| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | U.S.A. > California > Napa Valley |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
The flagship 2021 Insignia checks in as 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec, and the rest Cabernet Franc. It too is dense purple and has a great perfume of crème de cassis, violets, sandalwood, camphor, and graphite. Beautiful on the palate, this full-bodied, concentrated, structured Insignia has just about perfect balance, lots of tannins, and a great finish. It's going to take 7-8 years of bottle age to integrate its tannins (although these wines always seem to integrate their tannins faster than I expect) and will have 30 years of overall longevity.
Set to be bottled in January 2024, the 2021 Insignia looks to be another huge success. A blend of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot, with 2% each Cabernet Franc and Malbec, all matured in 100% new French oak, winemaker Ashley Hepworth said she thought production would be about 18,000 cases. Waves of cherries, cassis and dark chocolate mark the nose, while the palate is full-bodied, concentrated, rich, velvety, plush, layered and long. The dusty tannins suggest ample structure, yet the wine is plush enough to be almost approachable. It's a truly complete, delicious, seductive wine, yet naysayers may criticize it for lacking a certain amount of individuality or soul. Drink: 2025-2045.
