Joseph Phelps Insignia 2018 750ml

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Wine Advocate #End of July, Jul 30, 2021 by Lisa Perotti-Brown
Deep garnet-purple colored, it comes storming out of the glass with powerful notes of blackcurrant cordial, stewed black plums and boysenberries, plus hints of cedar chest, graphite, menthol and wet slate with a fragrant waft of clove oil. The medium to full-bodied palate already demonstrates remarkable balance at this youthful stage, featuring a firm backbone of fine-grained tannins and bold freshness to support the tightly wound, crunchy black fruits, finishing long and spicy.

Joseph Phelps is one of Napa Valley's most prominent wine producers. The iconic redwood winery is located just outside of St Helena, but owns vineyards across Napa, notably in Stags Leap, Oak Knoll, Rutherford and Oakville and, as of 2004, all of the wines are made from estate-grown fruit. As is the case with many of Napa's most famous producers, the key grape variety here is Cabernet Sauvignon.
The estate was established in 1973. Joseph Phelps was running a construction company in Colorado and had come to Napa for a project and had fallen in love with the wine industry there. After importing grapes back to Denver for vinification for a time, he bought a cattle ranch in the valley and began planting vineyards. The first vintage was released in 1974.
Joseph Phelps' flagship wine is Insignia, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Phelps' aim was to move away from varietal labeling and create a wine that could be different every year, depending on what the vintage called for. It is one of Napa's so-called cult Cabernets, and several vintages have been awarded 100 points by noted wine critic Robert Parker.

Meats, Beef and Venison