Insignia is the first proprietary Bordeaux-style blend produced in California. Each vintage is comprised of the best grapes from Joseph Phelps Vineyards, first from both grower and estate fruit, and beginning with the 2004 vintage, from entirely estate-grown fruit sources. The 2011 vintage is a fresh, pretty vintage that can show well young but without a doubt to evolve and develop with several years of age in the bottle as well.
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The 2011 Insignia is superb. Deep, layered and so expressive, Insignia is without question one of the wines of the year. Had I tasted it blind, I would have never guessed it is a wine from a challenging year. Still fresh and vibrant, the 2011 is such a pleasure to taste today. Hints of sage, tobacco, spice, menthol and pine add lovely aromatic top notes to a core of inky blue/purplish fruit. The 2011 has turned out even better than I had originally expected. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, May 2022)
The 2011 Insignia is superb. Deep, layered and so expressive, Insignia is without question one of the wines of the year. Had I tasted it blind, I would have never guessed it is a wine from a challenging year. Still fresh and vibrant, the 2011 is such a pleasure to taste today. Hints of sage, tobacco, spice, menthol and pine add lovely aromatic top notes to a core of inky blue/purplish fruit. The 2011 has turned out even better than I had originally expected. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, May 2022)
9.5R. Addison Wehrfritz
Most palatable of the $200+ Cab Queens. Still not really my cup of tea...I mean wine. Overripe fruit, massive oak, and limited aromas.
Most palatable of the $200+ Cab Queens. Still not really my cup of tea...I mean wine. Overripe fruit, massive oak, and limited aromas.
8.1Blake Conklin
Cellar Hand Relic Winery
Beast. For a 2011, this is drinking quite nicely. Soft, subtle... Full of sex appeal.
Beast. For a 2011, this is drinking quite nicely. Soft, subtle... Full of sex appeal.
9.3Mick Eddy
Cant go wrong with insignia
Cant go wrong with insignia
9.5Logan Smyser
Excellent every time.
Excellent every time.
9.6David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
Dark cassis, very herbaceous, leathery, crush dry rock, black olive, strong mineral finish. Higher % of Petit Verdot in this vintage.
Dark cassis, very herbaceous, leathery, crush dry rock, black olive, strong mineral finish. Higher % of Petit Verdot in this vintage.
9.2Alex Powell
Roasted coffee dominates nose, with nutmeg and cedar, bit of cassis popping through, some coffee soaked herbs....man! Way too oaky on palate, nothing to be tasted! Total $250 crap. 2011 vintage.
Roasted coffee dominates nose, with nutmeg and cedar, bit of cassis popping through, some coffee soaked herbs....man! Way too oaky on palate, nothing to be tasted! Total $250 crap. 2011 vintage.
6.1Mitzi Inglis
Marketing/Public Relations, Joseph Phelps Vineyards
Biased review.
Biased review.
9.2Andrew Wesson
A little too much oak for the vintage. Not as good as usual.
A little too much oak for the vintage. Not as good as usual.
8.5Rebekah Wineburg
Winemaker Buccella Wines
There is richness there but lacks integration.
There is richness there but lacks integration.
8.3Location
WARNING: DRINKING DISTILLED SPIRITS, BEER, COOLERS, WINE AND OTHER ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES MAY INCREASE CANCER RISK, AND, DURING PREGNANCY, CAN CAUSE BIRTH DEFECTS.