Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Red Wine

9.580 ratings
9.69 pro ratings
Napa Valley, California, USA
Red Bordeaux Blend
Chili & Hot Spicy, Potato, White Rice, Mushrooms, Pasta, Pork, Salami & Prosciutto, Pungent Cheese, Lamb, Tomato-Based, Onion, Shallot, Garlic, Beef, Hard Cheese, Venison
Top Notes For
Rob Brobst III

Absolute perfection! Firm, intense and concentrated, massive yet well-proportioned, with a dense, focused core of graphite, dried currant, blackberry, black tea, forest floor and blueberry flavors. Full-blown, finishing with rich, layered tannins that beg for cellaring. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot.

Absolute perfection! Firm, intense and concentrated, massive yet well-proportioned, with a dense, focused core of graphite, dried currant, blackberry, black tea, forest floor and blueberry flavors. Full-blown, finishing with rich, layered tannins that beg for cellaring. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot.

Mar 7th, 2021
Garen Staglin

Perfect

Perfect

Apr 29th, 2019
Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

9.3

Incredible vintage of Insignia. I almost never drink big Napa wines, but this is one I just find impossible not to love.

Incredible vintage of Insignia. I almost never drink big Napa wines, but this is one I just find impossible not to love.

Oct 18th, 2018
David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

On the nose; the fruits are brambly wild dark berries. Warm soils, dark cherries, cherries, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, raspberries & boysenberries, baking spices, quince jelly and fresh dark floral bouquet. The body is full and luxurious. Ripe fruits that have a slight baked quality. Dark cherries, cherries, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, raspberries, strawberries, dry cranberries and boysenberries. Vanilla, clove, crushed dry rocks, leather, saddlewood, tobacco with ash, dry brush, cola, graphite, touch of light dry herbs, decent acidity and a dry tannin finish that is evenly balanced fruit & earth. Still needs a lot more time in the bottle.

On the nose; the fruits are brambly wild dark berries. Warm soils, dark cherries, cherries, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, raspberries & boysenberries, baking spices, quince jelly and fresh dark floral bouquet. The body is full and luxurious. Ripe fruits that have a slight baked quality. Dark cherries, cherries, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, raspberries, strawberries, dry cranberries and boysenberries. Vanilla, clove, crushed dry rocks, leather, saddlewood, tobacco with ash, dry brush, cola, graphite, touch of light dry herbs, decent acidity and a dry tannin finish that is evenly balanced fruit & earth. Still needs a lot more time in the bottle.

Sep 9th, 2017
David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Time to taste the 2015 still in barrel. On the nose, it's deep dark cassis with lots of baking spices, spice and dark, fresh floral bouquet. The body is full and ripe. Rich & ripe; blackberries, huckleberries, boysenberries, cream black raspberries, caramel, milk chocolate and lots of baking spices. Tobacco, some graphite, violets, dark florals, crushed dry rocks, gritty volcanic minerals, anise, dark, soft spice, whiff of pepper, good round acidity and a well polished fruity dry tannin finish. It's will develop nicely in 15 plus years.

Time to taste the 2015 still in barrel. On the nose, it's deep dark cassis with lots of baking spices, spice and dark, fresh floral bouquet. The body is full and ripe. Rich & ripe; blackberries, huckleberries, boysenberries, cream black raspberries, caramel, milk chocolate and lots of baking spices. Tobacco, some graphite, violets, dark florals, crushed dry rocks, gritty volcanic minerals, anise, dark, soft spice, whiff of pepper, good round acidity and a well polished fruity dry tannin finish. It's will develop nicely in 15 plus years.

1 person found it helpfulSep 9th, 2017
Andrew S

Graphite, shaved pencil, big dark with red fruits and an amazing finish. Great relative value and one to last.

Graphite, shaved pencil, big dark with red fruits and an amazing finish. Great relative value and one to last.

Sep 21st, 2016
Sean Peay

Can’t wait to drink this later

Can’t wait to drink this later

Jan 31st, 2021
Carolyn Patrone

Med-plus tannins, dark fruit, dried herbs . Well balanced tannins and acidity with long finish. Drink now with decanting, but still has many years ahead.

Med-plus tannins, dark fruit, dried herbs . Well balanced tannins and acidity with long finish. Drink now with decanting, but still has many years ahead.

Dec 26th, 2020
Michael Patrone

Surprisingly strong tannins for how old it is, but,improved with an extra hour of decanting.

Surprisingly strong tannins for how old it is, but,improved with an extra hour of decanting.

Dec 25th, 2020
David Stein

Drinking really well now.

Drinking really well now.

Nov 19th, 2020