2012 Joseph Phelps, Insignia, Napa Valley, Case of 6 btls

Jeb Dunnuck | 97 Points

"Another sensational 2012 is the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Insignia, which is 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Petit Verdot, Merlot, Malbec, and Cabernet Franc. Aged two years in new barrels, this is a decidedly opulent, sexy wine that has loads of crème de cassis, roasted herbs, lead pencil, lavender, and exotic spice. With a massive, expansive, broad, yet also weightless texture, it has a stacked mid-palate, no shortage of structure, and a blockbuster finish."

James Suckling | 97 Points

"Amazing aromas of blueberry, blackberry, mineral and bark. Complex nose. Full body plus super integrated tannins with superb balance and depth. Coffee and chocolate too. Very long and mind-bending. A tribute to the vintage. A long life ahead of it."

Few wines have done more to define luxury Napa Valley Cabernet than Joseph Phelps Vineyards Insignia.

First produced in 1974, Insignia became one of California’s original proprietary “Bordeaux blends,” helping establish Napa Valley as a region capable of producing wines that could stand alongside the world’s greatest estates. Decades later, it remains the flagship of the estate and one of the benchmark collectible wines of Napa Valley.

The 2012 vintage is a particularly compelling expression. Widely regarded as one of Napa’s modern classic vintages, the growing season delivered beautifully ripe fruit, exceptional balance, and the concentration needed for long-term aging.

Built primarily around Cabernet Sauvignon, with supporting amounts of Petit Verdot, Merlot, Malbec, and Cabernet Franc, the wine captures both the power and polish that define great Insignia.

Critics praised the wine’s combination of richness and precision, with layered notes of crème de cassis, blackberry, graphite, incense, lavender, and exotic spice.

More than a decade after release, the 2012 Insignia is entering a beautiful drinking window but still plenty left in the tank!