Joseph Phelps Vineyards : Insignia 2022

There are 10,400 cases of the impressive 2022 Insignia, a wine that has been entirely estate-grown since 2004. In a vintage impacted by an extended Labor Day heat wave, nearly two-thirds of the production came from the more shaded west side of Napa Valley, with harvest extending from September 7 through October 5. Scents of new suede, baking spices, loam and ripe cherries mingle easily on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is rich, expansive and velvety, becoming just a little bit more open-knit on the lengthy finish. While unlikely to be a long-lived, legendary Insignia, it's still a delicious, forward wine that should drink well for close to 20 years.

A plump red, with a frank note of mocha over a generous core of warmed black cherry fruit. Offers a roasted vanilla accent through the finish, where the fruit starts to fade, leaving a lumbering feel. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2027.

Valley sites that, in a warmer vintage like 2022, helped mitigate the extremes of heat. “The orientation of the vines at 34 degrees north, the cover crop management, and shade from afternoon sun all played a role,” explains Senior Director of Winemaking Ryan Knoth. Optical sorting was also key in removing desiccated or overripe berries. The base blend was assembled early, with Knoth focusing on tannin structure as the framework, aiming to shape the wine in the tradition of previous vintages. The result in 2022 is a beautifully structured and expressive wine. It opens with savory wild herb notes—spearmint, bay laurel, and high-toned cinnamon spice—lifted by elegant red florals. A core of crunchy red fruit delivers ripe density balanced by energy and tension. Cocoa powder tannins provide grip without heaviness, and the finish is exceptional in length, refined and savory. This is a poised and polished wine that confidently delivers the goods.

The 2022 Insignia is dark, sumptuous and super expressive. Ripe black cherry, cedar, dried herbs, mint and lavender are all finely knit together. Most of the fruit in 2022 was from Banca Dorada and Las Rocas in Stags Leap, both cooler sites that fared better in this challenging vintage. Soft contours round things out in style.