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Joseph Phelps Vineyards Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2012
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Ratings on Delectable
"Odedi" 
Celebrating 20K on Instagram with this beautiful wine! Dark ruby in color with a short purple rim. Doesn't show age at all. Fruity nose of blackberries, sweet cherries, black currants, figs, raisins, vanilla, cedar, licorice, cloves, cola, chocolates, mocha, caramel and black pepper. Full bodied, smooth and bold, with medium acidity and long legs. Dry and extremely fruity on the palate with blackberries, black plums, cooked cherries, cedar, leather, earth, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, mocha, coke, light earth, peppercorn, leather and tobacco. Long finish with firm tannins and tangy raspberries. This is a great Napa Bordeaux blend. Showing great complexity and mouthfeel. Nicely balanced and fruit forward. A fantastic wine from a great vintage. I've had a few different vintages of this, from older to younger, and this 2012 vintage is so nice right now. Will be even better in the next 10 to 15 years. Thank you John for sharing this with me. Rich yet elegant. Opulent and luxurious. Delectable and delicious. Robert Parker 96 points. Good right out of the bottle and much better after 3 hours of airtime. Fun wine for parties if it's in the budget.
Celebrating 20K on Instagram with this beautiful wine! Dark ruby in color with a short purple rim. Doesn't show age at all. Fruity nose of blackberries, sweet cherries, black currants, figs, raisins, vanilla, cedar, licorice, cloves, cola, chocolates, mocha, caramel and black pepper. Full bodied, smooth and bold, with medium acidity and long legs. Dry and extremely fruity on the palate with blackberries, black plums, cooked cherries, cedar, leather, earth, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, mocha, coke, light earth, peppercorn, leather and tobacco. Long finish with firm tannins and tangy raspberries. This is a great Napa Bordeaux blend. Showing great complexity and mouthfeel. Nicely balanced and fruit forward. A fantastic wine from a great vintage. I've had a few different vintages of this, from older to younger, and this 2012 vintage is so nice right now. Will be even better in the next 10 to 15 years. Thank you John for sharing this with me. Rich yet elegant. Opulent and luxurious. Delectable and delicious. Robert Parker 96 points. Good right out of the bottle and much better after 3 hours of airtime. Fun wine for parties if it's in the budget.
9.7
Greg Ballington
Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog
Deep ruby red in appearance. A bit stinky on the nose but really mute. Full bodied and medium plus tannins (7.5/10). A lot better on the palate than the nose with layers of dark berries, spices and a touch bitter. Definitely from the Petit Verdot. Long finish. Drink till 2032.
Deep ruby red in appearance. A bit stinky on the nose but really mute. Full bodied and medium plus tannins (7.5/10). A lot better on the palate than the nose with layers of dark berries, spices and a touch bitter. Definitely from the Petit Verdot. Long finish. Drink till 2032.
9.3
David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
The nose shows nice blue floral fruits. Ripe; blackberries, dark sweet & slightly sour cherries, creamy black raspberries, strawberries and soft plum. Limestone, volcanic minerals, light vanilla, fruit tea, soft, understated fresh tobacco, caramel, milk chocolate and fresh bright red and blue flowers. The body is medium full. Tannins soft and tarry. Ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, creamy black raspberries, strawberries and soft plum. Limestone, volcanic minerals, crushed dry rock powder, soft dark spice, light vanilla, fruit tea, soft, understated fresh tobacco, used leather, wood shavings, caramel, milk chocolate and fresh bright red and blue flowers. The acidity is beautiful. The finish has to flush out but, it’s long, balanced and delicious. This will be a great Insignia. I’ll wait 15 years plus before I open my first bottle. Photos of; their Estate vines of their terrace, terrace tasting area, more Insignia artwork from the visitor center and their signage as you walk to their Napa facility.
The nose shows nice blue floral fruits. Ripe; blackberries, dark sweet & slightly sour cherries, creamy black raspberries, strawberries and soft plum. Limestone, volcanic minerals, light vanilla, fruit tea, soft, understated fresh tobacco, caramel, milk chocolate and fresh bright red and blue flowers. The body is medium full. Tannins soft and tarry. Ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, creamy black raspberries, strawberries and soft plum. Limestone, volcanic minerals, crushed dry rock powder, soft dark spice, light vanilla, fruit tea, soft, understated fresh tobacco, used leather, wood shavings, caramel, milk chocolate and fresh bright red and blue flowers. The acidity is beautiful. The finish has to flush out but, it’s long, balanced and delicious. This will be a great Insignia. I’ll wait 15 years plus before I open my first bottle. Photos of; their Estate vines of their terrace, terrace tasting area, more Insignia artwork from the visitor center and their signage as you walk to their Napa facility.
