Louis Martin

9.1

Fresh, bubbly, with a hint of sweetness. Nice way to warm up for a decadent meal. — 8 days ago

Andy Krell

9.0

Tastes of plums, dark cherry and rick dark fruits. Love it. Will buy again — 5 days ago

Michael Coscetta

9.5

Still the GOAT — 18 days 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. — 11 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. — 2 months ago

Damian

9.6

This is precise, acidic, long finish. Notes of citrus, green apple, salinity, toast and just right amount of dosage. — 3 months ago

Gilbert Van Hassel

9.4

Fruit forward, raspberries strawberries and cherries. Medium weight on the lighter side, drinks nicely now. More structure than the fleurie. Outstanding. Can wait but drinks great now. — 2 days ago

Henry K

9.8

One of the best champagnes I’ve ever had. Had at panchas after a long night lol. Still showed so beautifully. — 18 days ago

Scott Soren

9.4

If you know you know. Domaine Tempier is just baller juice. Liquid gold — a year ago

Anthony Pro

9.0

Paired with wagyu beef tatare and prime Striploin. Excellent. — a month ago

Jenn

8.9

Slightly disappointed, had higher hopes based on the reviews. Although company was great, NYT, couch, candle, cheeseboard. #CPtheVP — a month ago

JKT

9.2

At Cindy’s with Fing. Mistaken bottle. Golden color, clearly aged with touch of oxidation but lots of complex aromatics. Excellent — 2 months ago

Ivor

9.1

Best solution on a hot humid summer day. — 3 months ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.4

Omakase lalo — 3 months ago

Vanessa

9.2

Always hits the spot 🎯 — 22 days ago

with Deked1

Brian Hearty

9.2

NV. Crisp and mineral Blanc de Blancs to pair with a first course snack plate of salty, fried, and acidic bites. Great start to a collaboration dinner between the Boiler Room and Anthony Jones, Chef of Marcus in DC. — a month ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Better with the Rib-cap. The 08 vintage was spotty to good. This one shows the shortcomings of the 08 vintage. Really good fruit, but lacks typical, depth, mid palate, and length.

The nose is class Bordeaux.Ripe to ruby fruits of, black plum skin, slightly syrupy blackberries, plum, dark cherry liqueur, strawberries, dark currants. Dark chocolate cake with glaze, screaming, lead pencil shavings, tobacco, leather, dry riverstone, limestone marl, forest floor with dry leaves, soft, incense, black, licorice, red, cola, dry herbs, tomato, leaf, with dark and red flowers, framed in violets.

The palate is ripe to ruby fruits of, black plum skin, slightly syrupy blackberries, plum, dark cherry liqueur, strawberries, dark currants. Dark chocolate cake with glaze, screaming, lead pencil shavings, deep, dark spice that expands wide, nutmeg, cinnamon stick, caramel and vanillin, dry tobacco with ash, leather, dry riverstone, limestone marl, dry crushed rocks, forest floor with dry leaves, moist clays, soft, incense, black, licorice, red, cola, savory dry herbs, tomato leaf, dry oak barrel shaving to cedar with dark and red flowers, framed in violets, acidity is ok, just not right, finish is good, not great, it falls hard on spice and is short of a minute.

93 with the Rib-cap. Green Bean from my organic gsrden. Drink now through 2035. — 21 days ago

Freek Welter

9.7

From half bottle, respect!! — a month ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.3

Jorge baeza — 3 months ago

Karen Tripson

9.2

Lovely bubbles! — 3 months ago