vineyard (Stags Leap District), 22% Barboza vineyard (Stags Leap District), 13% Suscol vineyard (South Napa Valley), 10% Yountville vineyard (Oak Knoll District) and 9% Home Ranch (St. Helena). It was aged for 24 months in 100% new French oak barrels. Deep garnet-purple coloured, it comes bounding out of the glass with exuberant scents of Black Forest cake, preserved plums and blueberry pie plus touches of redcurrant jelly, potpourri, clove oil and dark chocolate. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has gained weight from its in-barrel offering, boasting rich, decadently perfumed black fruit preserves flavours with a racy backbone and velvety tannins, finishing long and spicy.
Deep garnet-purple coloured, the nose is a little reticent to begin, needing a fair bit of coaxing to reveal beautifully beguiling notions of wild blueberries, warm blackberries, black currant cordial, cloves, and cedar chest with nuances of camphor, yeast extract, charcuterie, and candied violets. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has fantastic elegance and depth, revealing loads of subtle floral, black fruit and earthy layers with a firm, very finely grained texture, and seamless freshness, finishing with epic length.
The 2015 Insignia Proprietary Red Wine is aged for 24 months in 100% new French oak. Deep garnet-purple coloured, it opens with stunning black and red plums, cassis, and mulberries scents with loads of redcurrant sparks and compelling wafts of lilacs, pencil shavings, black olives, and tilled soil plus a hint of bay leaves. Medium to full-bodied, the palate explodes with red and black currant fireworks plus some exciting mineral nuances coming through, framed by firm, grainy tannins, and fantastic freshness, finishing very long and beautifully layered.
The 2014 Insignia Proprietary Red Wine has a deep garnet-purple colour and nose of crushed blackberries and fresh blackcurrants with touches of cigar box, sandalwood, dried lavender, beef drippings and mocha plus a waft of wild thyme. Medium to full-bodied and incredibly elegant and fine in the mouth, the lively fruit is well structured by grainy tannins and seamless acid, finishing long and earthy.
The 2013 Insignia (their 40th vintage) is aged 24 months in 100% new French oak barrels, and the production can vary from just over 10,000 cases to nearly 20,000 cases in a very abundant vintage. There were 12,300 cases produced in 2013, and this vintage of Insignia is certainly going to turn out to be one of the great ones. The wine offers a stunning inky blue/purple colour, a gorgeous nose of blueberry and blackberry liqueur, pen ink, graphite, new saddle leather and barrique. The wine has fabulous concentration, a full-bodied, multi-layered mouthfeel, and tremendous finish with moderate tannin.
The flagship wine of the estate in reds is their Insignia, which has been one of the great Bordeaux blends made in California since the debut vintage in 1974. There are 15,000 cases of it, and it’s a fabulous, classic Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. Inky purple to the rim, with notes of lead pencil shavings, incense, camphor, blackberry and creme de cassis, the wine is full-bodied, offering a multi-layered, textural, skyscraper-like mouthfeel, terrific purity, density, and richness. All of this is achieved without a sense of heaviness or anything aggressive. This is a beauty to drink now and over the next 30 years.
The flagship wine of the estate in reds is their Insignia, which has been one of the great Bordeaux blends made in California since the debut vintage in 1974. There are 15,000 cases of it, and it’s a fabulous, classic Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. Inky purple to the rim, with notes of lead pencil shavings, incense, camphor, blackberry and creme de cassis, the wine is full-bodied, offering a multi-layered, textural, skyscraper-like mouthfeel, terrific purity, density, and richness. All of this is achieved without a sense of heaviness or anything aggressive. This is a beauty to drink now and over the next 30 years.
The flagship wine of the estate in reds is their Insignia, which has been one of the great Bordeaux blends made in California since the debut vintage in 1974. There are 15,000 cases of it, and it’s a fabulous, classic Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. Inky purple to the rim, with notes of lead pencil shavings, incense, camphor, blackberry and creme de cassis, the wine is full-bodied, offering a multi-layered, textural, skyscraper-like mouthfeel, terrific purity, density, and richness. All of this is achieved without a sense of heaviness or anything aggressive. This is a beauty to drink now and over the next 30 years.
A gorgeously intense bouquet of lead pencil shavings, spring flowers, black currants, blackberries, and subtle smoke and foresty aromas jumps from the glass of this full-bodied, rich, concentrated wine with soft tannins, a multidimensional mouthfeel, and a long, rich finish displaying well-integrated acidity, tannin, alcohol and wood. This beauty is one of the top Insignias produced over recent years. It should age easily for 20+ years.
Type:
Red
Country:
USA
Region:
California
Appellation:
Napa Valley
Producer:
Joseph Phelps
Grapes/Blend:
Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
Pairing Sugesstions:
Beef, Lamb, Venison, Game Birds, Charcuterie and Cured Meats, Grilled Meats, Cheddar, Salads, Gruyere, Blue Cheese, Chocolate

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Behind the bottle

Our collection of Joseph Phelps - Find this at Onshore Cellars your yacht wine supplier

Joseph Phelps

In 1973, Joseph Phelps turned a 600-acre cattle ranch in Napa Valley into the famous wine estate it is today. He wasted no time and planted 100 acres...

