Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

9.3183 ratings
9.036 pro ratings
Napa Valley, California, USA
Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Malbec
Top Notes For
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9.5

The 2011 Insignia is superb. Deep, layered and so expressive, Insignia is without question one of the wines of the year. Had I tasted it blind, I would have never guessed it is a wine from a challenging year. Still fresh and vibrant, the 2011 is such a pleasure to taste today. Hints of sage, tobacco, spice, menthol and pine add lovely aromatic top notes to a core of inky blue/purplish fruit. The 2011 has turned out even better than I had originally expected. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, May 2022)

The 2011 Insignia is superb. Deep, layered and so expressive, Insignia is without question one of the wines of the year. Had I tasted it blind, I would have never guessed it is a wine from a challenging year. Still fresh and vibrant, the 2011 is such a pleasure to taste today. Hints of sage, tobacco, spice, menthol and pine add lovely aromatic top notes to a core of inky blue/purplish fruit. The 2011 has turned out even better than I had originally expected. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, May 2022)

May 20th, 2022
R. Addison Wehrfritz

Most palatable of the $200+ Cab Queens. Still not really my cup of tea...I mean wine. Overripe fruit, massive oak, and limited aromas.

Most palatable of the $200+ Cab Queens. Still not really my cup of tea...I mean wine. Overripe fruit, massive oak, and limited aromas.

1 person found it helpfulMay 15th, 2015
Blake Conklin

Cellar Hand Relic Winery

9.3

Beast. For a 2011, this is drinking quite nicely. Soft, subtle... Full of sex appeal.

Beast. For a 2011, this is drinking quite nicely. Soft, subtle... Full of sex appeal.

Feb 22nd, 2016
Mick Eddy

Cant go wrong with insignia

Cant go wrong with insignia

Dec 24th, 2015
Logan Smyser

Excellent every time.

Excellent every time.

Jul 21st, 2015
David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Dark cassis, very herbaceous, leathery, crush dry rock, black olive, strong mineral finish. Higher % of Petit Verdot in this vintage.

Dark cassis, very herbaceous, leathery, crush dry rock, black olive, strong mineral finish. Higher % of Petit Verdot in this vintage.

Jun 13th, 2015
Alex Powell

Roasted coffee dominates nose, with nutmeg and cedar, bit of cassis popping through, some coffee soaked herbs....man! Way too oaky on palate, nothing to be tasted! Total $250 crap. 2011 vintage.

Roasted coffee dominates nose, with nutmeg and cedar, bit of cassis popping through, some coffee soaked herbs....man! Way too oaky on palate, nothing to be tasted! Total $250 crap. 2011 vintage.

Mar 10th, 2015
Mitzi Inglis

Marketing/Public Relations, Joseph Phelps Vineyards

9.2

Biased review.

Biased review.

Feb 16th, 2015
Andrew Wesson

A little too much oak for the vintage. Not as good as usual.

A little too much oak for the vintage. Not as good as usual.

Jan 29th, 2015
Rebekah Wineburg

Winemaker Buccella Wines

8.3

There is richness there but lacks integration.

There is richness there but lacks integration.

Jan 13th, 2015