2001 Joseph Phelps "Insignia" Napa Valley Red Wine (1.5L)

98+ Points from Robert Parker: "Still a young wine at age 12, the 2001 Insignia exhibits a dense purple color along with a sweet bouquet of camphor, blackberries, cassis, incense and spring flowers. Full-bodied, rich and heady with sweet tannin, stunning concentration and a fabulous finish, this remarkable Insignia has 25 or more years of life ahead of it." (11/29/13)

96 Points from Wine Enthusiast: "A triumph. Aged nearly two years in all-new French oak, this massive wine stuns with its superb balance. Manages the elusive challenge of reining in hugely ripe black currant, cherry and oak flavors and sweet tannins while keeping the palate impression soft and alluring, almost feminine. Just gorgeous right out of the bottle, but should develop effortlessly through the decade and beyond." (10/1/2004)

95 Points from Wine & Spirits Magazine: "This is a great vintage of Insignia, which means it's a great Napa cabernet that will last for decades. The balance is amazing, incorporating beautiful red fruit deepening to black cherry and darker berry, a lot of alcohol and a lot of oak holding it structured and strong. The texture is flawless, with tannins adding richness and earthy notes of black Stags Leap District soil. Those tannins seamlessly support the sweet blend of cabernet with a touch of petite verdot (8 percent) and malbec (3) extending the clean berry flavors long after each sip. Dynamic now, complex in ten years' time." (02/2005)

93 Points Vinous: "The 2001 Insignia is in a gorgeous spot today. Sweet tobacco, mint, dried herbs, licorice and incense are the signatures of a wine that has reached its plateau of maturity. Even so, the 2001 shows no signs of fading. This is the first vintage made without Merlot. At the time, most of the fruit was from estate vineyards in Rutherford, Stags Leap and St. Helena. (Insignia became a pure estate wine with the 2004 vintage.) The only issue with the 2001 is that it feels a bit compact, perhaps because it was filtered. I expect the 2001 will slowly fade over the next decade." (10/2021)