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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 | 2013 |
Rating | 98+ RP |
Bottle Size | 750 ml |
Bottle Quantity | 1 |
Country | USA |
Region | California |
Location | North Coast |
Producer | Phelps Joseph |
Color | Red |
Wine Type | Table |
Rating | 98+ RP - The 2013 Insignia (their 40th vintage) is a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot, and the rest Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc. This wine 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 color, 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. It’s interesting to note that the Phelps winemaking staff had been gradually reducing the amount of Merlot in this wine over recent vintages. The 2013 should hit its peak in 5-7 years and last for 35-50. RP |
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Burghound |
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Varietal | Proprietary Blend |
---|---|
Vintage | 2013 |
Rating | 98+ RP |
Bottle Size | 750 ml |
Bottle Quantity | 1 |
Country | USA |
Region | California |
Location | North Coast |
Producer | Phelps Joseph |
Color | Red |
Production |
cases |
Varietal | Proprietary Blend |
---|---|
Vintage | 2013 |
Rating | 98+ RP |
Bottle Size | 750 ml |
Bottle Quantity | 1 |
Country | USA |
Region | California |
Location | North Coast |
Producer | Phelps Joseph |
Color | Red |
Wine Type | Table |
Varietal | Proprietary Blend |
---|---|
Vintage | 2013 |
Rating | 98+ RP |
Barrels |
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Style |
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Owners |
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Region | California |
Location | North Coast |
Producer | Phelps Joseph |
Winemaker |
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Production |
Robert Parker Rating | 98+ RP - The 2013 Insignia (their 40th vintage) is a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot, and the rest Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc. This wine 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 color, 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. It’s interesting to note that the Phelps winemaking staff had been gradually reducing the amount of Merlot in this wine over recent vintages. The 2013 should hit its peak in 5-7 years and last for 35-50. RP |
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