In 1973, Joseph Phelps turned a 600-acre cattle ranch in Napa Valley into the famous wine estate it is today. He wasted no time and planted 100 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Riesling and Gewurztraminer.

Joseph had the idea of making a separate cuvée each year, one that would represent the finest wine made from each vintage. Whether it is a Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot or Riesling, Insignia is the result of the very best fruit that Joseph Phelps Vineyard produces every year.

Joseph sadly passed away in 2015 and the estate is now run by his son, Bill Phelps.

“He was one of the Valley’s pioneers. Together with Robert Mondavi and others at the time, they put their hands in the soil and their souls in the wine, creating what we have today.” Margrit Mondavi

Today, Insignia is recognised as one of the most iconic wines in the world. In 2002 The Wine Spectator awarded the vintage with the prestigious ‘Wine of the Year’ title and Robert Parker has awarded the 1991, 1997 and 2002 vintages of Insignia with perfect 100 scores.

“The story of Insignia is a reflection of my grandfather’s character. He was a pioneer and an original who didn’t want to do what had already been done. He saw an opportunity to create something very special. With Insignia, he created California’s first proprietary red Bordeaux-style blend.” Elizabeth Neuman, grand-daughter of Joseph Phelps and the winery’s Director of Business Development & Marketing

Joseph Phelps
California - Onshore Cellars

California

California is a region that is well-known for its wine production. The state has a long history of wine production, dating back to the 18th century when Spanish...

California is a region that is well-known for its wine production. The state has a long history of wine production, dating back to the 18th century when Spanish missionaries first planted grapevines in the area. Today, California is home to some of the most famous wine producers in the world, including Napa Valley and Sonoma County.

One of the most well-known wine producers in California is Robert Mondavi Winery. Founded in 1966, the winery is located in the heart of Napa Valley and is known for its high-quality Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. Robert Mondavi Winery is also known for its commitment to sustainability, using environmentally friendly practices in its vineyards and winemaking processes.

Another famous wine producer in California is Opus One Winery. Founded in 1979 by Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild, Opus One is located in Napa Valley and is known for its Bordeaux-style blends. The winery uses a combination of traditional and modern winemaking techniques to produce its high-quality wines.

In addition to these famous wine producers, California is also home to a number of smaller, boutique wineries. One such winery is Kistler Vineyards, located in Sonoma County. Kistler Vineyards is known for its Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, which are made using traditional winemaking techniques and aged in French oak barrels.

Moving on to spirits, California is also home to a number of famous distilleries. One such distillery is St. George Spirits, located in Alameda. St. George Spirits is known for its artisanal spirits, including gin, vodka, and absinthe. The distillery uses a combination of traditional and modern techniques to produce its high-quality spirits.

Another famous distillery in California is Anchor Distilling Company, located in San Francisco. Anchor Distilling Company is known for its Old Potrero Rye Whiskey, which is made using traditional methods and aged in oak barrels. The distillery also produces a number of other spirits, including gin, vodka, and rum.

Overall, California is a region that is known for its high-quality wine and spirits production. Whether you are looking for a famous wine producer like Robert Mondavi Winery or a smaller, boutique winery like Kistler Vineyards, California has something to offer for every wine lover. Similarly, if you are a spirits enthusiast, you can't go wrong with a visit to St. George Spirits or Anchor Distilling Company.

Explore California
Our collection of Napa Valley - Find this at Onshore Cellars your yacht wine supplier

Napa Valley

Napa Valley is a world-renowned wine region located in California, USA. The region has a rich history of winemaking dating back to the 19th century when European immigrants...

Napa Valley is a world-renowned wine region located in California, USA. The region has a rich history of winemaking dating back to the 19th century when European immigrants first settled in the area. Today, Napa Valley is home to over 400 wineries, producing some of the finest wines in the world.

The style of production in Napa Valley is heavily influenced by the region's unique climate and soil. The warm, sunny days and cool nights create the perfect conditions for growing grapes with intense flavors and aromas. The region is known for its Cabernet Sauvignon, which is often described as rich, full-bodied, and complex. Other popular varietals include Chardonnay, Merlot, and Pinot Noir.

Napa Valley is also known for its commitment to sustainable and organic farming practices. Many wineries in the region have adopted these practices to ensure the long-term health of the land and the quality of the wine produced.

Some of the top wineries in Napa Valley include:

1. Opus One - This iconic winery was founded in 1979 by Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild. The winery produces a Bordeaux-style blend that is highly sought after by collectors around the world.

2. Screaming Eagle - This boutique winery produces some of the most expensive wines in the world. Their Cabernet Sauvignon is highly sought after and often sells for thousands of dollars per bottle.

3. Stag's Leap Wine Cellars - This winery gained international recognition in 1976 when their Cabernet Sauvignon beat out several top French wines in a blind tasting known as the "Judgment of Paris."

4. Silver Oak Cellars - This family-owned winery is known for its Cabernet Sauvignon, which is aged in American oak barrels for over two years before release.

5. Cakebread Cellars - This winery is known for its Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as its commitment to sustainable farming practices.

Overall, Napa Valley is a must-visit destination for wine lovers around the world. With its rich history, commitment to quality, and stunning scenery, it's no wonder that Napa Valley wines are some of the most highly sought after in the world.

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