Wine Spectator:  Rated as Classic: a great wine. "Dense, rich and focused, youthful and concentrated, with hints of maturity on the edge of the core currant, mineral and spicy berry flavors. Wonderful vibrancy and intensity for a wine this age, which only bodes well for the future. A classic. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot.--'97 California Cabernet retrospective. Drink now through 2020. 20,000 cases made." Web Only 2008

Robert Parker, Jr.-The Wine Advocate:  Rated as An extraordinary wine of profound and complex character displaying all the attributes expected of a classic wine of its variety. Worth a special effort to find, purchase and consume. "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.
The prodigious 1997 Insignia (83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, and 3% Petit-Verdot) lives up to its pre-bottling promise. Tasted on three separate occasions, every bottle has hit the bull's eye. The color is a saturated thick-looking blue/purple. The nose offers up explosive aromas of jammy black fruits, licorice, Asian spices, vanillin, and cedar. Full-bodied as well as exceptionally pure and impressively endowed, this blockbuster yet surprisingly elegant wine cuts a brilliant swath across the palate. A seamless effort with beautifully integrated acidity, sweet tannin, and alcohol, it is still an infant, but can be drunk with considerable pleasure. Anticipated maturity: now-2025." Dec 2000 

Size:  750ml; cork
Varietal:  83% Cabernet Sauvignon from estate-grown grapes in Stags Leap and the Rutherford Bench; 14% Carneros Merlot; 3% Napa Valley Petit Verdot.
Alcohol:  13.8%
Region:  Napa Valley, California