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1998 Joseph Phelps Insignia

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1998

Avg. Rating: 88.3/100 (3 Reviews)
Winery: Joseph Phelps Winery
Vintage: 1998
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Country: United States
Region: California: Napa Valley
Appellation:
Retail Price: $ USD
Created by: benji
Purchase: Buy this wine ›

"Joseph Phelps' flagship wine is their fabulous Insignia, a wine with a tremendous track record back to the debut vintage of 1974. It is produced in significant quantities (18,000-20,000 cases) for a wine of such quality. A great achievement, the 1998 Insignia (78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot) is a fabulous wine from what was a far more challenging vintage. Approximately 18,000 cases were made, an amazing quantity in a year that produced far less promising raw materials. Evolved, with a saturated ruby/purple color, it possesses a sumptuous bouquet of smoke, cedar, licorice, and cassis. This full-bodied, fat, succulent effort reveals admirable purity and symmetry, and a soft finish with remarkably deep flavors that caress the palate. It can be drunk now as well as over the next 15-16 years." Wine Advocate # 132 Dec 2000 Robert Parker - 91 pts. Drink 2000 - 2016

Tasting Notes from Cork’d Members

1998 Joseph Phelps Insignia
(about 1 year ago) buddy icon benji 94.0/100
Tasted 8/2006 @ Bellagio, Las Vegas, NV. 98 Insignia very dark purple w/ blue highlights. darkest wine ever tried. very smooth...easy to drink a lot of this wine. lots of blue fruit/blackberry in the flavor profile. stained the lips purple. who cares if this comes from a "bad" vintage? this is the best cab/merlot blend i've tasted as of yet. will hold on to the 97 Insignia. $60/btl for 97 & 98s - from work.

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1998 Joseph Phelps Insignia
(about 1 year ago) buddy icon w1n3 85.0/100
Had higher expectations of this wine. It was better then most of the wines I drink regularly, but not as good as I thought it would be. I guess I'll have to try another year.

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1998 Joseph Phelps Insignia
(6 months ago) buddy icon joeroppolo 86.0/100
I have been holding onto this bottle for a special occasion and broke it open last night with several wine-loving friends. I must admit, that while I know the '98 vintage was problematic, I had higher hopes for this one. It appeared to the 4 of us that age was taking its hold on the fine and that it had begun to lose some of it's fruit. Since we are more accustomed to drinking younger wines, we really missed the fruit explosion that this seemed to lack. However, this was an very good wine despite not being all that we wanted it to be.

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