Joseph Phelps Vineyards
Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend
Napa Valley, California, USA
Out of magnum. On the nose, slight sweet liqueur dark & mid red fruits. Ripe and sweet fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, cherries, poached strawberries, cranberries & pomegranate extract. Black olive, a hint of pyrazine, understated vanilla. Great volcanic minerality and soils with dry dark florals. The body; round, elegant and completely resolved. Smooth as silk. The fruits are, ripe, fresh and leaner. Blackberries, dark cherries, rhubarb, sweet & sour cherries, cranberries, dry pomegranate seeds, hints of blue fruits and raspberries. Sweet tobacco & sweet suede leather, volcanic minerals/soils that are so beautiful you might eat them on their own, a touch of pyrazine, black oil, crushed dry rock powder, raining perfect acidity and a ripe, leaner, fruit driven finish that lasts over a minute. Beautiful wine and a treat to sip slowly and just take it in.
Out of magnum. On the nose, slight sweet liqueur dark & mid red fruits. Ripe and sweet fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, cherries, poached strawberries, cranberries & pomegranate extract. Black olive, a hint of pyrazine, understated vanilla. Great volcanic minerality and soils with dry dark florals. The body; round, elegant and completely resolved. Smooth as silk. The fruits are, ripe, fresh and leaner. Blackberries, dark cherries, rhubarb, sweet & sour cherries, cranberries, dry pomegranate seeds, hints of blue fruits and raspberries. Sweet tobacco & sweet suede leather, volcanic minerals/soils that are so beautiful you might eat them on their own, a touch of pyrazine, black oil, crushed dry rock powder, raining perfect acidity and a ripe, leaner, fruit driven finish that lasts over a minute. Beautiful wine and a treat to sip slowly and just take it in.
Sep 9th, 20171987 vintage ... one of the older Napa Valley wine I've ever tasted. Held up beautifully. Still lots of depth and fruit yet that earthy taste of a well aged wine. It was a perfect example of what you hope and a bottle will turn out to be, but only occasionally does it happen.
1987 vintage ... one of the older Napa Valley wine I've ever tasted. Held up beautifully. Still lots of depth and fruit yet that earthy taste of a well aged wine. It was a perfect example of what you hope and a bottle will turn out to be, but only occasionally does it happen.
1 person found it helpfulMay 3rd, 2015
Perfectly aged in large format bottle. Tannins have held up over time but don't overwhelm. Aromas: dried roses, burnt blackberry. Flavors: currant, dried cranberry, juniper. Beautiful wine. Once in a lifetime opportunity to taste it!
Perfectly aged in large format bottle. Tannins have held up over time but don't overwhelm. Aromas: dried roses, burnt blackberry. Flavors: currant, dried cranberry, juniper. Beautiful wine. Once in a lifetime opportunity to taste it!
May 23rd, 2017
Clean, layered tannins, red fruits, a tasty old claret.
Clean, layered tannins, red fruits, a tasty old claret.
Aug 6th, 2016Cheers to Joe Phelps. 1987 a great vintage. Violets and herb. Bit of earth. Would be killer with roast chicken.
Cheers to Joe Phelps. 1987 a great vintage. Violets and herb. Bit of earth. Would be killer with roast chicken.
May 2nd, 2015
this was in perfect shape - zero bricking - wound up for an hour & then started to show - fleshed out for at least another hour & developed really nicely... need to find more!
this was in perfect shape - zero bricking - wound up for an hour & then started to show - fleshed out for at least another hour & developed really nicely... need to find more!
Nov 24th, 2014
Great balance. Still has lots of life
Great balance. Still has lots of life
Aug 4th, 2014
Blind tasted. Amazingly well balanced, still has enough fruits, smooth, silky tanin, just right level of acidity, will probably last for another decade. Love it!!
Blind tasted. Amazingly well balanced, still has enough fruits, smooth, silky tanin, just right level of acidity, will probably last for another decade. Love it!!
Oct 28th, 2016
Has held up quite nicely considering sir Parker's initial 86 rating. Great earthiness, black fruit, tobacco and spice and completely smooth and lacking any tannins whatsoever. Was go time 5 years ago but still held up quite nicely - Carl's place 06-02-16
Has held up quite nicely considering sir Parker's initial 86 rating. Great earthiness, black fruit, tobacco and spice and completely smooth and lacking any tannins whatsoever. Was go time 5 years ago but still held up quite nicely - Carl's place 06-02-16
Jun 3rd, 2016
Well on to red brick color, but still shows fruit. Better than I expected it to be.
Well on to red brick color, but still shows fruit. Better than I expected it to be.
Nov 1st, 2013