1983 Joseph Phelps, Insignia, Napa Valley

Joseph Phelps established Insignia as Napa Valley's first proprietary Bordeaux-style blend, conceived to express the finest lots of each vintage rather than adhering strictly to varietal designation. The 1983 iteration comprised 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 20% Cabernet Franc, utilizing fruit from key Napa Valley sites. The 1983 growing season in Napa presented challenges with summer heat spikes and late harvest rains, impacting grape maturity and often leading to pronounced tannic profiles in Cabernet Sauvignon. Despite these conditions, diligent site selection, particularly from drier, low-yielding plots, enabled the development of concentration and a firm structural core. The significant Merlot content of this blend likely provides an essential counterpoint, contributing mid-palate density and textural balance to the wine's inherent architectural backbone.