Joseph Phelps Vineyards
Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend
Napa Valley, California, USA
1998 not the best Napa Cabernet vintage. However, good producers still find their way through difficult vintages. Joseph Phelps is the rule rather than the exception.
This was poured out of magnum and drinking beautifully by their Hospitality Manger.
Nicely ripe, lush juicy fruits of blackberries, blackberries, both plums, some purple & blue fruits. Dash of spice & lead pencil, anise-black licorice, soft baking spices, caramel notes, some dark chocolate, fresh dark flowers, round acidity and a well balanced, softened structure & tension, elegant, nicely evolved finish that lasted a full minute.
1998 not the best Napa Cabernet vintage. However, good producers still find their way through difficult vintages. Joseph Phelps is the rule rather than the exception.
This was poured out of magnum and drinking beautifully by their Hospitality Manger.
Nicely ripe, lush juicy fruits of blackberries, blackberries, both plums, some purple & blue fruits. Dash of spice & lead pencil, anise-black licorice, soft baking spices, caramel notes, some dark chocolate, fresh dark flowers, round acidity and a well balanced, softened structure & tension, elegant, nicely evolved finish that lasted a full minute.
98 Insignia from 3 Liter.
On the nose, sweet & sour fruits of funky; blackberries, dark cherries cherries, black raspberries, strawberries & hues of blueberries. Big vanilla, clove, cinnamon, cola, dark spice, volcanic minerals, leather, saddle-wood, black tea, rich dark soil and fresh, dark floral bouquet.
The body is medium full. Tannins are around 60% resolved. The fruits are sweet & sour with a touch of barnyard funk. blackberries, dark cherries cherries, black raspberries, strawberries & hues of blueberries. Vanilla, caramel, clove, cinnamon, cola, dark spice, volcanic minerals, leather, saddle-wood, black tea, mint, menthol, rich dark soil and fresh, dark floral bouquet. Acidity is nice but the finish shows the short comings of the 98 vintage.
98 Insignia from 3 Liter.
On the nose, sweet & sour fruits of funky; blackberries, dark cherries cherries, black raspberries, strawberries & hues of blueberries. Big vanilla, clove, cinnamon, cola, dark spice, volcanic minerals, leather, saddle-wood, black tea, rich dark soil and fresh, dark floral bouquet.
The body is medium full. Tannins are around 60% resolved. The fruits are sweet & sour with a touch of barnyard funk. blackberries, dark cherries cherries, black raspberries, strawberries & hues of blueberries. Vanilla, caramel, clove, cinnamon, cola, dark spice, volcanic minerals, leather, saddle-wood, black tea, mint, menthol, rich dark soil and fresh, dark floral bouquet. Acidity is nice but the finish shows the short comings of the 98 vintage.
Full bodied w/ leathery tannins. Cherries w/ mild hint of cassis. Tasted along side of the '98 Araujo and '97 Dalla Valle. Insignia came in third. What a fun dinner!!
Full bodied w/ leathery tannins. Cherries w/ mild hint of cassis. Tasted along side of the '98 Araujo and '97 Dalla Valle. Insignia came in third. What a fun dinner!!
Feb 24th, 2017
Deep garnet red with lots of bricking on the edges. Light cassis and dark cherries on the nose with some tertiary notes like earthiness and damp leaves. Moderate tannins (6.5/10) and full bodied. Lots of complexity with light cassis and dark cherries, a little bit of tomato leaves and earthiness. Very well rounded and integrated with a long finish. This will only keep losing fruit and get earthier with time. Drink now.
Deep garnet red with lots of bricking on the edges. Light cassis and dark cherries on the nose with some tertiary notes like earthiness and damp leaves. Moderate tannins (6.5/10) and full bodied. Lots of complexity with light cassis and dark cherries, a little bit of tomato leaves and earthiness. Very well rounded and integrated with a long finish. This will only keep losing fruit and get earthier with time. Drink now.
Dec 25th, 2016
Bordeaux in style, but apparently my wife disagrees so not sure if I had the right wine. Didn't pick up on much fruit on this one but heck maybe i grabbed one of the Bordeauxs.
Bordeaux in style, but apparently my wife disagrees so not sure if I had the right wine. Didn't pick up on much fruit on this one but heck maybe i grabbed one of the Bordeauxs.
Dec 26th, 2015
Love is blind tasting. A much better showing than the 89. Pleasant and smooth. Pleasant for $169 is just not worth the special occasion price.
Love is blind tasting. A much better showing than the 89. Pleasant and smooth. Pleasant for $169 is just not worth the special occasion price.
Feb 15th, 201598 insignia green. Thinking this bottle was compromised
98 insignia green. Thinking this bottle was compromised
Dec 17th, 2014This wine is very consistent with the bottle we had last week very smooth and silky
This wine is very consistent with the bottle we had last week very smooth and silky
Nov 16th, 2014Dark cherry fruit cassis currants with notes of milk chocolate very smooth and velvety on the tongue drinking at its peak right now.
Dark cherry fruit cassis currants with notes of milk chocolate very smooth and velvety on the tongue drinking at its peak right now.
Nov 9th, 2014Nice, but not in same league as some other vintages. A bit disjointed and granular
Nice, but not in same league as some other vintages. A bit disjointed and granular
Dec 25th, 2013