2002 Joseph Phelps "Insignia" Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend with mocha

with mocha

dried flowers and kirsch liqueur to go with big fruit

Those should soon be mature enough to go into the wine (they were planted in 2004 and they will make it into the Ardanza blend from 2007-2008)

The Bean has ordered me to bring home several cases of this excellent Gem for our near-term consumption with such dinners as salmon

Unlike the vast majority of his colleagues

2002 Joseph Phelps "Insignia" Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend with mochaFull red ruby. Slightly roasted, high toned black raspberry nose show a slightly pruney ripeness (the VA here was a relatively elevated 0. 85). Creamy, plush and sweet, displaying excellent breadth and still considerable baby fat. This was quite flashy on release but now seems to be in an adolescent phase. Big, building tannins saturate the tongue and front teeth. Winemaker Hepworth described it as 'like a teenager, and without the suavity of tannins