2018 joseph phelps, insignia, napa valley
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Why We're Buying
In 1974, Joseph Phelps began making separate cuvées for each year, with each one representing the finest wine from the vintage. Thus, Insignia was born. While the amount of cabernet sauvignon changes each year, Insignia's quality never does. It has earned four 100-point ratings from wine critic Robert Parker, and Wine Spectator ranked the 2005 as the top wine of the year.
Critics Scores
Jeb Dunnuck
Very much in the style of the vintage with its pure, concentrated, yet also elegant and focused style, the 2018 Insignia offers up a vivid purple hue to go with lots of red and blue fruits, menthol, tobacco, graphite, and distinct minerality. With an almost Bordeaux-like style, medium to full-bodied richness, present tannins, and a great finish, it's a beautiful, classic Cabernet Sauvignon blend from this team that's going to benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for two decades or more.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2018 Insignia is a blend of 87 Cabernet Sauvignon, 8 Petit Verdot, 3 Malbec and 2 Cabernet Franc. The vineyard sources this year include: 30 Las Rocas (Stags Leap District),18 Yountville (Oak Knoll District), 13 Banca Dorada (Rutherford), 18 Suscol (South Napa Valley), 14 Home Ranch (St. Helena), 12 Las Rocas (Stags Leap District), 7 Barboza (Stags Leap District). It was aged for 24 months in 100 new French oak barrels. Deep garnet-purple colored, it comes storming out of the glass with powerful notes of blackcurrant cordial, stewed black plums and boysenberries, plus hints of cedar chest, graphite, menthol and wet slate with a fragrant waft of clove oil. The medium to full-bodied palate already demonstrates remarkable balance at this youthful stage, featuring a firm backbone of fine-grained tannins and bold freshness to support the tightly wound, crunchy black fruits, finishing long and spicy. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown
James Suckling
Blackberry and black chocolate with mint, conifer and clove. Sweet tobacco, violets and flowers, too. Some graphite. Cool and complex. Full-bodied with ultra fine, dusty tannins and a wonderful, extremely long finish. Savory and refined. A classic-styled 2018. This needs time, but is so approachable and gorgeous. One of the best Insignias ever. Alive and changing all the time. 40 Stags Leap AVA. 87 cabernet sauvignon, 8 petit verdot, 3 malbec and 2 cabernet franc. Leave this for five or six years, but so wonderful now.
Wine Spectator
This is richly layered, with cassis, crushed plum and blackberry puree flavors moving through slowly but steadily, while warm earth, ganache and black licorice notes follow along. Picks up a tarry edge on the finish as the fruit takes an encore. For fans of the muscular, fruit-driven style. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2022 through 2036. — J.M.