9.6David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
The nose is a little shy. It reveals; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, plum, touch of rhubarb & blueberries and strawberries. Vanilla, light cinnamon, clove and soft, dark spice, just slight whiff of green pepper, dark turned earth, limestone and red and dark flowers. The 2012 vintage generally drank well right away. Now that this 12 has four years in the bottle, it’s very approachable. This said from someone who loves old(er) red wines. The tannins are round grainy. The body lighter than other Insignia’s. Blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, cherries, dry cranberries, plum, touch of rhubarb & blueberries and strawberries. Vanilla, light cinnamon, clove and soft, dark spice, suede leather, fresh tobacco leaf, steeped tea, dark turned earth limestone, crushed dry rocks with red and dark flowers. The acidity is fresh and lively. The finish is good yet leaner than previous vintages at this stage. It’s fresh and lively. Balanced but, the fruit is bright and really shines. It still a ways to go to get to where I would open one of my bottles. But, somewhat tempting now to open a bottle. Photos of, JPV Estate vines, visitor center Insignia artwork, shot from a previous member party, and wine in barrel that ferments inside their visitor center.
The nose is a little shy. It reveals; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, plum, touch of rhubarb & blueberries and strawberries. Vanilla, light cinnamon, clove and soft, dark spice, just slight whiff of green pepper, dark turned earth, limestone and red and dark flowers. The 2012 vintage generally drank well right away. Now that this 12 has four years in the bottle, it’s very approachable. This said from someone who loves old(er) red wines. The tannins are round grainy. The body lighter than other Insignia’s. Blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, cherries, dry cranberries, plum, touch of rhubarb & blueberries and strawberries. Vanilla, light cinnamon, clove and soft, dark spice, suede leather, fresh tobacco leaf, steeped tea, dark turned earth limestone, crushed dry rocks with red and dark flowers. The acidity is fresh and lively. The finish is good yet leaner than previous vintages at this stage. It’s fresh and lively. Balanced but, the fruit is bright and really shines. It still a ways to go to get to where I would open one of my bottles. But, somewhat tempting now to open a bottle. Photos of, JPV Estate vines, visitor center Insignia artwork, shot from a previous member party, and wine in barrel that ferments inside their visitor center.
9.4
Shay A
One of the highlights of the day was meeting @David T and his wife for a tasting at Joseph Phelps. I’d never had the privilege of trying Insignia, and we were given the ‘12 and ‘14 to taste today. This vintage of Insignia had a splash of merlot, compared to the ‘14, which had zero. Gorgeous texture. Very smooth and elegant. Black cherry, cigar box, peppercorn, BlackBerry tart. Every note on the wine seemed put together...nothing was out of place. Gorgeous property and gorgeous wines! FYI, their viognier is awesome!
One of the highlights of the day was meeting @David T and his wife for a tasting at Joseph Phelps. I’d never had the privilege of trying Insignia, and we were given the ‘12 and ‘14 to taste today. This vintage of Insignia had a splash of merlot, compared to the ‘14, which had zero. Gorgeous texture. Very smooth and elegant. Black cherry, cigar box, peppercorn, BlackBerry tart. Every note on the wine seemed put together...nothing was out of place. Gorgeous property and gorgeous wines! FYI, their viognier is awesome!
9.5
Martin G Rivard
Thank you Dov @Dov Eidelman for pulling this beauty out of your cellar and sharing it with us. Opulent nose., strikingly rich and lush. Bravo my friend!
Thank you Dov @Dov Eidelman for pulling this beauty out of your cellar and sharing it with us. Opulent nose., strikingly rich and lush. Bravo my friend!
9.6
Delectable Wine
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The 2012 Insignia is in great shape today. Bright acids lend tremendous energy to a mid-weight Insignia that is more about finesse rather than power. Sweet red-fleshed fruit, cedar, tobacco, mint and rose petal are all beautifully delineated. There's not much left to say. The 2012 offers tons of pure pleasure. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, May 2024)
The 2012 Insignia is in great shape today. Bright acids lend tremendous energy to a mid-weight Insignia that is more about finesse rather than power. Sweet red-fleshed fruit, cedar, tobacco, mint and rose petal are all beautifully delineated. There's not much left to say. The 2012 offers tons of pure pleasure. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, May 2024)
9.6
Lamar Hannah
Needed some time to get some air but showed well at dinner
Needed some time to get some air but showed well at dinner
8.8
Lee Pitofsky
wonderful notes of blueberries, black plum, blackberry, cassis, cloves, vanilla, baking spices, beautifully structured tannins. Improved significantly after an hour decanting
wonderful notes of blueberries, black plum, blackberry, cassis, cloves, vanilla, baking spices, beautifully structured tannins. Improved significantly after an hour decanting
9.6
James Forsyth
An iconic Stags Leaps wine... And now there is a map to know where the Joseph Phelps Insignia vineyards are.
An iconic Stags Leaps wine... And now there is a map to know where the Joseph Phelps Insignia vineyards are.
9.6
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