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

The 2015 Joseph Phelps Insignia delivers a bold and opulent interpretation of Napa Valley, showcasing extraordinary concentration and elegance from a low-yielding vintage.

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

Region and Vineyards

Sourced exclusively from estate vineyards, the 2015 Insignia embodies the geographical diversity and complexity of Napa Valley's top sub-appellations. The backbone of the wine comes from Las Rocas (21%) and Barboza (15%) in the Stags Leap District, famed for their gravelly soils and capacity to produce structured, finely textured wines. The Home Ranch Vineyard in St. Helena contributes 20%, adding mid-palate density and black fruit richness.

Another significant component, Yountville Vineyard in Oak Knoll District (19%), brings elegance, freshness, and aromatic clarity. Suscol Vineyard (15%), located in the cooler South Napa zone, adds lift and acidity, while Banca Dorada (10%) in Rutherford lends classic Napa structure and dusty minerality. This strategic composition results in a multidimensional wine of great aging potential.

Winemaking

The 2015 blend is composed of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Malbec. Precision vineyard management was crucial during this challenging growing season, marked by one of the earliest and most condensed harvests in estate history.

Each block was harvested, sorted, and fermented separately to preserve its character. The wine was aged for 24 months in 100% new French oak, using barrels from esteemed coopers including Taransaud, Dargaud Jaegle, Demptos, Marcel Cadet, and Sylvain. This élevage imparted spice, structure, and depth, supporting the wine's luxurious fruit and textural polish. The result is a bold, creamy, and supple cuvée with finely integrated tannins and age-worthy balance.

Tasting Notes

  • Color: Deep ruby with opaque core and purple highlights.
  • Aroma: Rich dark fruit with notes of cocoa powder, dried violet, Madagascar vanilla, and bergamot.
  • Palate: Explosive flavors of juicy black plum, red and black currants, and subtle mineral tones. Creamy, full-bodied texture with well-knit tannins and a long, layered finish.

Did you know?

The 2015 vintage was one of Napa Valley's most compact harvests on record, lasting less than a month. Small berry size and loose clusters led to wines of remarkable intensity and structure, offering a concentrated core of fruit balanced by freshness and precision.

Wine Pairing Ideas

  • Braised beef short ribs with red wine reduction: The wine's dark fruit and supple tannins pair seamlessly with the richness of the dish.
  • Lamb tagine with dried fruits and spices: Enhances the wine's exotic spice and floral undertones.
  • Porcini and truffle polenta: A refined vegetarian pairing that reflects the wine's earthy, creamy depth.
  • Roasted duck with cherry glaze: The sweet-savory profile amplifies the black plum and vanilla layers of 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.

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

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.

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.

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*

Joseph Phelps Insignia 2019
Joseph Phelps Insignia 2019
Joseph Phelps
Insignia 2019
WS
94
RP
96
WE
94
A commanding Napa Valley icon, the 2019 Insignia by Joseph Phelps blends site precision with plush, age-worthy elegance, revealing the soul of estate-grown Cabernet Sauvignon.
390,00 €
Quantity : moins plus
Joseph Phelps Insignia 2018
Joseph Phelps Insignia 2018
Joseph Phelps
Insignia 2018
RP
97
WE
98
DCT
96
Revered as one of the estate's finest vintages, the 2018 Insignia seduces with its sculpted tannins, radiant aromatics, and seamless structure.
325,00 €
Quantity : moins plus
Joseph Phelps Insignia 2017
Joseph Phelps Insignia 2017
Joseph Phelps
Insignia 2017
WS
94
RP
96
DCT
96
One of the smallest production vintages in two decades, this cuvée delivers layered complexity and a plush texture with a sense of graceful restraint.
325,00 €
Quantity : moins plus
Joseph Phelps Insignia 2008
Joseph Phelps Insignia 2008
Joseph Phelps
Insignia 2008
WS
94
RP
95
WE
93
The 2008 Joseph Phelps Insignia is a richly structured Napa Valley classic, offering deep fruit concentration, minerality, and polished tannins from a vintage marked by extremes.
390,00 €
Quantity : moins plus
Joseph Phelps Insignia 2021
Joseph Phelps Insignia 2021
Joseph Phelps
Insignia 2021
RP
96
DCT
96
VN
97
The 2021 Insignia is a masterful blend of Napa Valley power and finesse, offering dark fruit purity, lifted florals, and fine structure in a vibrant, age-worthy profile.
395,00 €
Quantity : moins plus
Wine regions guide
385,00 €
Quantity : Moins     Plus
 
 
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