Joseph Phelps Insignia 2018

James Suckling: Blackberries and dark chocolate with mint, conifer and clove. Sweet tobacco, violets and flowers too. A hint of graphite. Fresh and complex. Full-bodied, with ultra-fine, dusty tannins and a wonderful, extremely long finish. Savoury and refined. A 2018 classic. Needs time, but it's so approachable and beautiful. One of the best Insignias ever. Alive and constantly evolving. 40% Stags Leap AVA. 87% cabernet sauvignon, 8% petit verdot, 3% malbec and 2% cabernet franc. Let it age five or six years, but it's already wonderful now.

Falstaff: Dark ruby, purple reflections. Fine, slightly restrained wild-berry confit, delicate raspberry and cherry aromas, fresh orange zest, an attractive bouquet, a touch of cassis in the background. Complex, full-bodied, highly elegant, sweet cherry fruit, integrated tannins, a fine touch of nougat on the finish, great length, minerality on the finish, with ageing potential for decades. PM.

Wine Enthusiast: This impressive blend combines 87% cabernet sauvignon with 8% petit verdot, 3% malbec and 2% cabernet franc, all aged 24 months in 100% new French oak. Elements of cedar, sage, dried herbs and underbrush meet rich red fruit and chalky tannins, with a touch of cocoa throughout. Enjoy 2028–2038. Virginie Boone.

: The 2018 Insignia is 87% cabernet sauvignon, 8% petit verdot, 3% malbec and the rest cabernet franc, from a mix of vineyards (mostly in the southern part of the valley), aged two years in new French oak. It has an incredible bouquet of cassis, currants, dark chocolate, graphite pencil and tobacco. While unmistakably Napa, it has a regal, structured, almost Bordeaux-like vibe. Full-bodied, perfectly balanced and layered, with silky tannins, this quintessential Insignia is among the best vintages of this cuvée I've tasted and is on a par with 1997 (the first vintage I bought for my personal cellar), 2001, 2002, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016. Production: 17,000 cases.

The Wine Advocate: The 2018 Insignia is a blend of 87% cabernet sauvignon, 8% petit verdot, 3% malbec and 2% cabernet franc. Vineyard sources this year include: 30% Las Rocas (Stags Leap District), 18% Yountville (Oak Knoll District), 13% Banca Dorada (Rutherford), 18% Suscol (South Napa Valley), 14% Home Ranch (St. Helena), 12% Las Rocas (Stags Leap District), 7% Barboza (Stags Leap District). It was aged 24 months in 100% new French oak barrels. Deep garnet with purple glints, it gives off powerful notes of cassis, stewed black plums and blackberries, plus hints of cedar chest, graphite, menthol and wet slate with a perfume of clove oil. The medium- to full-bodied palate already shows remarkable balance at this young stage, with a firm backbone of fine tannins and marked freshness to support the crunchy, intense black fruit, finishing long and spicy. Production: 17,000 cases.