Joseph Phelps Vineyards Insignia (2004)

Zusätzliche Information

Vinee Beschreibung und Bewertung

98/100 PP

'This may be a fast-developing vintage as it is already displaying some tertiary nuances. Lots of cedarwood, forest floor, spring flower, black currant and blackberry characteristics intermixed with hints of charcoal and background oak emerge from this full-bodied, glycerin-filled, opulent effort. Aged 24 months in new French oak, this stunning 2004 should continue to drink well for 10-15 more years.'
(Robert M. Parker., Jr., robertparker.com)

95/100 vinous.com

'Bright, dark ruby-red. Deep, ripe, expressive nose offers plum, graphite, mocha and violet aromas, plus hints of dried fruits and nutmeg. Wonderfully plush, superconcentrated wine; fleshy and sweet, conveying a small-berry character and outstanding early appeal. Its lavish ripeness is supported by firm acidity, underlying minerality and big, late-arriving tannins. As sexy as this wine is today, it's not yet near its peak. Beginning with this vintage, the Insignia has been made with 100% estate fruit.'
(Stephan Tanzer, vinous.com)
'Joseph Phelps was one of the great visionaries of Napa Valley. He passed away several days before I arrived in Napa. His legacy is one of extraordinary quality. He was one of the first to see the merit in blending, which his legendary Insignia, which first debuted in 1974, has proven year after year. It remains one of the world´s finest Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blends. A pioneer in the Rhone-Ranger movement, although those wines never had the success that I´m sure he imagined, Plelps lived in Southern France for a number of years and loved the wines from that region. Nevertheless, he was a catalyst for this burgeoning movement, which today has a life of its own, and adds enormous attractiveness to the diversity of the California wine scene. He also wasn´t content to just stay at home in Napa, but branched out with cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vineyards on the Sonoma Coast. Joe Phelps was a leader, and one of the greats of the wine world.'
(Robert M. Parker, Jr., robertparker.com)

'The winemaker´s role is to ensure that the terroir and beauty of the vineyard in which the grapes are grown are expressed in the finished wine. At Joseph Phelps our winemaking philosophy is to create the very best wine from the vintage we´ve been given, making sure that the wine is complex, balanced, and that it expresses the soul of the vineyard.'
(Ashley Hepworth, Winemaker, Joseph Phelps Napa Valley)