Joseph Phelps
About Joseph Phelps
Joseph Phelps is one of Napa Valley’s most prominent and best known producers. Establishing his winery ed in 1973, Phelps conceived an idea to create a separate cuvée each year, one that would represent the finest wine he could make without any limitation on grape varietals or site selection. So without realising its significance, in 1974 he created and launched the first Napa ‘proprietary red’ - called Joseph Phelps ‘Insignia’. This moment of inspiration has spawned countless emulations – and today ‘proprietary reds’ are the stable expression of most of the top Napa estates.
Joseph Phelps remains one of the few family-run wineries in Napa, encompassing nine estate vineyards. ‘Insignia’ remains the estate’s flagship and the ultimate expression of what these vineyards can produce.
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Prices:
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California | 1 | 91 (WA) |
Inc. TAX
€624.78 |
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Wine Advocate (91)Blended of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc, sourced from six vineyards, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon reveals a medium to deep garnet-purple color and nose of red and black currants, black raspberries and mulberries with hints of pencil shavings, cinnamon stick, cloves and vanilla pod. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has great freshness, with the vibrant, open-for-business fruit well supported by ripe, grainy tannins, finishing with good length. 23,000 cases were made. |
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California | 2 | 97+ (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€1,022.96 |
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Vinous (97+)The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Backus Vineyard is going to need time to recover from its recent bottling. Dense, powerful and explosive, the 2015 has so much to offer. The density and resonance of the fruit is striking. Even so, the 2015 has never been more expressive than the first time I tasted it, which makes me think that the relatively long élevage favored by Phelps may be robbing the wine of some of its freshness and adding a sheen of mocha/torrefaction notes that the wine does not really need. Admittedly, these are small critiques at this level, but I am not sure Backus is quite reaching its full potential. |
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California | 2 | 98 (WA) |
Inc. TAX
€1,562.95 |
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Wine Advocate (98)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. |
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California | 1 | 98 (WA) |
Inc. TAX
€1,642.38 |
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Wine Advocate (98)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. |
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| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
California | 1 | 91 (WA) |
In Bond
€502.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (91)Blended of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc, sourced from six vineyards, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon reveals a medium to deep garnet-purple color and nose of red and black currants, black raspberries and mulberries with hints of pencil shavings, cinnamon stick, cloves and vanilla pod. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has great freshness, with the vibrant, open-for-business fruit well supported by ripe, grainy tannins, finishing with good length. 23,000 cases were made. |
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California | 2 | 97+ (VN) |
In Bond
€845.00 |
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Vinous (97+)The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Backus Vineyard is going to need time to recover from its recent bottling. Dense, powerful and explosive, the 2015 has so much to offer. The density and resonance of the fruit is striking. Even so, the 2015 has never been more expressive than the first time I tasted it, which makes me think that the relatively long élevage favored by Phelps may be robbing the wine of some of its freshness and adding a sheen of mocha/torrefaction notes that the wine does not really need. Admittedly, these are small critiques at this level, but I am not sure Backus is quite reaching its full potential. |
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California | 2 | 98 (WA) |
In Bond
€1,290.00 |
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Wine Advocate (98)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. |
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California | 1 | 98 (WA) |
In Bond
€1,350.00 |
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Wine Advocate (98)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. |
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