This bottle of the 1984 Insignia was opened about 30min before service and enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The wine pours a deep garnet with a slightly browning rim and an opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and plenty of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of desiccated black fruits: blackberries, black cherry, Chunky beef stew, mushroom, eucalyptus, leather, organic earth and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. A mature wine what’s still lovely; full of secondary and tertiary notes. Drink now.
This bottle of the 1984 Insignia was opened about 30min before service and enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The wine pours a deep garnet with a slightly browning rim and an opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and plenty of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of desiccated black fruits: blackberries, black cherry, Chunky beef stew, mushroom, eucalyptus, leather, organic earth and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. A mature wine what’s still lovely; full of secondary and tertiary notes. Drink now.
Mar 14th, 2026
Dark tawny, almost opaque. Floral exotic nose. Notes of eucalyptus, blueberry, red fruit, camphor, and tobacco leaf. While the fruit in the mouth is fading a bit, the nose of this wine certainly is not... great perfume and fun to check in on an old CA benchmark. Although the Bordeaux bottles next to it got a lot of attention, the Insignia was the glass I kept coming back to the most during the night. Great experience.
Dark tawny, almost opaque. Floral exotic nose. Notes of eucalyptus, blueberry, red fruit, camphor, and tobacco leaf. While the fruit in the mouth is fading a bit, the nose of this wine certainly is not... great perfume and fun to check in on an old CA benchmark. Although the Bordeaux bottles next to it got a lot of attention, the Insignia was the glass I kept coming back to the most during the night. Great experience.
Apr 9th, 2021Dark ruby, bright, doesn’t look it’s age. Awesome funky old Cal Cab nose. Notes of cherry, cranberry sauce, dirt and some balsa wood. Some steminess. Great perfume. Nice in the mouth but missing just a little bit in the mid palate. Really enjoyed this.
Dark ruby, bright, doesn’t look it’s age. Awesome funky old Cal Cab nose. Notes of cherry, cranberry sauce, dirt and some balsa wood. Some steminess. Great perfume. Nice in the mouth but missing just a little bit in the mid palate. Really enjoyed this.
Nov 15th, 2018
Corked and microbial. No score.
Corked and microbial. No score.
Jun 20th, 2025
A little over the hill but still fun.
A little over the hill but still fun.
Nov 29th, 2013
Past prime. Did not match the prior bottle that had been such a surprise. Earthy, green undertones, damp forest floor, mushrooms
Past prime. Did not match the prior bottle that had been such a surprise. Earthy, green undertones, damp forest floor, mushrooms
Feb 22nd, 2020
1984 Vintage. Still going strong! Dark cherry and plum fruited with notes of tobacco and leather. Nice acidity.
1984 Vintage. Still going strong! Dark cherry and plum fruited with notes of tobacco and leather. Nice acidity.
Nov 23rd, 2016
Amazing.
Mar 7th, 2015
This was a vertical of 38 vintages to celebrate Joseph Phelps Insignia 40th anniversary!
This was a vertical of 38 vintages to celebrate Joseph Phelps Insignia 40th anniversary!
May 11th, 2013
My birthday wine!
Mar 21st, 2013
Napa Valley, California, USA
