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Joseph Phelps Insignia 1974-2025: Past, Present and Future
Verticals & Retrospectives, napa, featured, United States: California
, Oct 2026
First produced in 1974, Joseph Phelps’ Insignia was a groundbreaking wine in Napa Valley. It was Napa Valley’s first proprietary red Bordeaux blend, a wine that opened the door for so many others that followed. Two recent vertical tastings provided an incredible opportunity to delve into Insignia’s rich history and examine the trends that have shaped these wines over the last six decades.
Santa Barbara 2024: Shifting the Spotlight
featured, United States: California
, Sep 2026
Wines across Santa Barbara County reached impressive heights once again in 2024, but not always in the ways you might expect. Though the region has long been broadly synonymous with high-quality Pinot Noir from the Sta. Rita Hills, the Chardonnays, Syrahs and Cabernets coming out of the county’s many subregions have exploded in quality in recent years. This year, the spotlight turns to these other players, setting the stage for the region’s very bright next chapter.
The Original Napa Valley Icon: Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon S.L.V.
Verticals & Retrospectives, napa, featured, United States: California
, Aug 2026
Fifty years ago, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars’ 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon Stag’s Leap Vineyards bested some of France’s best-known wines at an unassuming blind tasting. That tasting, chronicled as the Judgment of Paris, became a cultural phenomenon that changed the wine world. On the eve of the 50th anniversary of this momentous occasion, Vinous was thrilled to host a deep retrospective of the estate’s Cabernet Sauvignon S.L.V. going back to the 1973.
Vinous Table: Bell’s, Los Alamos, California
Vinous Table, United States: California
, Aug 2026
Bell’s is the finest restaurant in Santa Barbara wine country. Locally sourced ingredients and soulful, precise cooking come together in an experience that radiates California class.
Remembering David Hirsch
Vinous Remembers, United States: California
, Aug 2026
The wine world lost a trailblazing pioneer when David Hirsch passed away on July 28, 2026. He was 81 years old.
Cellar Favorite: 2016 Tyler Cabernet Sauvignon Happy Canyon Vineyard RSW
cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, United States: California
, Jul 2026
A decade on, the 2016 Tyler Cabernet Sauvignon Happy Canyon Vineyard RSW has settled into its tenth year in absolutely suave, sophisticated style.
Santa Cruz Mountains 2023 and 2024: A Rising Tide
featured, United States: California
, Jun 2026
Something exciting is happening in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Long defined by a handful of benchmark estates and the sheer difficulty of farming its rugged terrain, the region is entering a new chapter. Ambition, collaboration and a wave of compelling small producers are bringing fresh energy to one of California’s most distinctive winegrowing landscapes.
Cellar Favorite: 1976 Hanzell Vineyards Pinot Noir
sonoma, cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, United States: California
, Jun 2026
The 1976 Hanzell Vineyards Pinot Noir is incredibly deep and youthful for a wine of its age.
2024 Santa Lucia Highlands: It’s Complicated
featured, United States: California
, May 2026
On paper, 2024 looked like a return to normal in the Santa Lucia Highlands, but the wines tell a different story. After a string of extreme vintages, the growing season in the SLH seemed relatively straightforward. However, thick skins, compact clusters and a stop-start harvest produced something more complicated: thrilling whites, deeply structured reds and a slew of wines that don’t follow the usual script.
Cellar Favorite: 2016 VHR, Vine Hill Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon
cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, United States: California
, May 2026
Now approaching its tenth birthday, the 2016 is every bit as stunning as it always has been.