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  • Country ranking ?

    27
  • Producer ranking ?

    1
  • Decanting time

    4h
  • When to drink

    from 2025
  • Food Pairing

    roasted lamb

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(97-100) Points - Robert Parker Wine Advocate
The 2015 Insignia has a very deep inky-purple color and nose of crushed red and black currants, blackberry pie and plums with hints of dried herbs, sandalwood, spice box and underbrush. Medium to full bodied, the palate delivers a knock-out core of intense, energetic fruit with chewy tannins and a lively backbone, finishing with epic length and freshness. -LPB (Oct. 2017)

96 Points - James Suck...

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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 2015 Napa Valley growing season experienced dry, mild winter and spring temperatures similar to the prior three growing seasons. The majority of Cabernet Sauvignon was 50% through bud break by the end of March, followed by a normal period of bloom. May temperatures were unseasonably cool, but summer months were consistently warm, with heat spikes in September and October, creating conditions for a low-yielding vintage of high quality fruit...

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Latest Pro-tasting notes

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Written Notes

This shows finesse and beauty with dark berries and wet earth. Subtle. Very fine-grained. Medium to full body. Bright and vivid. Lovely length and intensity. Drink or hold.

  • 97p

The 2015 Insignia is a fleshy, flamboyant vintage for this wine and reminds me of the 1997. Tons of dark fruits, tobacco, cedar, and dried flower notes all give way to a full-bodied, seamless 2015 that has remarkable purity and elegance, yet still shows the vintage’s sexy style. Drink it any time over the coming two to three decades.

  • 97p

Lisa Perrotti-Brown Issue Date 13th Dec 2018 Source Interim December 2018 Week 2, The Wine Advocate The 2015 Insignia Proprietary Red Wine is blended of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Malbec aged for 24 months in 100% new French oak. Deep garnet-purple colored, it opens with stunning black and red plums, cassis and mulberries scents with loads of redcurrant sparks and compelling wafts of lilacs, pencil shavings, black olives and tilled soil plus a hint of bay leaves. Medium to full-bodied, the palate explodes with red and black currant fireworks plus some exciting mineral nuances coming through, framed by firm, grainy tannins and fantastic freshness, finishing very long and beautifully layered.

  • 100p

Optimum, even ripening for Insignia designated blocks was acheived by careful vineyard manage- ment throughout the growing season. Grapes were held separate during picking, sorting and fermentation.

The 2015 Insignia is densely hued with rich dark fruit, cocoa powder and fragrant dried flower notes. Velvety texture and weight on the palate with layers of juicy black plum, Madagascar vanilla and bergamot. Bold, creamy and supple with integrated tannin structure and a lengthy finish.

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Information

Origin

Napa, Napa Valley

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Le Mistral

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Inside Information

90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Malbec from estate-grown Napa Valley vineyards: 21% Las Rocas Vineyard (Stags Leap District), 20% Home Ranch Vineyard (St. Helena), 19% Yountville Vineyard (Oak Knoll District) 15% Suscol Vineyard (South Napa Valley), 15% Barboza Vineyard (Stags Leap District) and 10% Banca Dorada Vineyard (Rutherford).

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