Brand's Heritage
Joseph Phelps Vineyards is a family-owned winery committed to crafting world class, estate-grown wines. Founded in 1973 when Joe Phelps purchased a former cattle ranch near St. Helena in the Napa Valley, the winery now controls and farms nearly 375 acres of vines on eight estate vineyards in St. Helena, the Stags Leap District, Oakville, Rutherford, Oak Knoll District, Carneros and South Napa Valley. In 1999, the Phelps family added 100 acres of vineyard property near the town of Freestone on the Sonoma Coast, where Phelps now grows Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
World-class Wine
Phelps is best known for its flagship Napa Valley blend of red Bordeaux varietals, Insignia, first produced in 1974. Insignia is widely regarded as a qualitative benchmark for California winemaking and has earned Joseph Phelps its longstanding reputation for excellence. The 2002 vintage was awarded “Wine of the Year” by Wine Spectator magazine in 2005, and in November 2013, Robert M. Parker, Jr. of The Wine Advocate awarded Insignia three perfect 100-point scores for the 1991, 1997 and 2002 vintages, calling it “one of the world’s finest Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blends."
Joseph Phelps Vineyards is also dedicated to practicing the principles of sustainability in the way they manage their vineyards, with the aim to protect the health of the soils, the vines, the plants as well as the wildlife. This is a commitment to the long-term vitality of the people, the land and the community. They have earned various certifications under the Napa Green and the Fish Farming Programs. On top of
Today, the Phelps family is committed to maintaining and nurturing Joseph Phelps Vineyards as a family-owned and run winery and to extending the extraordinary legacy of its founder, Joe Phelps.
Joseph Phelps Freestone Vineyards
Pinot Noir 2014 Sonoma Coast
Made from 100% estate grown Pinot Noir grapes from the Freestone Vineyards, the 2014 Pinot Noir showcases aromatic red fruit, fragrant violet and savory spices. Fresh and focused on the palate with concentrated red raspberry and cherry, currant, baking spices and a hint of smoked meat. It is nicely textured with firm acidity and lingering finish. This distinctively delicious wine was aged in French oak barrels for fourteen months.
VINTAGE
WINE TYPE
VARIETAL
WINE STYLE
ALCOHOL/VOL.
REGION
WINEMAKER
2014
Red
Pinot Noir
Savory and Classic
14.1%
Sonoma Coast, California
Justin Ennis
Accolades
James Suckling – 94 points
"A layered and fruity red with strawberry and lemon rind character. Medium to full body, fresh and fruity finish. Very exciting."
Wine & Spirits – 92 points
“The Phelps family was one of the first to bring pinot noir to the cool hills around Freestone, when they planted on the site of an old dairy farm in 1999. Those vines grew a 2014 that smells delicious, like bay leaves and crushed wild blackberries. The fruit has a spicy verve that holds out against the constricting grip of the oak – it’s powerful coastal pinot noir to age for five years or more.”
Antonio Galloni (Vinous) – 92 points
"The 2014 Pinot Noir Freestone Vineyards is a good introduction to the Joseph Phelps Pinots. There is plenty of the trademark intensity readers will find in the vineyard designates, but with a bit more perfume and more approachable structure, all of which make the 2014 a strong choice for drinking over the next few years. Shades of dark red/purplish fruit and sweet floral notes continue to open up effortlessly over time. The 2014 could very well turn out to be an overachiever.”
Robert Parker (The Wine Advocate) – 90 points
“The wine has a dark ruby color and a big, sweet kiss of strawberries, raspberries, tart cherries and pomegranate as well as some loamy soil notes, followed by a juicy, medium-bodied mouthfeel and crisp, zesty finish. Drink it over the next 7-8 years.”
Wine Enthusiast- 91 points
“Light and vibrantly high in integrated acidity, this wine is complex and savory, but white pepper is a constant. Along the nuanced layers are an earthy patch of wild strawberry and cardamom that persists elegantly on the palate. -V.B. (June, 2017)”
The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon highlights blackberry, dried blueberry and violet with notes of graphite and cloves followed by opulent layers of black currant jam, roasted coffee, tobacco, dried fig and vanilla bean. This wine is full-bodied, deeply concentrated wine with supple tannins and a lengthy finish. Grapes were sorted and cold soaked prior to fermentation, then aged in French and American barrels for 18 months.
Blend: 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot
4% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc
Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon
2014 Napa Valley
Accolades
VINTAGE
WINE TYPE
VARIETAL
WINE STYLE
ALCOHOL/VOL.
SUGAR CONTENT
SWEETNESS
REGION
WINEMAKER
2014
Red
Cabernet Sauvignon
Big and Bold
14.5%
8 g/L
Dry - No sweetness perceived, well-rounded with balanced acidity
Napa Valley, California
Ashley Hepworth
Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate (Robert Parker) – 92 points
“It is a beauty... supple, with silky tannins, dark plum, blackcurrant and licorice-infused fruit with a touch of spice, a lushness on the attack and mid-palate, and a silky finish”. (2016)
Vinous (Antonio Galloni) – 91 points
“Once again, Phelps has done a terrific job... dark red cherry, plum, mocha, licorice and dark spices build as the wine gains depth and fleshiness with time in the glass. The Cabernet remains one of the very finest values in Napa Valley.
