Joseph Phelps Vineyards: 1994 Insignia

Wines

Current Joseph Phelps Vintages
Current Freestone Vintages
Past Phelps Vintages
Rhône-Style Wines
Library Wines

BLEND & GRAPE SOURCES:
88% Cabernet Sauvignon, primarily estate-owned from the Las Rocas Vineyard in the Stag's Leap district and Banca Dorada on the Rutherford Bench, with a small percentage coming from the Backus Vineyard in Oakville; 10% Las Rocas and Carneros Merlot; 2% Banca Dorada Cabernet Franc.

HARVEST DATE:
Sep 22 - Oct 18, 1994

WINEMAKING DATA:
Grapes were harvested from September 22, - October 18, 1994 at an average 23.5 degrees Brix, fermented to 13.5% alcohol, then aged 28 months in French oak barrels before being bottled in February, 1997.

In 1994, after a long, cool growing season, 65% of our crop was still hanging on the vine by October 4, when an unexpected thunderstorm swept through the Napa Valley. In its wake, a spell of warm weather dried out the vineyards and caused a rapid rise in grape sugars, and although more rain was forecast, a window of opportunity for harvesting presented itself during the week of October 9-15, when much of the crop achieved optimal ripeness. During this time we picked a total of 783 tons, or half our estimate for the entire harvest! Grape quality was excellent, and critics are citing the vintage as one of the best in the last twenty years.

WINEMAKING QUOTES:
Rated No. 3 in The Wine Spectator's top 100 wines of the year for 1997.