“The wines add dimension to the Napa Valley.” Robert Mondavi – Phelps Winery

It was a true pleasure to welcome Bill Phelps and his team to the Club for the launch of the 2016 Joseph Phelps Insignia – a wine that was first produced in 1974 and has become one of the most acclaimed Cabernet blends from the Napa Valley.

Robert Mondavi has said that “The wines add dimension to the Napa Valley; they help make Napa Valley wines equal to the finest in the world”, and the 2016 Insignia is no exception. Our sommeliers had a taste and mentioned that “it is a true Napa Bordeaux blend, with huge potential and showing classic, synonymous characters of the region – this is a bold, full-bodied expression showing balanced acidity and very evident, graceful aging potential.”

The winery was founded in 1973 by Joseph Phelps, a successful construction executive and entrepreneur whose early interest in wine led him to establish vineyards on a 670-acre former cattle ranch in Napa Valley.

Over the next 42 years ‘the steward of Napa Valley’ became one of the most respected figures in the California wine industry, building Joseph Phelps Vineyards into a critically-acclaimed winery internationally known for its iconic wines and unwavering commitment to quality.

Joe’s son, Bill Phelps, joined the family business in 1998 after a successful career in law, and as Executive Chairman now oversees Joseph Phelps Vineyards. The 2002 vintage was awarded “Wine of the Year” by Wine Spectator magazine in 2005, and Robert Parker Wine Advocate awarded four perfect 100-point scores to the 2002 and 2007 vintages of Insignia, calling it “one of the world’s finest Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blends.”

If we don’t get to Napa beforehand, we hope to welcome the Phelps team back to the Club very soon and will keep a watchful eye on the success of the 2016…