2015 Joseph Phelps Insignia

98 POINTS

Robert Parker - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The 2015 Insignia is a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, and the rest Malbec and Cabernet Franc. This wine looks to be another killer effort, with 13,000 cases produced. Dense purple in color, with notes of white flowers, blueberries, blackberries, coffee, white chocolate and new oak, the wine is dense, thick, viscous, chewy and succulent. It should drink beautifully young but age effortlessly for 35 or more years.

98 POINTS

Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The 2015 Insignia Proprietary Red Wine is blended of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Malbec aged for 24 months in 100% new French oak. Deep garnet-purple colored, it opens with stunning black and red plums, cassis and mulberries scents with loads of redcurrant sparks and compelling wafts of lilacs, pencil shavings, black olives and tilled soil plus a hint of bay leaves. Medium to full-bodied, the palate explodes with red and black currant fireworks plus some exciting mineral nuances coming through, framed by firm, grainy tannins and fantastic freshness, finishing very long and beautifully layered. 12,400 cases produced.

98 POINTS

Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

A barrel sample blended of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Malbec coming from six vineyards and reared in 100% new French oak, the 2015 Insignia Proprietary Red Wine has a very deep inky-purple color and nose of crushed red and black currants, blackberry pie and plums with hints of dried herbs, sandalwood, spice box and underbrush. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers a knock-out core of intense, energetic fruit with chewy tannins and a lively backbone, finishing with epic length and freshness. 12,500 cases are expected to be bottled.

97 POINTS

Virginie Boone - Wine Enthusiast

This vintage of the perennial knockout is exceptional—a concentrated blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Malbec. Pencil shavings, red currant and red plum are complemented by hints of crushed rock and cocoa, with persistent acidity maintaining balance. Like so many of its forebears, this is a wine well worth cellaring; enjoy 2025–2035.

97 POINTS

James Suckling

This shows finesse and beauty with dark berries and wet earth. Subtle. Very fine-grained. Medium to full body. Bright and vivid. Lovely length and intensity.

96 POINTS

James Suckling

The subtlety and brightness to this one. Blackcurrants, fresh mint and sage undertones. Full-bodied, yet so tight and reserved. Linear and very racy with fantastic blackberries, crush stones and lead pencil. Love the finish. This is a wine that needs three to four years of bottle age. Try in 2022.

93 POINTS

Antonio Galloni MW - Vinous

Ample and perfumed, with tons of richness, the 2015 Insignia has a lot to offer. Sweet tobacco, menthol, licorice, plum, dried herbs and licorice add aromatic nuance to this decidedly extroverted, flamboyant wine. Even all of the wine's richness can't fully cover some rough edges, especially in the tannins, and a feel of stress that runs through the wine. It will be interesting to see if things smooth out in time, as there are elements of real contrast in the 2015. In the end, though, that is not entirely surprising given the challenges of the growing season. In 2015, Insignia does not contain Merlot, which also contributes to its feel relative to recent vintages.

92 POINTS

Antonio Galloni MW - Vinous

The 2015 Insignia is a wine of brute power and intensity, with huge fruit to match its opulent, flamboyant personality. Unctuous and racy, the 2015 is also raw and not fully put together at this stage. As in 2014, the quality of the Merlot was not high enough to warrant inclusion in the final blend. Points: 91-94