My “End of the World” Wine Pick
Listening to lighthearted chatter this week about the Mayan-predicted end of the world, slated for Friday, I got to thinking about the wine I’d most like to consume before that happens. Like many curious enthusiasts, and with budget and accessibility barriers 
brushed aside, my first choice would be one of the $750-per-bottle cult wines, like a Screaming Eagle or a Harlan. (Can you really blame me for going there?) Among other things, consuming one of these beauties is on my wine bucket list so that I can walk away knowing what they truly taste like.
But, since opening one of those tonight really isn’t possible, I narrowed down to the wines I have available at my fingertips. Scouring my supply, I immediately set aside the Joseph Phelps 2009 Insignia while finalizing my search to confirm that wine would truly be “the one.” For a couple of reasons, I solidified this as my hypothetical end-of-the-world choice.
Sentimentally, Joseph Phelps Vineyards is one of those wineries that defines Napa in my mind. It was among the first I ever visited and always falls within the top three I recommend to others. The tasting terrace at Phelps (pictured above) offers a stunning, intimate view of Napa Valley that has captured hours of my attention over time. In fact, my holiday card this year includes a picture from my last trip. The wine educators are also quite friendly and patient – they clearly have passion for their work 
and the wine. A good portion of what I’ve learned stems from deep conversations I’ve had with educators during those sessions.
More importantly, this wine is what living Napa “Cabulous” is all about in my book: it’s big, lip-smackingly good and undoubtedly going to leave a lasting impression. I’ve been fortunate to drink Insignia’s from 1997 and 2002-2008 in the past and am always intrigued by the variation of its specific grape composition from year-to-year. The Joseph Phelps 2009 Insignia is comprised of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Petit Verdot and 4% Malbec from four Napa AVAs, making it one of the deepest, darkest wines I’ve ever seen in my glass. Bottled in January, it’s still quite youthful – another hallmark of my wine-drinking traits. This boldness also shined through on the nose, which included hints of cocoa, cedar, mint and blackberry. I also tasted currant and tobacco among the fine tannins. The finish was slightly bitter, but that will likely dissipate with a little more bottle age, just like it did in my glass over the hour or so we drank it.
Rating: 4.5
Assuming the sun rises again on December 22, I would like to try the Joseph Phelps 2009 Insignia in the future. This means I’ll also have time to get to some of those other wines on the list! So, tell me, what are your lofty and realistic wine choices for this week’s Mayan apocalypse?
In that case how about we try that 2005 that I got on the September trip!