Fodor's Expert Review Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy's 2022 purchase of the winery Joseph Phelps founded in 1973 reinforced the Napa Valley's stature as an international luxury-lifestyle player. Phelps produces excellent whites, along with Pinot Noirs from its Sonoma Coast vineyards, but the blockbusters are the Bordeaux-style reds, particularly the Cabernet Sauvignons and Insignia, a luscious-yet-subtle Cab-dominant blend. Insignia, which consistently receives high scores from wine reviewers, is always among the current releases poured at the seated Terrace Tasting overlooking grapevines and oaks. Other experiences, including wine and food pairings, unfold inside the main redwood structure, a classic of 1970s Northern California architecture. Participants in the Insignia Retrospective Tasting, offered a few times a month, sample several vintages of the flagship wine.