Wine Advisor
Joseph Phelps, Insignia 1997
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted at “The Wine Treasury” vertical. The nose takes some coaxing from the glass, a little monotonous at first, but then developing some lovely aromas of liquorices, mint and Doris plum. The palate is full-bodied with superb balance and more harmony and vigour than the 1996. Hints of kirsch, orange liqueur and maraschino towards the glossy finish. Very pure and feminine, silky smooth. Lovely. Tasted September 2002.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
I tasted all the component parts that will compose the 1997 Insignia. And guess what ... it looks to be on a par with both the 1994 and 1995. Its alcohol level is slightly high (exceeding 14%), and the pH is in the 3.7 range (much like a great vintage of Bordeaux). This should be a sensational, seductive Insignia with many of the same characteristics exhibited by the 1994 and 1995, but my instincts suggest it has more glycerin, lower acidity, and a creamier mouth-feel. Stay tuned. Joseph Phelps is doing a phenomenal job with their Insignia. The winery produces 10,000-12,000 cases of this proprietary red wine, all of it aged in 100% new oak. Vintages since 1991 have been superb. Tel. (707) 963-2745; Fax (707) 963-4831
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Joseph Phelps' flagship wine is their fabulous Insignia, a wine with a tremendous track record back to the debut vintage of 1974. It is produced in significant quantities (18,000-20,000 cases) for a wine of such quality. The prodigious 1997 Insignia (83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, and 3% Petit-Verdot) lives up to its pre-bottling promise. Tasted on three separate occasions, every bottle has hit the bull's eye. The color is a saturated thick-looking blue/purple. The nose offers up explosive aromas of jammy black fruits, licorice, Asian spices, vanillin, and cedar. Full-bodied as well as exceptionally pure and impressively endowed, this blockbuster yet surprisingly elegant wine cuts a brilliant swath across the palate. A seamless effort with beautifully integrated acidity, sweet tannin, and alcohol, it is still an infant, but can be drunk with considerable pleasure. Anticipated maturity: now-2025. Tel. (707) 963-2745; Fax (707) 963-4831
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The spectacular 1997 Insignia is a blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, and 3% Petit Verdot. Amazingly, there will be 18,000 cases released early next year, and over 20,000 were actually produced. It is a compelling effort (it will appear in a new, super-heavy, designer bottle). The opaque purple color is followed by an explosive nose of licorice, Asian spices, spice box, cedar, and glorious quantities of black currants and berries. Full-bodied, with admirable density, low acidity, high alcohol, copious glycerin, and sensational extract, this sumptuously-styled, seductive Insignia will be drinkable early, yet evolve nicely for two decades. Bravo! Tel. (707) 963-2745; Fax (707) 963-4831
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
An inky/plum/purple color is accompanied by a stunning bouquet of violets, charcoal, creme de cassis and a hint of toast. Prodigious when it hits the palate with a full-bodied expansiveness, there is not a hard edge to be found in the 1997, only velvety tannins, compelling depth and fruit intensity, and stunning purity. It is a perfect expression of Napa viticulture and wine that should continue to age effortlessly for two decades or more. An ideal warm, dry spring, June and July was followed by a surprisingly cool August that slowed down what looked to be rapid sugar accumulation in the grapes. September's temperatures were average to above average, without any potentially damaging heat spikes. This allowed the harvest to unfurl slowly, with no stress or imminent danger. For many Napa Cabernet Sauvignons, this resulted in one of the top vintages of the nineties. Consumers, observers and wine critics will undoubtedly argue for decades over which vintage of the nineties turned out to be the finest – 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995 or 1997. The 1997 Insignia is a 20,000-case blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot, with 60% coming from estate vineyards and 40% from growers. The alcohol came in at 13.8%.
About the Producer
Joseph Phelps, a building contractor from Colorado, first invested in vineyards in the Napa Valley in 1972. In 1974 Phelps and his winemaker Walter Schugg produced their first vintage of Insignia, which at the time was one of the first Bordeaux style blends in California. Its Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot grapes are sourced primarily from Rutherford & Stags Leap (notably for `Insignia'); the Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc from Los Carneros & Napa (for the better quality fruit). Joseph Phelps Vineyards is a family-owned and operated wine estate with vineyards and wineries in Napa Valley and on the western Sonoma Coast. The winery was founded in 1973 by Joseph Phelps, a successful construction executive and entrepreneur whose early interest in wine led him to establish vineyards on a 670-acre former cattle ranch in Napa Valley. Over the next 42 years Joe became one of the most respected figures in the California wine industry, building Joseph Phelps Vineyards into a critically-acclaimed winery internationally known for its iconic wines and unwavering commitment to quality. Every wine in the Joseph Phelps portfolio is 100% estate-grown, overseen from grape to bottle by our dedicated winegrowing team. Their family owns and farms 390 acres of vines in Napa Valley on eight estate vineyards in St. Helena, Rutherford, Oakville, the Stags Leap District, the Oak Knoll District, South Napa and Carneros, as well as 100 acres over two vineyards on the western Sonoma Coast. Strategically chosen over many decades, each vineyard has its own personality and brings a different characteristic to our wines. Our commitment to the estate-grown model is our way of ensuring consistency and the highest quality we can possibly achieve. Our estate vineyards give our winemaking teams unparalleled depth and diversity when it comes to producing Joseph Phelps wines.
