2003 Cabernet Sauvignon
| Vineyards for | 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Vineyard | Spring Valley Ranch |
| Appellation | St. Helena |
| Location | Off the Silverado Tr. S.E. of St. Helena on Taplin Rd. |
| Acreage & varietals | 119 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier and Scheurebe. |
| Soil | On lower blocks: Bale clay loam; silty clay with good moisture retention; volcanic. |
| Exposure | Afternoon sun radiates hills. |
| Unique features | Hillside and valley floor terrain offer two distinct microclimates for growing a diverse selection of grapes. |
| History | In 1973, Joe Phelps bought a 600-acre cattle ranch and planted 160 acres of vines. |
| Wines | Cabernet Sauvignon, Insignia, Viognier, Eisrébe and Sauvignon Blanc. |
| Vineyard | Las Rocas |
| Appellation | Stags Leap District |
| Location | East side of Silverado Trail beneath the Stags Leap Palisades. |
| Acreage & varietals | 40 acres Cabernet Sauvignon. |
| Soil | Bale soil series; slightly acidic, gravelly old riverbed soils; alluvial soils built up from mountains. |
| Exposure | Somewhat protected from afternoon sun. |
| Unique features | Stags Leap wines have a “regional” personality distinguished by intense berry and cassis flavors, a smooth “velvety” texture, and the ability to age gracefully. |
| History | Phelps purchased the property in 1983 and began redevelopment that same year. |
| Wines | Insignia and Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. |
| Additional Details | Las Rocas is Spanish for "The Rocks" |
| Vineyard | Barboza |
| Appellation | Stags Leap District |
| Location | South of Yountville Crossroad on the west side of Silverado Trail. |
| Acreage & varietals | 15 acres Cabernet Sauvignon; 1.5 acres Petit Verdot. |
| Soil | Bale soil series; alluvial; silty clay with good moisture retention; volcanic. |
| History | Vineyard operated by the Barboza family since 1974. Phelps signed a long-term lease to farm the property in 1997. |
| Wines | Insignia and Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. |
| Vineyard | Banca Dorada |
| Appellation | Rutherford |
| Location | West of Hwy. 29 off Manley Ln. in the southwestern corner of the Rutherford appellation. |
| Acreage & varietals | 34 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon. |
| Soil | Bale soil series. Alluvial silty clay with high moisture retention; deep fertility; slow runoff; slightly acidic. |
| Exposure | Its location on the west side of the valley is more protected from afternoon sun than the east side. |
| Unique features | Many years ago the term “Rutherford dust” was coined to describe the unique flavors derived from this terroir. |
| History | Phelps purchased the property in 1983 and began redevelopment that same year. |
| Wines | Insignia, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. |
| Additional Details | Banca Dorada is Spanish for " The Golden Bench" |
| Vineyard | Yountville |
| Appellation | Oak Knoll Area |
| Location | Midway between Yountville and Napa off Hwy. 29. |
| Acreage & varietals | 24 acres Merlot, 24 acres Cabernet Sauvignon. |
| Soil | Cobble silt loam on an old alluvial fan with good moisture retention and slow runoff. |
| Unique features | Deep gravelly and fertile soils contribute to the balance of these wines. |
| History | This was Phelps’ first grape source in 1973, planted mainly to Johannisberg Riesling. The vineyard was purchased from the Stanton estate in 1979 and redeveloped in 1984 due to phylloxera. In 1993 and 2002 redevelopment occurred again to what is now the current vineyard composition. |
| Wines | Insignia and Cabernet Sauvignon. |
| Vineyard | Suscol |
| Appellation | South Napa Valley |
| Location | East side of Napa-Vallejo Highway in southern Napa at the base of the Vaca Mountains. |
| Acreage & varietals | 86 acres Cabernet Sauvignon, 5 acres Cabernet Franc. |
| Soil | On lower blocks: Haire soil series; acidic soils on old terraces and alluvial fans; moderately well-drained with slow permeability. Upper blocks: More rocks contributing to better drainage. |
| Unique features | Early morning summer fog is mitigated by cool afternoon breezes coming off San Pablo Bay. Conservation easements on the property preserve wetlands created by Arroyo Creek and maintain wildlife corridors. |
| History | The property was purchased in 1999 as part of a long-range plan to produce 100% estate-grown wines. Our first harvest from this vineyard in 2005 yielded such high quality Cabernet that several lots were blended into the Insignia. |
| Wines | Cabernet Sauvignon and Insignia. |
