1992 vintage. Decent fill. Perfect cork extracted with a Durand. Decanted and tasted after 30 minutes and 1 hour. Plenty of color. Wicked, durty nose. Light-medium body. A lingering dryness afoot in the complexity of flavors that just endure. Seems simple and easy but that was always this producer's calling card. True harmony, sense of place and balance without overreaching is an eternal struggle and rarely achieved. Pity this winery no longer strides the Earth in this guise. Five bottles remaining. 7.31.26. — a month ago
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. — 2 days ago
2015 vintage. Sampled from Coravin. Medium body. The monstrous tannins tamed somewhat...as they meet a decade+. Absolutely, top-notch nose. If you both respect the exuberance of youth and celebrate the wisdom of age, this is for you. A fascinating, case study currently. 6.24.26. — 2 months ago
Bal Harbor Pool Party…. — 3 months ago
Balanced, not too sweet. A softer cab. — 3 months ago
Night 2 notes. The oaky notes from being first opened on night one are gone. It’s a little softer, higher in acid, and less intense than other vintages I’ve had. Nose has bright, ripe red berries, some brambly notes, and irony earth. On the palate there’s nice intensity on entry, but it flattens out a bit in the finish. I’d say this is for earlier drinking than the typical Storybooks I’m used to. — a month ago

Excellent mountains wine. — a month ago
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
Needs air. — 3 months ago
8/2026. Big, bold and dry. Nice finish.
Halls Chophouse — 2 days ago
Opened about 90min prior to service; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2001 Monte Bello pours a deep garnet with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with lovely notes of black currants, blackberries, plum, tobacco, purple flowers, an intoxicating mix of exotic Eastern spices, some cocoa, inorganic earth and minerals. On the palate? The wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is long and impeccably balanced. To my palate, this bottle has reached the age when Monte Bello starts to really become interesting. What a delight! Drink now with some air, through 2051. — 9 days ago
This is a producer that should be more revered than it is. His 90’s were amongst my favorite Napa Cabernets. Especially, the 94, which is exceptional and I’ve had on 3-4 occasions.
2007 is a grand vintage but this one needs more cellaring. It is still in its adolescence. I would like to try this in another 8-10 yrs. Don’t get me wrong, this drinks nicely now but it’s best is still ahead.
I coravined & decanted this in a big Bordeaux glass for an hour and it is still a 1/2 monster.
The nose shows; dark currents/cassis, blackberries, black plum w/ skin, very black cherries, black raspberries, poached/slightly baked strawberries with understated raspberries in the glass edges, dark, rich earth with dry leaves, steeped fruit tea, mocha powder, caramel, chocolate baking bar, understated baking spices-cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, vanillin, both black & red licorice/cola, moist herbs, tree sap, limestone, dry top soils-river stone and beautiful, withering/candied dark & red florals framed in candied violets.
The M+ tannins are round, velvety, dusty and still meaty. Dark currents/cassis, blackberries, black plum w/ skin, very black cherries, black raspberries, poached/slightly baked strawberries, liqueur cherries with understated, hovering raspberries. Dark, rich earth with dry leaves, steeped fruit tea, mocha powder, caramel, chocolate baking bar, understated baking spices-cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, vanillin, both black & red licorice/cola, moist herbs, tree sap, soft, moist cigar box, leather, anise, rounded very dark spices, moist clays, limestone, dry top soils-river stone and beautiful, withering/candied dark & red florals framed in candied violets, very round, pleasant acidity with balance for days, still pronounced structure/tension, great length and a smartly, polished, ruby two-minute finish that long sets on on deep, dark spice, earthiness & ruby, dark currents.
Right now a Filet steak, not a fatty steak, Ribeye or Ribcap.
Still so youthful! Add a point or two in 7-10 yrs. .
Philip is in his 90’s and still involved in the winemaking. He walks the property daily. — 4 months ago
"Odedi"
Dark ruby in color with a reddish/brick rim.
Showing its age on the nose and full in body with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with cherries, plums, black currants, coffee, oak, cloves, earth, tobacco leaf, herbs, black tea and black pepper.
Nice length on the finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.
This is a very tasty Cabernet Sauvignon from Red Mountain in Washington State. Elegant and earthy with chocolate notes.
This Single Vineyard Cabernet is complex with a soft mouthfeel, and feels much older than its age.
Good right out of the bottle, and good by itself or with food. I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.
100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were aged in all new French oak barrels for 22 months. A small production of only 5 barrels.
14% alcohol by volume.
91 points.
$80. — a month ago