1976 | Joseph Phelps | Insignia

Introduction

Red Wine: 1976 | Joseph Phelps | Insignia

A big, rich red, it offers a dense garnet color along with notes of unsmoked cigar tobacco and Asian spices. Huge, explosive finish.

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Producer: Joseph Phelps

Ratings: WA | 96 V | 97

Vintage: 1976

Size: 750ml

ABV: 13.5%

Varietal: Bordeaux Blend Red

Country/Region: United States, California

A big, rich red, it offers a dense garnet color along with notes of unsmoked cigar tobacco and Asian spices. Huge, explosive finish.

Reviews:

• Wine Advocate: A big, rich red, it offers a dense garnet color along with notes of unsmoked cigar tobacco and Asian spices, a full-bodied, deep, concentrated, broad, savory mouthfeel, plenty of sweet red and black fruits, ripe tannin and remarkable freshness as well as delineation.

• Vinous: Joseph Phelps’s 1976 Insignia was off the charts. The 1976 was made predominantly (94%) from Eisele fruit, so this bottle provided a fascinating contrast with the other 1970s Eisele Cabernets earlier in the evening. I loved the wine’s extraordinary bouquet and huge, explosive finish. It’s hard to say how long the 1976 will last, but it showed no signs of fading anytime soon. The 1976 Insignia is an American icon. It was an unforgettable bottle worthy of closing this great night of food and wine.

Producer Information

Joseph Phelps is one of Napa Valley’s most prominent wine producers. As is the case with many of Napa’s most famous producers, the key grape variety here is Cabernet Sauvignon. The iconic redwood winery is located just outside of St Helena. The company owns vineyards across Napa, notably in Stags Leap, Oak Knoll, Rutherford and Oakville. The estate was established in 1973 with a first release of three wines. 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. Joseph Phelps’ flagship wine is Insignia, which made its debut in 1974. This is a blend based on Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller amounts of other Bordeaux varieties. The precise components vary with each vintage. Current options are Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. The company hopes to replant some Merlot for future vintages. 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. From 2004 Insignia is made entirely from estate grown fruit. Outside of Insignia, Joseph Phelps makes a large portfolio of wines. Fruit for these is sourced both from estate vineyards and partner growers. The line up ranges from single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon wines to more approachable varietal wines made from classic California varieties. These include Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Sauvignon Blanc. Fruit for some of these comes from vineyards along the Sonoma Coast. Older wines may feature other AVAs.