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  • Country ranking ?

    121
  • Producer ranking ?

    8
  • Decanting time

    3h
  • When to drink

    now to 2030

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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The flagship wine of the estate in reds is their Insignia, which has been one of the great Bordeaux blends made in California since the debut vintage in 1974. It usually has 30+ years aging potential, even in lighter vintages, of which the 2012, 2013 and 2014 are decidedly not. The 2012 Proprietary Red Insignia, a final blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot and the rest Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet F...

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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 i...

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Wine Information

The flagship wine of the estate in reds is their Insignia, which has been one of the great Bordeaux blends made in California since the debut vintage in 1974. It usually has 30+ years aging potential, even in lighter vintages, of which the 2012, 2013 and 2014 are decidedly not. The 2012 Proprietary Red Insignia, a final blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot and the rest Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc all from estate vineyards, w...

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Latest Pro-tasting notes

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Written Notes

Vineyards were carefully monitored throughout the growing season for optimum, even ripening, paying close attention to Insignia designated blocks. Grapes were held seperate during picking, sorting and fermentation.

The 2012 Insignia has an inky dark hue and aromas of ripe blackberries, star anise, cigarbox, clove and sweet mocha notes. Richly opulent with velvety texture and supple tannins, this full-bodied offering envelops the palate in luscious, lingering black plum and violets along with layers of baking spices.

Dark, deep ruby red colour. Intense cacao nose with spicy tones. Full-bodied, intense palate with smooth tannins, jammy black fruit and warming alcohol. All in nice balance and lingering finish. JL 93p (9/2018)

  • 93p
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Information

Origin

Napa, Napa Valley

Vintage Quality

Excellent

Value For Money

Very good

Investment potential

Average

Fake factory

None

Inside Information

Connoisseurs' Guide / As rich and as deep as can be in the nose and immediately impressing as a very serious Cabernet with elements of black olives, hardwood spice and loamy soils overlying its very sure, highly concentrated, black currant fruit, the latest Insignia is a layered, multi-faceted offering of striking richness and range. It is both weighty and fairly supple with a proper spine of youthful tannin, yet as Insignia is so often wont to do, it already shows a somewhat polished side that predicts a fairly refined future. Still, it is not a wine to be drunk down in haste, and its high recommendation comes with the urging that it be given time to reach its best.

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