In the spring of 1978, Joseph Phelps Vineyards released its 1974 Insignia, becoming the first California winery to produce a blend of traditional Bordeaux varietals under a proprietary name. The Napa Valley winery recently released the 2003 Insignia, marking the 30th vintage of this highly acclaimed series.

The wine—84 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 10 percent Petit Verdot, 3 percent Merlot and 3 percent Malbec—was bottled and blended in February 2006, after being fermented in stainless steel tanks and aged 24 months in new French oak barrels. An impressive 87 percent of the fruit came from estate-owned vineyards in Stag’s Leap, Rutherford and St. Helena, with the rest from independent growers. (Prior to the 1990 vintage, Insignia was sourced from the best available grower fruit.)

The 2003 Insignia is layered with aromas of blackberries, black cherries, anise, dark chocolate and coffee, and has an extremely long finish. It should pair well with steak, beef tenderloin and lamb loin.

Joseph Phelps founded his eponymous winery in Spring Valley, east of St. Helena, in 1972, and still lives on the property. The Vineyard produces from 65,000 to 80,000 cases annually with 90 percent of the wine produced from estate-owned vineyards.

See Joseph Phelps 2004 Sonoma-Napa Chardonnay
Other Meritages we've tasted
Check out our guide to California
For more information, visit www.jpvwines.com