At 16–22 years from vintage, expect dried blackcurrant, dark cherry, cedar, tobacco, leather, and savory dried herb with softened, integrated tannins. The 2003 Napa vintage was warm and ripe; 2004 was hot but produced age-worthy wines from top sites; 2009 was solid and balanced. All three should be drinking in mature windows.
- Varietal
- Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant Bordeaux blend (composition varies by vintage; typically Cab Sauv with Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cab Franc, Malbec)
- Region
- USA / California / Napa Valley
- Body
- Full
- Style
- dry red, structured, age-worthy, iconic
The producer
Joseph Phelps Vineyards was founded in 1973. Insignia, first produced in 1974, was the first proprietary Bordeaux-style blend made in California — predating the Meritage designation by more than a decade. Insignia helped establish California's premium-blend category. The estate was acquired by LVMH in 2022.
What critics say
Insignia consistently receives high-90s scores from major critics and was named Wine Spectator's Wine of the Year in 2005 (the 2002 vintage). Widely cited among California's most historically important Bordeaux-style blends.
Pairing
Slow-roasted lamb, ribeye with rosemary, mushroom-forward dishes, hard aged cheeses