2018 Joseph Phelps, Insignia Napa Valley

More from Cabernet Blend California United States Joseph Phelps
2018 Joseph Phelps, Insignia Napa Valley

2018 Joseph Phelps, Insignia Napa Valley

More from Cabernet Blend California United States Joseph Phelps
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The 2018 Joseph Phelps, Insignia Napa Valley was a Merchant's Pick

99 point Insignia • "One of the best Insignias ever."

May 03, 2022

Insignia, Dominus, Opus, and Quintessa - these are among the elite Napa Valley proprietary red wines known simply by their one-word names.  The mere mention of them evokes imagery of California's best Bordeaux blends. 

The 2018 Joseph Phelps Insignia, a Top 100 Wine, is considered the best Insignia ever.  The same goes for the 2018 Opus One we featured a few months ago and the 2018 Dominus, which was subsequently awarded the #1 Wine Of The Year. 

"Blackberry and black chocolate with mint, conifer and clove. Sweet tobacco, violets and flowers... 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... Leave this for five or six years, but so wonderful now."  James Suckling 

2018 Napa Valley was a rockstar vintage producing some exceptional reds, among them this incredible Insignia.  A long, dry growing season produced a complex and sophisticated wine with great tannins.

"It has a regal, structured, almost Bordeaux-like vibe... this quintessential Insignia is up with the finest vintages of this cuvée I've tasted and is in the same realm as the 1997 (the first vintage I bought for my personal cellar."  Jeb Dunnuck

"The 2018 Napa Valley Cabernet vintage belongs in an echelon with the finest of the past two decades." Decanter

We couldn't agree more; the 2018 Joseph Phelps Insignia embodies this statement.  

Enjoy! 

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MP

"This quintessential Insignia is up with the finest vintages of this cuvée I've tasted." Jeb Dunnuck

By David Gettenberg

View More Merchant's Picks
99

“One of the best Insignias ever.”

James Suckling • 99 / 100

<p><strong>Top 100 Wines Of 2021 • #41</strong></p> <p>"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."</p>
98

“This quintessential Insignia is up with the finest vintages of this cuvée I've tasted.”

Jeb Dunnuck • 98 / 100

<p>"he 2018 Insignia checks in as 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec and the rest Cabernet Franc, from a mix of vineyards (mostly in the southern part of the valley) aged two years in new French oak. It has an incredible bouquet of cassis, currants, dark chocolate, lead pencil, and tobacco, and while it's unquestionably Napa, it has a regal, structured, almost Bordeaux-like vibe as well. Full-bodied, perfectly balanced, and layered on the palate, with silky tannins, this quintessential Insignia is up with the finest vintages of this cuvée I've tasted and is in the same realm as the 1997 (the first vintage I bought for my personal cellar), 2001, 2002, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2016."</p>
97+

“Demonstrates remarkable balance at this youthful stage.”

Wine Advocate • 97+ / 100

<p>"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."</p>

Producer: Joseph Phelps

Country: United States

Region: California

Subregion: Napa Valley

Varietal: Cabernet Blend

Vintage: 2018

Size: 750ml

Code: W00083-2018-750

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