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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California | 1 | 94 (JS) | د.إ2,450.00 | |||||
James Suckling (94)This has very bright and juicy, brambly dark berries with a wealth of attractive and juicy dark-fruit presence. This has depth, detail and long, layered dark-fruit flavors. Impressively chiseled finish. Drink or hold. |
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California | 1 | 96 (JS) | د.إ2,350.00 | |||||
James Suckling (96)Very pretty blackberry, blackcurrant, walnut, forest-flower and dark-walnut aromas follow through to a full body with round, juicy tannins that are fine-grained and beautiful. Lovely length and generosity, but reserved at the finish to give it tension. Mostly from the Soscol vineyard. 97% cabernet sauvignon. Drink or hold. |
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California | 1 | 96 (DC) | د.إ5,065.00 | |||||
Decanter (96)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 ageing in its stride. 100% new oak, from five vineyards around Napa Valley, mainly in Stags Leap and Oak Knoll. |
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California | 1 | 99 (JS) | د.إ4,790.00 | |||||
James Suckling (99)Blackberry and black chocolate with mint, conifer and clove. Sweet tobacco, violets and flowers, too. Some graphite. Cool and complex. Full-bodied with ultra fine, dusty tannins and a wonderful, extremely long finish. Savory and refined. A classic-styled 2018. This needs time, but is so approachable and gorgeous. One of the best Insignias ever. Alive and changing all the time. 40% Stags Leap AVA. 87% cabernet sauvignon, 8% petit verdot, 3% malbec and 2% cabernet franc. Leave this for five or six years, but so wonderful now. |
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