1980 | Joseph Phelps | Insignia

A fine deep ruby; good fruit, fragrant blackcurrant; full-bodied, lovely flavour, balance and refreshing acidity.

Reviews:

• John Gilman: The bouquet is a sweet blend of black berries, chocolate, pomegranate, mint, lovely soil tones, gentle smoke tones and a bit of chipotle pepper with extended aeration. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, deep and quite powerful for Insignia, with tangy acids (obviously from acidulation, given its heady ripeness), melted tannins and fine length and grip on the finish. There are no signs of heat or a lack of balance on the backend, but this is not quite as aromatically pure as most examples of Phelps wines that I have tasted from the late 1970s and early 1980s. It is a very fine success for the vintage, but very modestly disappointing by the First Growth standards of this winery in this epoch.

Producer Information

Joseph Phelps is one of Napa Valley's most prominent wine producers. As is the case with many of Napa's most famous producers, the key grape variety here is Cabernet Sauvignon. The iconic redwood winery is located just outside of St Helena. The company owns vineyards across Napa, notably in Stags Leap, Oak Knoll, Rutherford and Oakville. The estate was established in 1973 with a first release of three wines. Joseph Phelps was running a construction company in Colorado and had come to Napa for a project and had fallen in love with the wine industry there. After importing grapes back to Denver for vinification for a time, he bought a cattle ranch in the valley and began planting vineyards. Joseph Phelps' flagship wine is Insignia, which made its debut in 1974. This is a blend based on Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller amounts of other Bordeaux varieties. The precise components vary with each vintage. Current options are Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. The company hopes to replant some Merlot for future vintages. Phelps' aim was to move away from varietal labeling and create a wine that could be different every year, depending on what the vintage called for. It is one of Napa's so called cult Cabernets, and several vintages have been awarded 100 points by noted wine critic Robert Parker. From 2004 Insignia is made entirely from estate grown fruit. Outside of Insignia, Joseph Phelps makes a large portfolio of wines. Fruit for these is sourced both from estate vineyards and partner growers. The line up ranges from single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon wines to more approachable varietal wines made from classic California varieties. These include Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Sauvignon Blanc. Fruit for some of these comes from vineyards along the Sonoma Coast. Older wines may feature other AVAs.

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