Iron Gate Fine Wine Auction-Gold Club Only
Tue, Nov 3, 2026 03:00PM EST - Wed, Nov 4, 2026 03:00PM EST
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- 1997
- 1.5L
- USA
- California
- North Coast
- Napa County
- Meritage
- Red
- 100 Points, CF
Lot 295
1997 Joseph Phelps Vineyards Insignia - 1 bottle(s)-1.5L
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Bid Increments
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This lot is comprised of 1 bottle(s) of 1997 Joseph Phelps Vineyards Insignia - 1.5L. Estimate for this lot is between $1000 - $1400 with a BUY IT NOW of $1200. The wine in this lot belongs to collection 11084.
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All lots are located in Calgary, Alberta Canada. Confirmation of pickup or delivery of Iron Gate Commercial Auction winnings must be made within 60 days of auction close. Thereafter, your winnings will be subject to storage fees, including a $75 setup, subsequent $5.00/case/month and $1.25 per bottle fee for inventory services. If no contact has been made within two years, auction winnings will be considered abandoned.
It is the responsibility of the buyer to make all arrangements for insuring, packing and removing the property purchased and any assistance by the Auctioneer, or the employees of, agents or contractors in packing and removal shall be rendered as a courtesy and without any liability to them. The Auctioneer shall not be liable for any errors or omissions or damage caused by packers and shippers, notwithstanding the fact that the Auctioneer may have recommended such shippers or packers to the purchaser.
Each bottle in this collection was generously donated by charity patrons and personally vetted by Stephen Ranger of Iron Gate, with all proceeds benefiting Cystic Fibrosis Canada.
1997 Joseph Phelps Vineyards Insignia from this lot has the following scores - The Wine Advocate 100 points. This is the tasting note for 1997 Joseph Phelps Vineyards Insignia from Robert Parker - with a score of 100 points. An inky/plum/purple color is accompanied by a stunning bouquet of violets, charcoal, creme de cassis and a hint of toast. Prodigious when it hits the palate with a full-bodied expansiveness, there is not a hard edge to be found in the 1997, only velvety tannins, compelling depth and fruit intensity, and stunning purity. It is a perfect expression of Napa viticulture and wine that should continue to age effortlessly for two decades or more. An ideal warm, dry spring, June and July was followed by a surprisingly cool August that slowed down what looked to be rapid sugar accumulation in the grapes. September's temperatures were average to above average, without any potentially damaging heat spikes. This allowed the harvest to unfurl slowly, with no stress or imminent danger. For many Napa Cabernet Sauvignons, this resulted in one of the top vintages of the nineties. Consumers, observers and wine critics will undoubtedly argue for decades over which vintage of the nineties turned out to be the finest – 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995 or 1997. The 1997 Insignia is a 20,000-case blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot, with 60% coming from estate vineyards and 40% from growers. The alcohol came in at 13.8%.