Blend
93% CABERNET SAUVIGNON | 5% PETIT VERDOT | 2% MALBEC

24 Months Barrel Aging | 100% NEW FRENCH OAK

In 2019, bud break occurred around the same time as 2018 but was delayed compared to our historical averages due to cold, saturated soils from the wet winter. May was cold with an unusual amount of rainfall which delayed bloom in some areas. Canopy management was key in 2019 because of vigorous canopies and moderate temperatures leading to less stress on the vines. July was cooler than average, but August and September warmed to push ripening ahead. Harvest weather patterns remained dry and fruit quality was excellent with well-developed flavors and structure. The 2019 Insignia marks the first vintage to include fruit from the new Joseph Phelps vineyard named El Venadito, located in the Oak Knoll District, just south of the winery’s Yountville Vineyard.

Winemaking Notes
The 2019 Insignia opens with heady aromatics of red fruit, crème de cassis, leafy tobacco and delicate dried rose petals. The palate is juicy and dense with expressive layers of blackberry, raspberry, black currant, and dark chocolate. A dynamic wine offering captivating energy, length, complexity and refinement.

Fresh and lively with perfumed black raspberry and cherry aromatics wrapped in rustic forest floor notes. Juicy Bing cherry, savory herbs, and ripe dark berries create a complex and textured palate with acid structure and balance leading to a delightfully engaging finish.

WINEMAKER NOTES

Grapes are picked at night followed by hand sorting before the fruit is gravity fed to tank for a long natural fermentation using an overall average of 8% whole clusters in the final blend. Regular punch downs result in a wine of great structure and focus with a distinctive spice character of earth and clove which is prevalent in this area of the western Sonoma Coast. The 2021 Pinot Noir is fresh and lively with perfumed black raspberry and cherry aromatics wrapped in rustic forest floor notes. Juicy Bing cherry, savory herbs, and ripe dark berries create a complex and textured palate with acid structure and balance leading to a delightfully engaging finish.

In 2021, the overall weather pattern was cooler than 2020 with bud break later than the five-year average and bloom earlier than average. Summer brought more wind than we normally experience in Napa Valley creating a more mild overall season into fall that provided a long hang time prior to harvest. The 2021 vintage is marked by high quality fruit with exceptional color and tannin. The concentration, low yields, and small berries were reminiscent of the 2015 vintage.

Winemaker Notes

The wine was aged for sixteen months in 48% new oak (50% French, 50% American) and 52% older French and American oak barrels before bottling. The coopers included Ermitage, François Frères, Demptos (French & American), Canton (American), Dargaud Jaegle, Orion and Taransaud. The 2021 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon has classically expressive aromatics of ripe currant, tobacco, leather, pencil shavings and dark chocolate notes. A rich, fleshy wine that is full-bodied, dense and layered with dark plum, blackberry and savory spices. It is a vibrant and alive offering with acid structure and depth for long-term cellar aging.

The Insignia captivates the senses with vibrant aromas of black cherry, hibiscus, and wild blackberry, subtly accented by fresh earth and a hint of Tahitian vanilla. On the palate, these dark fruit characteristics are harmonized with warm tones of redwood bark and baking spices. Plush, soft tannins and bright acidity enhance the length, complementing the rich fruit and savory undertones. A compelling tension infuses the wine with focused energy, promising it will express beautifully for years to come.