James Suckling – 93 points
“Layered and subtle with currant, light chocolate, almond and cedar character. Medium body, polished tannins and a flavorful finish, yet this is always reserved and polished. Enjoy. Drink or hold. (May 2017)
Wilfred Wong (Wine.com) – 93 points
"An outstanding effort from one of Napa Valley's top producers, the 2014 Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon comes to the fore with black currants, graphite, and licorice. An accent of mint completes the picture and makes this wine a beautiful choice with a grilled ribeye of beef.” (Tasted: February 16, 2017, San Francisco, CA)
Awards
The TEXSOM International Wine Awards, 2017: Silver
Joseph Phelps Insignia
2008 Napa Valley
The 2008 Insignia boasts aromatic layers of dark roasted coffee and graphite. The seductive mouth-feel has excellent length, intensely ripe black fruit, minerality and creaminess that tie together seamlessly on the palate.
This is a blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot and 4% Merlot from 100% estate-grown Napa Valley vineyards, and aged in 100% new French oak barrels for 24 months.
Accolades
Antonio Galloni (Vinous) – 97 points
James Suckling – 95 point
Wine Spectator – 94 points
Robert Parker (The Wine Advocate) – 93 points
Wine Enthusiast – 93 points
VINTAGE
WINE TYPE
VARIETAL
WINE STYLE
ALCOHOL/VOL.
REGION
WINEMAKER
2008
Red
Bordeaux Blend
Big and Bold
14.5%
Napa Valley, California
Ashley Hepworth
The 2009 Insignia has a beautiful deep garnet hue with incredible depth and concentration. Aromas of freshly crushed blueberries and blackberries intertwined with baking spices, cigar box and attractive floral notes are followed by seamless tannins, texture and finish. This wine is focused and fresh, with a youthful showiness.
This is a blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Petit Verdot and 4% Malbec from 100% estate-grown Napa Valley.
The grapes were picked in the cool dawn hours, sorted and moved to stainless steel tanks for a cold soak of three to five days. Following fermentation, winemakers extended macerations of up to forty days adding to the rich, vibrant hue, a fuller mouth feel and more concentrated, intense flavors in the young wines prior to their 24 months of new French oak aging.
Accolades
The Wine Enthusiast – 96 points
Antonio Galloni (Vinous) – 95 points
James Suckling – 92 points
Wine Spectator – 91 points
Robert Parker (The Wine Advocate) – 91 points
Wine & Spirits – 91 points
Joseph Phelps Insignia
2009 Napa Valley
VINTAGE
WINE TYPE
VARIETAL
WINE STYLE
ALCOHOL/VOL.
REGION
WINEMAKER
2009
Red
Bordeaux Blend
Big and Bold
14.5%
Napa Valley, California
Ashley Hepworth
Joseph Phelps Insignia
2010 Napa Valley
The 2010 Insignia has an incredibly inky hue with layers of perfumed plum, dark berries, bergamot, mocha and graphitearomas followed by hints of spice box. The texture on the palate is ultra-concentrated and silky with blackberry flavors and a touchof black pepper, cocoa and curry spices leading to the lush, lingering and focused finish.
This vintage is a blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot, 4% Merlot and 2% Malbec. The grapes were hand-picked and sorted to stainless steel tanks for cold soaking, followed by fermentation. Macerations were extended for up to forty days, adding to the wine’s velvety texture and concentrated, intense flavors prior to barrel aging.
VINTAGE
WINE TYPE
VARIETAL
WINE STYLE
ALCOHOL/VOL.
REGION
WINEMAKER
2010
Red
Bordeaux Blend
Big and Bold
14.5%
Napa Valley, California
Ashely Hepworth
Accolades
Wine Enthusiast – 97 points
Antonio Galloni (Vinous) – 96 points
The Wine Advocate - 95 points
Wine Spectator – 94 points
Stephen Tanzers (International Wine Cellar ) – 94 points
Connoisseurs' Guide – 94 points
Joseph Phelps Insignia
2011 Napa Valley
The 2011 Insignia is a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Petit Verdot, 4% Malbec, 2% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc from 100% estate-grown Napa Valley. It is layered with aromatics of dark fruit, cardamom, tobacco, Herbs de Provence and graphite on the nose. Fresh and lively this elegant wine boasts bright red cherry, blackberry and espresso throughout the palate with supple tannins.
VINTAGE
WINE TYPE
VARIETAL
WINE STYLE
ALCOHOL/VOL.
REGION
WINEMAKER
2011
Red
Bordeaux Blend
Big and Bold
14.5%
Napa Valley, California
Ashley Hepworth
Accolades
Wine Enthusiast – 96 points
Decanter Magazine – 95 points
Stephen Tanzer (International Wine Cellar) – 94 points
Robert Parker (The Wine Advocate) – 93 points
Antonio Galloni (Vinous) - 91 points
Joseph Phelps Insignia
2012 Napa Valley
The 2012 Insignia has an inky dark hue and aromas of ripe blackberries, star anise, cigarbox, clove and sweet mocha notes. Richly opulent with velvety texture and supple tannins, this full-bodied offering envelops the palate in luscious, lingering black plum and violets along with layers of baking spices.
This vintage is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot, 10% Merlot, 3% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc from 100% estate grown Napa Valley vineyards and was aged for 24 months in 100% new French oak barrels.
VINTAGE
WINE TYPE
VARIETAL
WINE STYLE
ALCOHOL/VOL.
REGION
WINEMAKER
2012
Red
Bordeaux Blend
Big and Bold
14.5%
Napa Valley, California
Ashley Hepworth
Accolades
James Suckling - 97 Points( Top 100 Wines in 2015
Robert Parker (The Wine Advocate) – 96 points
Wine Enthusiast – 95 points
Connoisseurs' Guide – 95 points
Antonio Galloni (Vinous) – 94 points
Wine Spectator – 93 points
Wine & Spirits – 92 points
Awards:
Top 100 Wines in 2015 (James Suckling)