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  • Country ranking ?

    222
  • Producer ranking ?

    16
  • Decanting time

    3h
  • When to drink

    now to 2035

The Tb points given to this wine are the world’s most valid and most up-to-date evaluation of the quality of the wine. Tastingbook points are formed by the Tastingbook algorithm which takes into account the wine ratings of the world's best-known professional wine critics, wine ratings by thousands of tastingbook’s professionals and users, the generally recognised vintage quality and reputation of the vineyard and winery. Wine needs at least five professional ratings to get the Tb score. Tastingbook.com is the world's largest wine information service which is an unbiased, non-commercial and free for everyone.

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Each year, Wine Spectator editors survey the wines reviewed over the previous 12 months and select our Top 100, based on quality, value, availability and excitement. This annual list honors successful wineries, regions and vintages around the world.

Insignia 1994 was on the third place in the Wine of the Year list in 1997

This Bordeaux-inspired red blend is remarkably elegant and supple, with a silky smooth texture and a wonderful array of ripe currant, plum, cedar, coffee and vanilla flavors that keep pumping through the long, full, lingering aftertaste. Delicious. 88 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 10 percent Merlot, 2 percent Cabernet Franc. 8,000 cases made. — 96 points

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The Story

First produced from the 1974 vintage, Insignia is the first proprietary Bordeaux-style blend produced in California. Each vintage is comprised of the best grapes from Joseph Phelps Vineyards, first from both grower and estate fruit, and beginning with the 2004 vintage, from entirely estate-grown fruit sources. Insignia is a Cabernet Sauvignon based wine crafted from six of the Joseph Phelps estate vineyards: Spring Valley Home Ranch Vineyard in St. Helena, Banca Dorada Vineyard on the Rutherford Bench, Las Rocas and Barboza Vineyards in the Stags Leap District, Yountville Vineyard in the Oak Knoll District and Suscol Vineyard in South Napa Valley.

Forty years after the inaugural vintage, Insignia is recognized as one of the world’s great wines. The 2002 vintage was awarded “Wine of the Year” by Wine Spectator magazine in 2005 and in November 2013, high esteem by critic Robert Parker that in 2014, to mark the winery’s 40th anniversary, he visited the estate for an historic tasting of each Insignia vintage from 1974-2012, awarding the 1991, 1997, and 2002 vintages each a perfect 100 points points – proving that the best California Cabernets can stand the test of time. On his website, Parker reported on the tasting, noting that the event was, ‘one of the most historical vertical tastings I have ever done… I had the privilege of tasting every vintage from 1974 to 2012.’

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Wine Information

88% Cabernet Sauvignon, primarily estate-owned from the Las Rocas Vineyard in the Stags Leap district and Banca Dorada on the Rutherford Bench, with a small percentage coming from the Backus Vineyard in Oakville; 10% Las Rocas and Carneros Merlot; 2% Banca Dorada Cabernet Franc.

Harvest Dates

Sep 22 - Oct 18, 1994

Winemaking Data

Grapes were harvested from September 22, - October 18, 1994 at an average 23.5 degrees Brix, fermented to 13.5% alcohol, then aged 28 months in French oak barrels before being bottled in February, 1997.

Winemaker Notes

In 1994, after a long, cool growing season, 65% of our crop was still hanging on the vine by October 4, when an unexpected thunderstorm swept through the Napa Valley. In its wake, a spell of warm weather dried out the vineyards and caused a rapid rise in grape sugars, and although more rain was forecast, a window of opportunity for harvesting presented itself during the week of October 9-15, when much of the crop achieved optimal ripeness. During this time we picked a total of 783 tons, or half our estimate for the entire harvest! Grape quality was excellent, and critics are citing the vintage as one of the best in the last twenty years.

Release Date

September 1, 1997

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Tasting note

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Written Notes

After being assaulted by the Pride and Abreu, the final wine of this flight seemed shy by comparison. The nose was wound with some oak blots. Some thought this was Syrah due to a little bacon and charcoal here. The finish was long, fine and dusty but this wine clearly lacked the stuffing of the previous two
  • 91p

Elegantly textured and rich in flavor, Insignia 1994 delivers pronounced black cherry and cassis impressions with aromas of blueberries, dark chocolate, licorice and spice. A fresh, ripe fruit entry and full-bodied palate with velvety tannins that linger into the finish.

  • 96p
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Information

Origin

Napa, Napa Valley

Vintage Quality

Excellent

Value For Money

Very good

Investment potential

No Potential

Fake factory

None
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