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17.04.2007
 Founded in 1972, Joseph Phelps Vineyards is an independent, estate-based winery located outside of St. Helena. Perched on a knoll in bucolic Spring Valley, the graceful redwood winery overlooks vineyard-studded hills, the town of St. Helena and the Mayacamas Mountains to the west.
After years of studying the complex relationship between wine quality and place, and understanding the importance of "terroir," Phelps has developed estate-owned vineyards in the premiere growing regions of Stag's Leap, Rutherford, Oakville, Oak Knoll and the eastern foothills of Napa. In Sonoma County, an ambitious project was undertaken in 1999 to purchase land and develop vineyards along the western frontier of the Sonoma Coast, and today Phelps has 80 acres of Pinot Noir and 20 acres of Chardonnay planted in Freestone. A small winery in the midst of the Freestone vineyards is currently under construction.
Varietals produced annually at Phelps include Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Backus Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Insignia (one of California's most successful first growth luxury blends), Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, several Rhône-style wines, and a luscious dessert wine made from Scheurebe.
2003 Joseph Phelps Insignia
Craig Williams, Winemaker
A cool, wet spring seemed to forecast a vintage that would have difficulty ripening, but July and August were unusually warm without the fog-shrouded mornings typical of Napa Valley summers. Clear skies provided a complete daily dose of solar radiation to the vines and fruit, allowing for good photosynthesis and grape development, and hot weather in mid-September provided additional heat accumulation. After the heat spell broke, it was replaced by near-ideal weather conditions of overcast mornings, warm, sunny afternoons and temperatures in the low to mid eighties.
Actual crop harvested was significantly lower than estimates with less than two tons per acre from many vineyards as a result of earlier crop removal to mitigate mildew. Berry size was small with excellent acid balance; and overall quality -- less variable than ‘02 -- appears excellent.
BLEND & GRAPE SOURCES:
84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petite Verdot, 3% Merlot and 3% Malbec, primarily from estate-owned vineyards in Stag’s Leap, Rutherford and St. Helena (87%), with additional fruit coming from independent growers (13%).
WINEMAKING DATA:
Grapes were harvested between Sept. 22 – Oct. 21 at an average 25.5º Brix, fermented in stainless steel tanks then aged 24 months in new 60-gallon French oak barrels by a variety of French coopers including Taransaud, Dargaud Jaegle, Nadalie, Demptos and Vicard. The wine was blended and bottled in February, 2006.
RELEASE DATE: September 1, 2006.
The Wine Advocate
2003 INSIGNIA (91-93)
. . . probably the most Bordeaux-structured of
any of the Insignias I have tasted to date. The
color is a healthy deep ruby/purple. While
restrained aromatically, the nose exhibits good
spice, ripe black fruits, and hints of new oak and
licorice. In the mouth, the wine is dense and rich
with mouth-gripping tannin . . . Patience will be
required.
2-28-05
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