Joseph Phelps Insignia 2021

Insignia was America's first proprietary Bordeaux-style blend, launched with the 1974 vintage. Fifty vintages. Half a century of proving that Napa can make wines that evolve, that reward patience, that are about more than immediate gratification. The 2021 impresses with purity and balance. Spearmint, pencil shavings, toasted oak, dark plums. Silky and fresh but firm. Dusky blackcurrant, tobacco leaf, rose petal, cedar. This vintage is built on finesse and nuance more than raw power, which makes it different from — and arguably better than — many of its Napa peers. The collection already has Opus One, Screaming Eagle, and Harlan. Insignia fills a different role. It is the collectible Napa Cab that is actually available to buy in most vintages, and it rewards cellaring for decades. James Suckling scored it 98. Best from 2028 through 2041. The Napa Cab for someone building a serious cellar who wants depth over brute force.