The Cabernet Sauvignon Insignia from Phelps is a stately wine bursting with blackberry jam, tar, spices, leather and liquorice. It shows wonderful depth and richness supported by serious, imposing tannins that ensure an unprecedented longevity. The wine was aged for 24 months in new French oak. Ideally, the Insignia should be bought by those who can be patient, as this wine will only get better with age and has a drinking window of at least 40 years. It is a blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Malbec and received (93-95+) Parker points during the Barrel tasting. Fresh and focused with building layers of black cherry, blackberry, spice box and vanilla essence. Plush, velvety texture and seamless tannins culminate in a long, lingering finish.

The 2017 growing season saw much-needed record-breaking winter rains, which helped replenish groundwater and vines. The cool, wet start to the season delayed bud breakout and bloom compared to the previous three years. The summer and fall months were warm with regular peaks of heat to ripen the grapes. Overall, 2017 was reminiscent of the 1997 and 2015 growing seasons. The wines display the characteristics of fresh dark black fruit with ample, refined tannins.

REVIEWS

94 Points - Wine Spectator
Delivers showy fruit, with layered flavors of warmed boysenberry, blackberry and açaí berry paste, framed by a subtle alder hint and backed by warm earth and cast iron details on the finish. Not shy, and well-built for the vintage. Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2022 through 2038. -JM (July, 2020)

96 Points - James Suckling
A beautiful, focused wine with a tight center palate of blackberries, blueberries and dark chocolate. very subtle. Hints of mint and saga, too. Medium to full body and fine, racy tannins. A reserved and very pretty Insignia. Fresh finish. Hard not to drink now, but better in 2022. -Jan. 2020

(93-95)+ Points - Robert Parker Wine Advocate
It bursts from the glass with bold scents of baked black plums, crème de cassis and fruit cake with hints of espresso, tapenade, hoisin and potpourri. Medium bodied, the palate delivers mouth-filling black berry preserves and loads of earthy sparks, framed by chewy tannins, finishing with loads of freshness. Very promising!" -LPB, Oct. 2019

96 Points - Decanter
This has a real sense of freshness and grip. A pure expression of Cabernet with a shot of eucalyptus and menthol, extremely concentrated but with elegance and power. The tannins just grip on to your palate and don't let go leading to a lovely chewy finish. This is great stuff, with a discernibly finessed style that shows a fine tannic balance magnified through the lens of Californian heat and laced through with cassis, espresso and chocolate block. Great structure, this will take a few decades of aging in its stride. -Jane Anson (Aug. 2020)