A wine pairing dinner with Joseph Phelps
Joseph Phelps Vineyards is a family-owned winery founded in 1973. They are known for crafting estate grown wines from Napa Valley, California as well as for their famous wine “Insignia,” which debuted in 1974. It was California’s first proprietary red Bordeaux-style blend, recognized as one of the world’s most iconic wines. The 2002 vintage was awarded “Wine of the Year” by Wine Spectator magazine and Wine Advocate has awarded an unprecedented four 100-point scores to the 1991, 1997, 2002, and 2007 vintages of this wine.
Moët Hennessy Philippines gathered some wine enthusiasts at the private second floor of Blackbird at The Nielson Tower in Makati, which made Manila one of the first in the world to try the new vintages of Insignia.
Chef Colin Mackay prepared a four-course dinner that would pair well with the wines. For starters, there were Wagyu tenderloin tartare, egg yolk confit, tartufata, and panisse (chickpea flour fries). The second course had coriander and pink peppercorn spiced duck breast, roast pear, celeriac and membrillo (quince). Both dishes were paired with Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2019. The main course consisted of pistachio-crusted lamb loin, sweet onion, anchovy tart, and tomato jus paired with Joseph Phelps Insignia, Napa Valley 2021. Ossau-Iraty (Basque cheese made from sheep’s milk) and Dorset Drum Mature Farmhouse Cheddar (one of only a few cheddars to carry the world-renowned Protected Designation of Origin status for Farmhouse Cheddar) with rye crackers were served for dessert paired with a surprise bottle of Joseph Phelps Insignia, Napa Valley 2019.
Explanations and stories about the storied wine were told by Moët Hennessy general manager Nick Sonderup and MJ Van Vuuren, business development director of Wine Estates Asia Pacific, throughout the dinner.
The 2021 Insignia has aromas of black cherry, hibiscus, and wild blackberry, subtly accented by fresh earth and a hint of Tahitian vanilla. It is a blend of 93-percent Cabernet Sauvignon, three-percent Petit Verdot, two-percent Cabernet Franc, two-percent Malbec.
The 2019 and 2021 Insignia vintages exhibit distinct differences shaped by their growing seasons and vineyard influences. The 2019 Insignia benefited from a mild growing season with a wet winter and spring, followed by a warm, dry summer that allowed for even ripening with few heat spikes. This vintage utilizes fruit from all seven of Joseph Phelps estate vineyards. The 2021 Insignia emerged from a challenging drought year, leading to lower yields. The resulting smaller berries delivered concentrated flavors and a robust structure. This vintage emphasizes a higher percentage of fruit from the Stags Leap District, known for their rich black fruit and elegant tannins. The 2021 Insignia is characterized by concentrated black fruit, fresh hibiscus and baking spices. Due to forest fire smoke in Napa Valley during the 2020 harvest season, the winery did not produce a 2020 vintage to ensure smoke wasn’t integrated into the wine
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Since 2022, Joseph Phelps wines have been part of the Moët Hennessy, the wines and spirits division of LVMH.
This was truly a wine dinner to remember.
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