Joseph Phelps Vineyards Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2013

Jay Kline

Double decanted two nights before service. The 2013 Insignia pours a deep garnet color with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears and some signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing but still quite youthful with notes of tart and ripe dark fruit: dense brambles, purple flowers, tobacco, vanilla and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. At 11 years of age, this remains tightly coiled and needs more time to open up and tell more of its story. All that being said, this is very good now…but to my palate, better after 2027 and through 2043.

Sipping Fine Wine

Blend of 88% Cab Sauv, 5% Petit Verdot, 3% Merlot, 3% Malbec and 1% Cab Franc sourced from estate-owned vineyards, aged 24 months in 100% new French oak, their 40th vintage. Still tasting great, young and juicy, should easily last another couple of decades+ in the bottle. Deep Ruby, dark fruits, spice, complex nose. On the palate juicy rich berry fruits, vanilla oak. well structured harmonious wine. Fine soft rich tannins, long finish ending with fruit, tobacco and sweet earthy tones. Wow!

Mike R

Wine Nerd herd virtual tasting of various vintages from 90s, 00s and 10s - mine was the 2013 - 88% CS, 8% PV, 3% merlot and 1% CF from various vineyards in the valley floor region - four hour decant - this is less fruit than you would expect but certainly an amazing wine - Napa finest at a modernist style Bordeaux blend - nose was rich with tobacco leather cocoa and forest floor - heavy to medium body yet the wine was soft because the fruit was muffled - mid palette with black blue and red fruits - orange peel cinnamon and sweet silky tannins integrated nicely - this could easily go 30 more years but not sure it will get better so if willing to decant and maybe even double decant for an afternoon this wine is ready for being paired with a cowboy bone in rib eye steak and will not let you down - truly an enjoyable experience as was all vintages tasted last night - HUGE SMILES

Mike R

WOTN - I was impressed - besides always being a crowd pleaser this wine always acts like the postman and always delivers 1 hour decant - was not planning to open but we drank the other bottles like thirsty sailors after 90 days on the boat - color has not changed - the smell has gotten even better - the finish was spot on and the taste was impeccable- remarkable- memorable- a true stunner - blue fruits dancing with black and reds fruits - tobacco cassis sweetness from caramel- tamed but striking how this baby keeps growing - drink now if you want but I will not try again for 5 years or more - this Napa cult classic will last 10 years plus and seems to find a way to get better - bravo

Jay Eagan

Great night out - Eataly opened the roof and it’s terrific to be back. The Insignia, our of a mag, is delicious - dark fruit - plum with a little cigar box. Terrific balance

Mike R

WNH rides again - this wine keeps getting better - incredible wine - the dark fruit and amazing color are prefect - but the taste is powerful but beyond approachable- extremely smooth / and the finish speaks in loud Dolby brilliant sounds - just so damn long The herd had our party at Bookers Guesthouse / thank you Eric, Lauren and Glenn.

Alex Jones

Marketing/Development Kunni/Westerly Wines

A friend opened and unlike the Dunn, not my style. Well made, but too rich and dense and tried a bit too hard like a laugh track comedy. Dark fruit, blackberry and a touch of herbalness. Needed more time than we gave it.

Mike R

Two hour decant - it sings and I smile - march madness is close - so go Pack

Shay A

Weston hosted Friday group today and was it definitely a can’t miss tasting. Wow! Absolutely knocked it out of the park with heavy hitter after heavy hitter. Similar to Wednesday group, all wines are tasted blind. I’ve been fortunate to have the ‘12, ‘13 and ‘14 all within two weeks. While I think the ‘12 has been my favorite, this was close. Not sure of the merlot usage here, but it was fairly soft and plush. Ripe blueberries and blackberries but also some tobacco and grilled meats. A few people wondered if this wine could be a Cali Syrah (in comparison to the last 2).

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

Super dark cassis, expresso roast, black tea, big tannins and very good acidity. Dark rich moist black soil, crushed dry rocks, leather, anise, milk & dark chocolate. Great balance, length, structure. This wine is a 30-50 year wine.