Joseph Phelps Vineyards
Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend
Napa Valley, California, USA
This 2008 Insignia chosen to celebrate a Retirement after 39.5 years. Beautiful aromas of rich earth, blown dust and black fruit. The palate is is rich with blueberry, black current, vanilla, and subtle tannins adding to a long and elegant finish.
This 2008 Insignia chosen to celebrate a Retirement after 39.5 years. Beautiful aromas of rich earth, blown dust and black fruit. The palate is is rich with blueberry, black current, vanilla, and subtle tannins adding to a long and elegant finish.
Jun 11th, 2021
What a terrific cab! Still a dark brooding young wine (at 17)! Wonderfully long finish and still excellent grip. During this confinement at least the Jonathan Club prepared prime rib dinners for grab&go! We are so appreciative of everyone efforts especially the JC & Phelps!
What a terrific cab! Still a dark brooding young wine (at 17)! Wonderfully long finish and still excellent grip. During this confinement at least the Jonathan Club prepared prime rib dinners for grab&go! We are so appreciative of everyone efforts especially the JC & Phelps!
Mar 30th, 2020
Been awhile since I pulled out an Insigna.
The 03 Pichon Lalande is the better wine and steak pairing. However, Napa Cabernet is the choice to finish steak and enjoy on its own after. You never want to do Napa before Bordeaux IMHO. It’s much harder to adjust from sweeter to something more earthy.
Enjoyed the 05 as my score reflects. I don’t remember it being as sweet as it was in previous tastings. Still quite good. It just tipped my sweet scale a little too much.
The body is, rich, lush & round. It’s achieved good evolution after 13 years in bottle and will continue to improve over the next 6-8 years and last another 15 years. As I mentioned, the fruit was ripe & sweet. Blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, plums, hints of blueberries and strawberries haunting the backend. Rich, dark earth, Rutherford dusty tannins and dry soils, purple cola, touch of fresh tobacco & graphite, light baking spices of; cinnamon, dash of clove, nutmeg and vanillin, anise to black licorice, saddle-wood, used leather, dry stems, some dry, crushed rocks/limestone with red, dark, purple and blue florals. The acidity round and nicely executed. The finish was similar wire to wire. It’s, lush, rich, elegant, touch too sweet, polished, well balanced & knitted with a soft, persistent, dark spice on the long set. Very enjoyable second bottle.
Photos of; Joseph Phelps Winery & sloping estate vines, inside lounge are with views of the back side, tasting terrace and front lobby/salon area upon entering past check in.
Been awhile since I pulled out an Insigna.
The 03 Pichon Lalande is the better wine and steak pairing. However, Napa Cabernet is the choice to finish steak and enjoy on its own after. You never want to do Napa before Bordeaux IMHO. It’s much harder to adjust from sweeter to something more earthy.
Enjoyed the 05 as my score reflects. I don’t remember it being as sweet as it was in previous tastings. Still quite good. It just tipped my sweet scale a little too much.
The body is, rich, lush & round. It’s achieved good evolution after 13 years in bottle and will continue to improve over the next 6-8 years and last another 15 years. As I mentioned, the fruit was ripe & sweet. Blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, plums, hints of blueberries and strawberries haunting the backend. Rich, dark earth, Rutherford dusty tannins and dry soils, purple cola, touch of fresh tobacco & graphite, light baking spices of; cinnamon, dash of clove, nutmeg and vanillin, anise to black licorice, saddle-wood, used leather, dry stems, some dry, crushed rocks/limestone with red, dark, purple and blue florals. The acidity round and nicely executed. The finish was similar wire to wire. It’s, lush, rich, elegant, touch too sweet, polished, well balanced & knitted with a soft, persistent, dark spice on the long set. Very enjoyable second bottle.
Photos of; Joseph Phelps Winery & sloping estate vines, inside lounge are with views of the back side, tasting terrace and front lobby/salon area upon entering past check in.
One of my favorite Insignia vintages and a great time to drink it. Blackberry, plum, caramel, graphite, chocolate, and smooth finish. Biased review :)
One of my favorite Insignia vintages and a great time to drink it. Blackberry, plum, caramel, graphite, chocolate, and smooth finish. Biased review :)
Sep 26th, 2016
Gourmet Century wines #chriskingbuzz #josephphelps #insignia biased review
Gourmet Century wines #chriskingbuzz #josephphelps #insignia biased review
Oct 25th, 2015Bright acidity from a cool vintage with dark red and black fruit.
Bright acidity from a cool vintage with dark red and black fruit.
Oct 20th, 2015
Evolved in the glass considerably over three hours! Took 30 min to leave tight tannins into a beautiful blueberry, cassis, and blackberry with luscious, velvety tannins and subtle eucalyptus and cedar. Was delicious! 2 hours later, went to raisins, prunes and alcohol.
Evolved in the glass considerably over three hours! Took 30 min to leave tight tannins into a beautiful blueberry, cassis, and blackberry with luscious, velvety tannins and subtle eucalyptus and cedar. Was delicious! 2 hours later, went to raisins, prunes and alcohol.
Oct 19th, 2015