Michael Albanes

8.9

Rich deep flavor — 21 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

I recently had a conversation with a few Joseph Phelps Ambassador’s at Pebble Beach Food & Wine in April. I said, I had every vintage of Insignia back to 2006 in storage. They said, “you should really drink up the 2006.” So, I coravined an 06 last weekend, a taste. I agreed then. But tonight not the case, it shows it still has a fair amount of life. Another 5-8 yrs and perhaps plus.

My Ribcap, a definition of Medium Rare Plus.

The nose reveals floral; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, poached strawberries, dark cherries and blue fruit notes. Melted dark chocolate, mocha, caramel, softly layered baking spices, very underrated graphite, steeped tea, mid berry cola, red licorice, limestone powder, dry top soil, dry twig, red, dark candied to slightly withering florals w/ liquid violet cola.

The palate shows well resolved, rounded, velvety M+ tannins. Nicely ripe fruits that are floral; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, poached strawberries, dark cherries and blue fruit notes. Melted dark chocolate, mocha, caramel river, softly layered baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick & vanillin, warm caramel, dark Asian spices with palate burrowing heat, dry tobacco/ leather, cedar, grilled meats, very underrated graphite, sweet tarriness, black licorice, steeped tea, mid berry cola, red licorice, limestone powder, dry top soil, dry twig, red, dark candied to slightly withering florals w/ liquid violet cola, candied to withering; dark, red, blue florals wrapped in liquid violets, epic rainfall acidity, well balanced-structured-toned, elegant finish that lasts minutes and falls on earth & heated spice.

95-96 peaking. — a month ago

Sergio L Figueiredo

8.9

Álcool 14,0%.
DUFRY/SP - SLF - Abr/2025. — 2 months ago

Matt Schwartz

9.2

Plums, black pepper, sawdust, dirt and tobacco leaf. Delayed gratification, the wine is so much more interesting now than it was when it was young. — 2 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.0

2019 vintage. Sweeter than the last few vintages. 6.17.26. — 3 months ago

Paul J

9.4

PnP. Deep, dark fruit. Dark cherries and blackberries. Exceeded expectations. Massive depth. Really enjoyed! — 3 months ago

with Brooke

Keri Gawlik

9.0

Meaty (charcuterie) savory notes like olive, good acidity — 5 months ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Presented double-blind at dinner. The wine pours a deep garnet with a near opaque core and a slightly orange rim with considerable variation; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and desiccated fruit: black currants, blackberries, plum, pipe tobacco, capsicum, pencil shavings, a touch leather, organic earth and a mix of dried herbs and some fine warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. Really tasty stuff.

Initial conclusions: this is an old wine, likely 30-40 years old. That being said, it’s still very distinguishable as it’s showing varietal characteristics. This could be Cabernet Sauvignon (or a blend thereof), Cabernet Franc (or a blend thereof), or Merlot (or a blend thereof). I can see this being Napa because the fruit is still showing some generosity. But there’s a lot of non-fruits there too. Regardless, this was giving Left Bank vibes so I could also see this being Bordeaux from a great vintage like 1982. And that’s my call, Cabernet Sauvignon-blend from France, Bordeaux, Saint-Estèphe, from a classified growth like Calon-Ségur. Shucks. But I’m not mad about my choice! Old Opus One’s are tricky to differentiate. Drinking very well right now but this will live well past 2035. — 2 days ago

KA

9.2

Oak Room DC — 6 hours ago

WC Fields

9.5

A stunner. — 24 days ago

Lauren Young

9.1

Very drinkable — 2 months ago

Neil Valenzuela

9.2

Deep ruby color, with a brick rim. Aromas of blackberry, cassis and mocha. Black fruit on the palate, dark chocolate and baking spices.

🍇 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 7% Merlot

🏅92 Points - Wine Spectator — 2 months ago

Donald Williams

9.3

Aged nicely — 3 months ago

with Bonnie

Andy@andyberke.com

9.2

A real favorite. What a value — 5 months ago

Robert Swart

9.0

Had at Balvenara’s. — 25 days ago

Michelle Sakowicz

8.9

Good afternoon a Boudoix bottle with pizza. Bold and dark berry forward but smooth and dry. Nice compliment to the other — 2 months ago

with Brian

Dave

8.9

Simple and enjoyable. Very dark, spicy, tannic, and medium bodied. Good!
Listening to Waxahatchee — 2 months ago

Matt Schwartz

8.9

Oak, sawdust, coco nibs, tobacco, black currant and blackberries. This is rich, deep and dark. Mostly secondary and tertiary flavors at this point, not a ton of fruit left. — 2 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2022 vintage. Drinking better now, and for the foreseeable future, than the 2022 Opus. 6.24.26. — 3 months ago

Carter White

9.0

Red fruit, green, polished, balanced. — 5 months ago