Joseph Phelps Insignia 2022 is a wine that truly captures the essence of Napa Valley. Opening with beautifully perfumed floral, dark fruit, anise, and cigar box aromatics, this wine is a true sensory experience. On the palate, it delivers a depth of flavor and complexity that is unmatched. With a fresh and focused texture, the wine has layers of blackberry, mocha, and black cherry, giving it a creamy yet luxurious feel.
The 2022 growing season in Napa Valley was unique, marked by cool and mild weather that led to delayed budbreak, bloom, and veraison compared to previous years. However, the mild weather patterns in August and September allowed for excellent overall phenological ripening, which resulted in a complex aroma and flavor profile in the finished wines. The outstanding flavor development and color were key indicators of this exceptional vintage.
This wine is a true testament to the quality of Joseph Phelps' vineyards and winemaking techniques. The seamless tannin structure and balance culminate in an uplifting, lengthy finish, making it the perfect wine for any occasion.
Critic Ratings
Jeb Dunnuck Review - Rated 98:
Always raised in 100% new oak, the 2021 Insignia checks in as 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Malbec. It has a rocking nose of blackcurrants, cedar pencil, chocolaty oak, and graphite. This carries to a deep, full-bodied 2021 with a dense, stacked mid-palate, ripe, polished, yet building tannins, the vintage's purity and structure, and a great finish. With roughly 16,000 cases, it's one of the few releases in Napa Valley to deliver this level of quality at this production level.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate Review - Rated 96:
There are 10,400 cases of the impressive 2022 Insignia, a wine that has been entirely estate-grown since 2004. In a vintage impacted by an extended Labor Day heat wave, nearly two-thirds of the production came from the more shaded west side of Napa Valley, with harvest extending from September 7 through October 5. Scents of new suede, baking spices, loam and ripe cherries mingle easily on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is rich, expansive and velvety, becoming just a little bit more open-knit on the lengthy finish.
James Suckling Review - Rated 96:
Deeply brooding, refined aromas of blackcurrants, bitter chocolate, blood plums, dark cherries, cedar and coffee beans. The palate is full-bodied with firmly framed tannins and bright acidity that lead into a structured yet silky-smooth and savory finish. 92% cabernet sauvignon, 4% petit verdot, 2% malbec and 2% cabernet franc. Great to drink young, or will reward after time in bottle.
