1990 Joseph Phelps Insignia
Market price
Buying options
Tasting notes
Medium red. Sexy, mellow aromas and flavors of plum, tobacco, spices and underbrush are accented by a touch of green bean. Slightly tart acidity is keeping the wine alive but thins out the middle palate. The pH here was 3.51, vs. about 3.7 in recent years. "Now we acidulate much less," said winemaker Ashley Hepworth. "Plus, there was a shift in style toward later picking and warmer fermentations after 1990, and to a higher percentage of new oak as of 1993." Incidentally, this was the first vintage to be bottled with today's brown label.
Critic scores
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 1990 Insignia still possesses a healthy dark ruby/purple-tinged color that is just beginning to lighten at the edge. Lots of licorice, black currant, Chinese black tea, cedarwood and spice jump from the glass of this wine. It possesses lovely fruit, medium body and an elegant, pure, expressive mid-palate as well as finish. While fully mature, it should continue to drink well for 10-15 years. A wet spring and troublesome flowering, followed by a beautifully warm summer with an absence of prolonged heat spikes resulted in high quality grapes and an early harvest that was largely completed by the end of September. This blend of 78% estate fruit (primarily from the Banca Dorada and Las Rocas vineyards) and 22% from growers finished at 13% alcohol. The final blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc followed the formula from 1989. Time in barrel was also lengthened to 23 months in new and used French oak. There were 5,725 cases produced.
About the producer
California winery Joseph Phelps is best known for its flagship Insignia cuvée, one of the first and finest proprietary red wines in the Napa Valley.