Insignia has been a wine that I could enjoy at almost any point in its development, whether just released or aged for years. The wine would be different, yet pleasing, at each stage of evolution. The 2009 might sway me to start drinking Insignia early. The wine is brimming with ripe cassis, blackberry, and black cherry, and has a top layer of well-handled new oak that contributes toast, coffee, chocolate, and vanilla accents. This release is rich, smooth, and round, perhaps less structured than past releases. The emphasis on ripe, rich fruit and new oak over the structural elements make this a delicious wine at the moment, but one that might not age as well as previous vintages.
Joseph Phelps, Napa Valley (California) 2009
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