Saturated deep, bright ruby. Cassis, blackberry, shoe polish and mint on the nose. Impressively large-scaled for the vintage, with lovely chewy texture and sweet, primary dark berry flavors. Doesn't have quite the flavor development or perfumed quality of the outstanding '97, but this wine seems every bit as big. Williams took the '98 Insignia out of new oak in August of 2000, a few months earlier than normal.

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Joseph Phelps' flagship wine is their fabulous Insignia, a wine with a tremendous track record back to the debut vintage of 1974. It is produced in significant quantities (18,000-20,000 cases) for a wine of such quality.

A great achievement, the 1998 Insignia (78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot) is a fabulous wine from what was a far more challenging vintage. Approximately 18,000 cases were made, an amazing quantity in a year that produced far less promising raw materials. Evolved, with a saturated ruby/purple color, it possesses a sumptuous bouquet of smoke, cedar, licorice, and cassis. This full-bodied, fat, succulent effort reveals admirable purity and symmetry, and a soft finish with remarkably deep flavors that caress the palate. It can be drunk now as well as over the next 15-16 years.

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A dark, deliciously rich and complex youngster, brimming with layers of curant, blackberry, plum, mineral, spice, chocolate and cedar. Finishes with a gush of flavors, yet maintains its finesse and grace. 14,000 cases made.

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