2023 Joseph Phelps Insignia Napa Valley

Regular price $355.00

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98 Vinous - The 2023 Insignia is a total stunner. Fresh, vibrant and explosive, the 2023 possesses mind-blowing purity and exceptional balance to match. Floral and spice notes meld into a core of blue/purplish fruit, licorice, plum and dried flowers, all finely sculpted. This is the first vintage of Insignia to incorporate some fruit from Backus (8%). Winemaker Ryan Knoth also reduced the oak imprint by using lower-impact barrels and shortening time in wood to 20-21 months versus the 24 months that was once the norm. This is a new era for Insignia.

96 Wine Spectator - This is impressive from first whiff, as waves of fresh boysenberry, blackberry and morello cherry preserves come spilling forth, inlaid seamlessly with hints of anise, cast iron, sweet tobacco, alder smoke and ink. Well-structured, with both tannic grip and the steady, percolating succulence of the vintage, this moves steadily through the lengthy, authoritative finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.

The 2023 Joseph Phelps Insignia looks like a particularly strong—and somewhat important—vintage for this Napa icon. It’s 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc, drawn from seven estate vineyards across Napa Valley. It is also the first Insignia to incorporate Backus Vineyard fruit (8%) and the first vintage directed by winemaker Ryan Knoth.

In the glass, expect cassis, blackberry, blueberry and dark cherry, with layers of violet, graphite, tobacco, cocoa, licorice and subtle floral spice. It is full-bodied and concentrated, but the defining feature of the 2023 appears to be freshness and precision rather than sheer Napa power—fine-grained tannins, bright acidity and a long, polished, mineral-driven finish.

Classic Insignia gets a 2023 makeover—cassis, blackberry, graphite and violets, with serious Napa depth but noticeably more freshness, polish and restraint. The first-ever inclusion of Backus makes this an especially interesting vintage to cellar.

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