Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

9.4170 ratings
9.422 pro ratings
Napa Valley, California, USA
Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Malbec
Onion, Shallot, Garlic, Pasta, Venison, Tomato-Based, Potato, Pork, Chocolate & Caramel, White Rice, Mushrooms, Beef, Lamb, Chili & Hot Spicy, Pungent Cheese, Salami & Prosciutto, Hard Cheese, Baking Spices, Exotic Spices, Chicken, Herbs, Turkey, Onion, Soft Cheese, Duck, Beans & Peas
Top Notes For
Sipping Fine Wine

Blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, and 1% Merlot sourced estate-owned vineyards in Rutherford (30%), South Napa (22%), the St. Helena home ranch (17%), and Stag's Leap District (Barboza Vineyard, 17% and Las Rocas Vineyard, 14%). Just opened this, 14 years in the bottle after a couple of years in the barrel! Still tasting well, young and juicy, should easily last another 14 years in the bottle. Deep Ruby, dark fruits, spice, complex nose. Palate reflects juicy rich berry fruits, well structured harmonious wine. Fine soft rich tannins, long finish ending with fruit, tobacco and earthy tones. Wow!

Blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, and 1% Merlot sourced estate-owned vineyards in Rutherford (30%), South Napa (22%), the St. Helena home ranch (17%), and Stag's Leap District (Barboza Vineyard, 17% and Las Rocas Vineyard, 14%). Just opened this, 14 years in the bottle after a couple of years in the barrel! Still tasting well, young and juicy, should easily last another 14 years in the bottle. Deep Ruby, dark fruits, spice, complex nose. Palate reflects juicy rich berry fruits, well structured harmonious wine. Fine soft rich tannins, long finish ending with fruit, tobacco and earthy tones. Wow!

Jun 22nd, 2022
Ara Aslanian

Magnum. never disappoints, can sleep for another 10+ years.

Magnum. never disappoints, can sleep for another 10+ years.

Dec 25th, 2018
Matt

Great surprise, this 95 CS 5 PV blend has really expressed with VC and vintage quality well. Spiced, nuanced, and loaded with herbal and earthy notes beneath the sheen of rich Napa fruit. Love the tannin structure this has, almost yielding a more Bordeaux-like texture to the wine. ‘06 always has a savory side that I admire, so it was fun to taste what I would normally describe as a “stylized and polished wine” that really brought forth that element.

Great surprise, this 95 CS 5 PV blend has really expressed with VC and vintage quality well. Spiced, nuanced, and loaded with herbal and earthy notes beneath the sheen of rich Napa fruit. Love the tannin structure this has, almost yielding a more Bordeaux-like texture to the wine. ‘06 always has a savory side that I admire, so it was fun to taste what I would normally describe as a “stylized and polished wine” that really brought forth that element.

Dec 17th, 2018
Ari Newman

Consistently great bottle...only 5% petit Verdot but tons of weight and mouth feel. Yum! #laterbottle

Consistently great bottle...only 5% petit Verdot but tons of weight and mouth feel. Yum! #laterbottle

4 people found it helpfulJun 12th, 2014
Cara McBroom

Just enjoying a little late night Insignia...

Just enjoying a little late night Insignia...

2 people found it helpfulJun 26th, 2013
Henrique Viotti

Sommelier Hakkasan

9.8

2006 Insignia

2006 Insignia

1 person found it helpfulDec 22nd, 2012
Bryant Bickel

Plenty of cedar notes still on this 2006, still young. Juicy red fruits

Plenty of cedar notes still on this 2006, still young. Juicy red fruits

Feb 21st, 2017
David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Nose of black licorice anise, sweet tar, expresso grounds and perfumed decayed florals. Core fruits are black cassis, faint strawberries, expresso grounds, licorice anise, tar, dry florals, spice, cloves, touch of herbs, black tea leafs, silky fine dark minerality, stems, used leather, wood shavings and long medium tannin dry finish. It's tasty but still needs 5-8 years and more.

Nose of black licorice anise, sweet tar, expresso grounds and perfumed decayed florals. Core fruits are black cassis, faint strawberries, expresso grounds, licorice anise, tar, dry florals, spice, cloves, touch of herbs, black tea leafs, silky fine dark minerality, stems, used leather, wood shavings and long medium tannin dry finish. It's tasty but still needs 5-8 years and more.

Sep 18th, 2016
Mitzi Inglis

Marketing/Public Relations, Joseph Phelps Vineyards

9.5

Love this wine right now. from magnum. Biased review. #josephphelps #insignia

Love this wine right now. from magnum. Biased review. #josephphelps #insignia

Apr 18th, 2016
Will Phelps

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

9.7

Tasted it blind with my in-laws, they thought it couldn't be older than 2012. Incredible how much this wine has blossomed since its release - last night it had very generous blackberry, cassis, and vanilla, with a superb round, lengthy finish. Biased review, but still...

Tasted it blind with my in-laws, they thought it couldn't be older than 2012. Incredible how much this wine has blossomed since its release - last night it had very generous blackberry, cassis, and vanilla, with a superb round, lengthy finish. Biased review, but still...

Mar 5th, 2016