Insignia 2013 1.5 Litre
Origin: Napa Valley, California, U.S.A.
Blend: 88% cabernet sauvignon, 5% petit verdot, 3% merlot, 3% malbec and 1% cabernet franc
98+ Points - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate
"The wine offers a stunning inky blue/purple color, a gorgeous nose of blueberry and blackberry liqueur, pen ink, graphite, new saddle leather and barrique. The wine has fabulous concentration, a full-bodied, multi-layered mouthfeel, and tremendous finish with moderate tannin. It’s interesting to note that the Phelps winemaking staff had been gradually reducing the amount of Merlot in this wine over recent vintages. The 2013 should hit its peak in 5-7 years and last for 35-50. (2016)"
95 Points & Top 100 Wines of the Year - Wine & Spirits
"Insignia has been built as a regional blend since its first vintage in 1974, becoming an estate-grown wine in 2004. Ashley Hepworth has fine-tuned the style, so Insignia is still a rich wine, but now, especially in 2013, shows the kind of firmness of structure that makes the richness profound. This vintage is fresh and lively, even while it is dense and powerful, as if the power is coming out of the black raspberry fruit as well as the bright, sparkling-fresh mineral tones of the tannins. Delicious now if you give it several hours in the decanter, this is destined to evolve into a classic. (Oct. 2016)"