TN: Insignia Vertical Tasting 1982 - 2010 (11 Vintages)

WINE TALK
1

La Cofradia del vino de Puerto Rico hosted yesterday a vertical tasting of Insignia with representative vintages from the 80’a, 90’s, and the 2002 and 2010. Will not post detailed tasting notes but have included overall condition impressions for those of us that still hold theses wines in our cellars.

1982 - Over the hill. Wine is not damaged but taken over by decay aromas and ketchup flavors. No wine left.

1983 - Started out similar to the 82 but quickly emerged into a nice wine. It displays a bit of the 83 vintage diluted character but impressed by really opening up in the glass and filling up into a really interesting glass of old cab. Drink now.

1984 - In a really good place. Elegant, shows breed, tobacco and fruit really present and very pleasurable. Bordeaux like. I’ll drink my remaining bottles within a year.

1985 - Wowsa, classic Califronia aged cab and still going strong. Drink or hold.

1988 - Very similar to the 84 with a bit more youth and power. Very elegant. Drink or Hold.

1989 - Astringent, acidic, with sweet fruit but starting to loose focus and balance. Gave pleasure but starting to fall apart. Drink.

1990 - Another superb wine in an amazing condition. Really good structure but oozes mature fruit. Drink or Hold.

1994 - Still a baby. Jolt to the senses after the more developed wines enjoyed before. Two hours in the glass and it was a still a fruit bomb. Hold.

1996 - This wine is a youthful version of the 85. I love the 96 vintage in Napa. Drink or Hold.

2002 - I was surprised at how much pleasure this wine provided given the overall power and concentration. By itself it was overwhelming but with food it was really good. Hold.

2010 - Similar to 2002 but with a bit less concentration and easier to enjoy. Hold.

It was interesting to see the wines flesh out as the percentage of Cab increased through the decades from 50/60% in the wines from 1982 to 1988 to 80/88% thereafter. The wines moved from balanced and nuanced wines in the lower cab mix to concentrated and powerful wines like the 1994 (88% cab) which has not budged an inch in development. It is also interesting to point out that the 2002 and 2010, although still cab dominant, moved to a more Bordeaux like blend and they also have petite verdot and malbec in the blend. It will be fun to watch how the powerful Insignia from the late 90’s and 2000’s evolve and if they ever deliver the pleasure given by their brethen from the 80’s.

Thanks for reading.
1560599_10153944351310313_1100869131_n.jpg

2

Thanks for sharing.

3

I wish you guys would have had a '92, we had one last fall and it was spectacular. Very nice tasting you had-thanks for posting.

4

Of the years listed above I have had the 84 & 85 the most frequently, but neither in almost 10 years. Always terrific wines back in the day.

5

Thanks for sharing the notes Carlos. I love all of the Insignias in the decade of the 1980s- really superb, old school wines. Not surprised your 1994 and other vintages forward were still monolithic fruit bombs, as the winery made a consicous decision to fundamentally alter the style of their wines in this era, and my gut instinct is that none of these will ever show anything more than they do in their current, simple, fruit bomb stage of suspended animation. Others may hold out hope for these wines down the road, but for me, the writing is clear on the wall that what you see today is all you will ever get from these wines- just a different era and a very different mentality from the winery. Pity, as your notes so amply demonstrate with the 1984, 1985 and 1988, they really had the magic touch back in the day.

All the Best,

John

6

The backbone of all the old Phelps Insignias was Herb Lamb vineyard, and the last vintage of Insignia containing Herb Lamb fruit was, I believe, 1992.

7

Around 91 or so we held a vertical of vintages from 75 through 88 (barrel sample). It was amazing how consistent those wines were.