2003 Joseph Phelps, Insignia, Napa Valley 1x750ml

Vinous 92+

(the growing season featured a very cool, wet April and a very long, late harvest under favorable conditions): Saturated bright ruby-red. Aromas of currant, black cherry, graphite, licorice, sweet butter and bergamot, accented by dried herbs. Juicy, spicy and still a bit youthfully tight but with lovely sweetness to its flavors of black cherry, licorice and flowers. Finishes with big tannins supported by the wine’s depth. Less viscous than the 2002. This wine has always been tight but may be starting to turn the corner. Phelps stopped doing pad filtration in 2003 after getting rid of the brettanomyces in the winery (they started washing their barrels with ozonated water in 1999). Many vintages since then have been bottled unfiltered, noted winemaker Hepworth, adding that "we’ve never really employed fining, even in high-tannin years like 2013. We don’t like what it does to mouthfeel." [Stephen Tanzer, 04/01/2016]

Anticipated maturity: 2017-2027

Robert Parker 97

Joseph Phelps has been an iconic producer of great Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon for over three decades. That fact jumped out at me when I looked at the 2003 Insignia (30th Anniversary), and I remember them all – with good reason. The 2003, a blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot, 3% Merlot and 3% Malbec, aged 24 months in 100% new French oak, is a stunner. Velvety-textured, full-bodied and opulent with abundant notes of creme de cassis, licorice, incense, flowers and subtle background oak, this rich, impeccably pure, well-balanced Cabernet is just about everything you would want in a world-class red. Drinking well already, it should continue to provide immense pleasure for another 20-25 years. Keep in mind that I once predicted that their 1974 Insignia (the debut vintage) would not last past ten years. I gave it a great review and told readers to drink it up. Well, it-s still drinking well at age 39! The 2003 is a staggeringly great Insignia that is performing better now than it did early on – always a sign of great winemaking. [Robert Parker, 01/06/2013]

Anticipated maturity: 2013-2038