Phelps, Joseph - Insignia 2008

WEINWISSER: "89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, 4% Merlot. 16.650 cases. Tiefdunkles, violettes Rubin. Im Duft verschwenderisch mit Heidelbeeren, Cassis und Brombeeren, die von welkem Laub, Waldboden, Weihrauch, etwas Minze und Noten von edlen Hölzern und Toastnoten begleitet werden. Die Gerbstoffe sind reif und massiv, aber noch nicht vollends integriert. Dennoch sehr stimmig, mit seiner Opulenz und Generosität fehlt ihm nur ein Hauch Finesse und Eleganz, um zu seinem Vorgänger aufzuschließen. Mit etwas Geduld könnte er noch einen halben Punkt zulegen."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "The stunning perfume demanded your attention with its showy coffee, licorice, blueberry, caramel, blackberry and earthy scents. Powerful, round, rich and packed with ripe fruit, the chocolate covered blackberry is as opulent as it is pure. I could drink this now, or age for 15-20 years."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Dense and chewy, this is very tight and closed, but the glimpses of fruit offer tight mineral, crushed rock, graphite, dried currant, cedar and anise. Full-bodied and way too young to drink now, this needs time, but should provide years of rewarding drinking. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Merlot. Best from 2014 through 2026. 16,650 cases made. — JL"

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2008 reveals an opaque purple color in addition to blueberry and blackberry fruit notes intermixed with incense and violets. Barely approaching adolescence, it is still a grapy, primary, full-bodied beauty that will benefit from another 4-5 years of cellaring. It should drink well for 20-25 years. "

JAMES SUCKLING: "This shows some dried-fruit and tobacco character with hints of mushrooms. Medium body, chewy tannins and a flavorful finish. Hints of dry tannins. Ready to drink."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. In der Nase feines dunkles Beerenkonfit, etwas verhalten, zart nach Lakritze, kandierte Orangenzesten, ein Hauch von süßen Gewürzen. Saftig, kraftvoll, frische schwarze Beerenfrucht und Schokolade, eingebundene Tannine, mineralischer Touch im Abgang, hat noch einigen »Babyspeck«, kann sich aber sicher entwickeln, sehr gutes Zukunftspotenzial."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "A glamorous wine, rich and complex, with lots going on. Lacks perhaps some of the depth of, say, the '03 and '04, more on a par with the 2007, but still a very fine Insignia. With rich blackberry and cassis flavors wrapped into thick tannins and fine new oak sweetness, it's nowhere ready to drink now. Give it a rest until 2015."