1998 Insignia

The 1998 displays a dark garnet color as well as notes of leafy tobacco, underbrush, black cherries and black currants. An elegant, mid-weight Insignia with sweet fruit, ripe tannin and interesting cedar, licorice and spice characteristics, it is fully mature and is unlikely to get any better. Enjoy it over the next 7-8 years. The El Nino weather pattern in 1998 brought abundant rain to Napa Valley in the spring and later in the summer. Grape clusters were characterized by irregular ripening and different-sized berries, then the threat of raisining when heat spikes occurred. The nightmare growing season required diligent and frequent vineyard work. Getting cooler and mountainside vineyard sites fully mature was difficult, if not impossible. The more precocious vineyards began harvesting at the end of September and continued through early November (which did not happen again until 2011). Joseph Phelps produced 14,000 cases of the 1998 Insignia, a blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot (80% from estate vineyards and 20% from growers). The alcohol came in at 14%.

Saturated ruby. Floral aromas of blackberry, mocha and bitter chocolate. A distinct step up in intensity and density. Not exactly fleshy but vibrant and ripe. Here the tannins spread out nicely on the finish, and the dark berry flavors linger. A strong performance for the vintage. This will be bottled in August, a bit earlier than usual for this cuvee.