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In 1974 Joe Phelps had the idea to make a separate cuvee each year, one that would represent the finest wine he could make from each vintage. He didn’t necessarily think it would always be a Cabernet Sauvignon. It might be a white wine in some years, a Chardonnay or a Riesling, or it might be a Syrah or Merlot. His only thought was to make one wine that represented the best of what Joseph Phelps Vineyards could produce each year. He decided to name the wine Insignia, a proprietary name that would give him the flexibility to make the wine out of any varietal he chose.
As it happened, 1974 was a great year for Cabernet Sauvignon in Napa Valley and the 1974 Insignia was 94% Cabernet from the Stags Leap District. The following year Merlot dominated the blend, and in 1976, it returned to Cabernet, this time from the Eisele Vineyard. It was becoming increasingly clear that red Bordeaux varieties – particularly Cabernet Sauvignon - were ideally suited to Napa Valley and would consistently yield the best wines of the vintage. From 1977 on, Cabernet Sauvignon was never less than 50% of the Insignia blend and gradually became the dominant varietal. Joe’s vision evolved: Insignia would always be a proprietary red Bordeaux-style blend.
Varietal | Proprietary Blend |
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Vintage | 1997 |
Rating | 97 WS - 96 RP |
Bottle Size | 3000 ml |
Bottle Quantity | 1 |
Country | USA |
Region | California |
Location | North Coast |
Producer | Phelps Joseph |
Color | Red |
Wine Type | Table |
Rating | 100 RP - An inky/plum/purple color is accompanied by a stunning bouquet of violets, charcoal, creme de cassis and a hint of toast. Prodigious when it hits the palate with a full-bodied expansiveness, there is not a hard edge to be found in the 1997, only velvety tannins, compelling depth and fruit intensity, and stunning purity. It is a perfect expression of Napa viticulture and wine that should continue to age effortlessly for two decades or more. RP |
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Wine Spectator | 97 WS |
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Burghound |
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Varietal | Proprietary Blend |
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Vintage | 1997 |
Rating | 97 WS - 96 RP |
Bottle Size | 3000 ml |
Bottle Quantity | 1 |
Country | USA |
Region | California |
Location | North Coast |
Producer | Phelps Joseph |
Color | Red |
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