Joseph Phelps Insignia 2015

Joseph Phelps Insignia 2015

 

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Joseph Phelps
Insignia 2015
  • Vintage : 2015
  • Country : USA
  • Region : California (AVA Napa Valley)
  • Subregion : Napa
  • Type : Red
  • Style : Deep Full Bodied
  • Format : 75cl
  • Alcohol : 14,5°
  • Grappes : 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 1% Malbec

Awarded 98 points by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, Insignia 2015 is a stunningly complex and age-worthy wine that exemplifies the best of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.

Experts Score Vintage
RP Robert Parker 98 2015
CG Connoisseurs' Guide 97 2015
JD Jeb Dunnuck 97 2015
JS James Suckling 97 2015
WE Wine Enthusiast 97 2015
VN Vinous (Antonio Galloni) 93 2015
More information on wine critics and ratings

Region and Vineyards

The 2015 Insignia is sourced from estate-grown vineyards across Napa Valley, carefully selected to showcase the region’s terroir diversity and complexity. The vineyards contributing to this wine include:

  • 21% Las Rocas Vineyard (Stags Leap District) – Known for elegance and refined tannins.
  • 20% Home Ranch Vineyard (St. Helena) – Adds rich fruit concentration and power.
  • 19% Yountville Vineyard (Oak Knoll District) – Provides balance and freshness.
  • 15% Suscol Vineyard (South Napa Valley) – Enhances structure and depth.
  • 15% Barboza Vineyard (Stags Leap District) – Delivers signature dark fruit intensity.
  • 10% Banca Dorada Vineyard (Rutherford) – Contributes finesse and age-worthy complexity.

The 2015 growing season was marked by a dry, mild winter and spring, followed by an early and condensed harvest due to September and October heat spikes. The result was low yields of intensely concentrated fruit, producing a wine of exceptional depth and richness.

Winemaking

The 2015 Insignia is a masterful blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Malbec.

Each vineyard block was harvested separately from September 8 to October 5, 2015, ensuring optimal ripeness. The grapes were meticulously hand-sorted, fermented separately, and blended only after extensive evaluation.

The wine was then aged for 24 months in 100% new French oak barrels sourced from prestigious coopers including Taransaud, Dargaud Jaegle, Demptos, Marcel Cadet, and Sylvain. This extended barrel aging imparted rich texture, complexity, and depth while allowing seamless oak integration.

Tasting Notes

  • Color: Deep, inky purple with a nearly opaque core, hinting at its richness and aging potential.
  • Aromas: Intensely fragrant, featuring notes of blackberry, cassis, dark cherry, and dried violets, layered with nuances of cocoa powder, Madagascar vanilla, and bergamot.
  • Palate: Bold and full-bodied, with plush black plum, ripe currant, and chocolate, framed by fine-grained tannins and a silky yet powerful structure. The long, layered finish reveals hints of graphite, espresso, and spice, promising decades of evolution in the bottle.

Did you know?

Joseph Phelps Insignia was the first proprietary Bordeaux-style blend made in Napa Valley, debuting in 1974. It remains one of California’s most iconic wines, often earning 95+ points from top critics and consistently ranking among Napa’s finest expressions of Cabernet Sauvignon.

Wine Pairing Ideas

  • Prime ribeye steak with black truffle butter – Matches the wine’s bold tannins and luxurious fruit profile.
  • Braised short ribs with rosemary and thyme – Enhances the wine’s depth and velvety mouthfeel.
  • Aged Gouda or Comté cheese – Balances its richness with nutty, savory flavors.
  • Dark chocolate and espresso torte – Complements the cocoa and vanilla undertones in the wine.

Robert Parker (RP) : 98 Points (2015)
The 2015 Insignia Proprietary Red Wine is blended of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Malbec aged for 24 months in 100% new French oak. Deep garnet-purple colored, it opens with stunning black and red plums, cassis and mulberries scents with loads of redcurrant sparks and compelling wafts of lilacs, pencil shavings, black olives and tilled soil plus a hint of bay leaves. Medium to full-bodied, the palate explodes with red and black currant fireworks plus some exciting mineral nuances coming through, framed by firm, grainy tannins and fantastic freshness, finishing very long and beautifully layered. 12,400 cases produced.

Connoisseurs' Guide (CG) : 97 Points (2015)
It is a rare vintage when Insignia does not impress, and, in 2015, it takes a place at the very head of the class in what is proving to be an outstanding year for Cabernet Sauvignon. It is, as usual, a wine of great crafting and polish with a refined sense of strength and as much finesse as fruity richness. It is so well-mannered that it is understandable that many will be tempted into drinking it in the very near future, but it is barely beginning to give voice to all that it is, and it is a keenly balanced composition that is certain to show more and more layering as it evolves over the next ten to twelve years. *Wine of the Year, Three Stars*

Jeb Dunnuck (JD) : 97 Points (2015)
The 2015 Insignia is a fleshy, flamboyant vintage for this wine and reminds me of the 1997. Tons of dark fruits, tobacco, cedar, and dried flower notes all give way to a full-bodied, seamless 2015 that has remarkable purity and elegance, yet still shows the vintage’s sexy style. Drink it any time over the coming two to three decades.

James Suckling (JS) : 97 Points (2015)
This shows finesse and beauty with dark berries and wet earth. Subtle. Very fine-grained. Medium to full body. Bright and vivid. Lovely length and intensity. Drink or hold.

Wine Enthusiast (WE) : 97 Points (2015)
This vintage of the perennial knockout is exceptional—a concentrated blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Malbec. Pencil shavings, red currant and red plum are complemented by hints of crushed rock and cocoa, with persistent acidity maintaining balance. Like so many of its forebears, this is a wine well worth cellaring; enjoy 2025–2035. Cellar Selection

Vinous (Antonio Galloni) (VN) : 93 Points (2015)
Ample and perfumed, with tons of richness, the 2015 Insignia has a lot to offer. Sweet tobacco, menthol, licorice, plum, dried herbs and licorice add aromatic nuance to this decidedly extroverted, flamboyant wine. Even all of the wine's richness can't fully cover some rough edges, especially in the tannins, and a feel of stress that runs through the wine. It will be interesting to see if things smooth out in time, as there are elements of real contrast in the 2015. In the end, though, that is not entirely surprising given the challenges of the growing season. In 2015, Insignia does not contain Merlot, which also contributes to its feel relative to recent vintages. (AG)

Wine regions guide
385,00 €
Quantity : Moins     Plus
 
 
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