Joseph Phelps Red Wine Insignia 1997

Name: Joseph Phelps Red Wine Insignia 1997
Brand: Private [PRI]
SKU: SF-A-HDH1026-110226-1-1
Price: 369.99 USD
Availability: InStock

$369⁹⁹

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Here's a chance to taste the wine that started California's proprietary-blend tradition with nearly three decades of age on it: Insignia was the state's first proprietary red Bordeaux-style blend, and this is the 1997. The idea goes back to 1974, when Joe Phelps decided to make a different blend each year from the best wine the vintage gave him, and he never assumed it would always be Cabernet. He chose the name to mean the finest lots of each year, so the blend, rather than any grape on the label, would be the mark of quality. That made it a bet on the winemaker's judgement over the grape name, and it's why the producer can fairly call Insignia the original proprietary Napa Valley red blend. It's a reference point for anyone curious how California's benchmark blends develop over decades in bottle. Stand it upright for a day before opening, then decant gently to leave any sediment behind.

Shipping

Every step of the journey is managed to uphold the integrity of each bottle.

Nationwide Access: Flat-rate shipping available to most U.S. states with delivery in 3-5 business days.
Temperature-Monitored Shipping: We closely monitor weather conditions and make informed decisions to ensure shipments travel safely, with insulated packaging and refrigerated transport available when required.
Wine-Specific Protective Packaging: Specialized materials designed to maintain label integrity and prevent breakage during transit.
Provenance Assured: All wines are maintained in climate-controlled conditions at our shop until the moment of dispatch.

Returns & Exchanges

We stand behind every bottle we sell.

If the wine is less than 10 years old and it is corked, you may return it to us for a full refund or exchange within 60 days of purchase. You must show us proof of purchase. We understand that you may not live near a shop and that it is difficult to ship open bottles of wine to us, so if there's any problem feel free to Contact Us and we'll work it out.
For wines older than 10 years, the consumer bears the risk of a faulty cork, but we accept returns of older bottles if the wine is faulty as a result of improper storage. Please come by the store or Contact Us if there is a problem.
We may, at our discretion and to the extent permitted by law, accept returns of unopened wines within 30 days of purchase if they were properly stored by the purchaser, subject to a 15% re-stocking fee.

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More about

Joseph Phelps was a Napa pioneer who changed how the world viewed Cabernet Sauvignon. When he introduced "Insignia" in the 1970s, Napa was still finding its footing, but Phelps demonstrated that Napa could rival—even challenge—the greatest Bordeaux châteaux (yes, including Chateau Latour) with wines of power, elegance, and depth.

Today, Joseph Phelps Vineyards continues to craft Napa Valley Cabernet which defines the essence of California. While Bordeaux emphasizes the more austere side of Cabernet (think herbaceous notes, acidity, and tannins), Napa Cabernet almost consciously wants to be a bit more fun. There is a generosity of fruit and flavor that makes the wines more drinkable young, and that just seems to have a wider appeal to those of us who don’t sit around smoking cigars in leather club chairs.

Napa, it must be said, has seen periods in its history where it took the “fun” side of its personality a little too far. Cabernet Sauvignon needs a little austerity to keep the wine balanced and to ensure longevity. Fortunately, Phelps has long recognized this and has managed to craft wines that appeal to both Bordeaux and California wine lovers alike. It’s the kind of balanced yet distinctly Californian style that Joseph Phelps helped pioneer half a century ago.

Wine Details

Grape Variety

Cabernet Sauvignon , Red Blend
Vintage

1997
Size

750ml
Farming Practice

Sustainable
Style

Rich
Sweetness

Dry
Body

Full Bodied

Flatiron's Take

From the Importer

Tasting Notes & Food Pairings

Perfect Pairings

Standing rib roast with jus; roast leg of lamb with rosemary and garlic; beef Wellington; wild mushroom risotto; a wedge of aged Comté or aged Gouda after the meal.

Tasting Profile

Expect the profile of a mature Napa Cabernet-led Bordeaux-style blend: blackcurrant and plum softening into dried fruit, cedar, tobacco, leather and earthy notes. Typically full-bodied and dry, with fine, resolved tannins and fresh acidity, finishing long and savoury. Think of it as a riper, sunnier take on aged Left Bank Bordeaux.