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Anthony Gismondi on Wine
Joseph Phelps Insignia 40th Vintagetext
94POINTS
17½/20

Joseph Phelps Insignia 40th Vintage 2013

Napa Valley, California, United StatesThe 40th vintage of Insignia is a bit of a monster red, mixing 88/5/3/3/1/ cabernet sauvignon, petit verdot, merlot, malbec and cabernet franc from six Napa Valley vineyards. A dry season has intensified everything including the tannins, that while ripe, are substantial and will require patience. The nose is aromatic with plenty of rich, hedonistic black fruit aromas. The palate is equally rich and mouth-filling with fresh plummy fruit, coffee, mocha and baking spices, all in full measure. The finish is where those tannins kick in and intensify the bittersweet chocolate notes. This needs a decade to settle in, and likely two decades to reach a level of maturity. Insignia is a mix of selected blocks that make the final grade on the tasting table. It spends 24 months in 100 percent new French oak barrels made by six coopers. The first Insignia vintage, the 1974, was a ground-breaking, non-varietal (Napa cabernet sauvignon) that came out with a proprietary name on the label. There’s no need to tell you how successful the proprietary name concept turned out in the marketplace. First produced from the 1974 vintage, 2013 Insignia is the 40th vintage of the flagship Napa Valley red, and to honour that moment the Insignia label has gone retro.Tasted: 03 October 2016Tasted by: Anthony GismondiPrices:
BC$354.99750mlprivate wine shops
AB$355.00750mlprivate wine shops
ON$240.00750ml350.00
Producer: Joseph Phelps VineyardsDistributors: Trialto Wine Group
Lifford Wine and Spirits
Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon - Petit Verdot - MalbecCSPC: 495945UPC: 831906009985