+1 hour decant(modest sediment). A striking still dark purplish crimson color with bricking. On the nose: Seductive notes of dark fruit, sandalwood, cigar wrapper, herbaceous, stewed meat, pencil lead, worn leather. Taste: silky, layered, vibrant wine with dried plum/cherry, cigar leaf, graphite, that Cos spice, crushed gravel, hint of chocolate, and a hauntingly long dry finish. YUM! Terrific old school Bordeaux. — a month ago

Decant for sediment(decent chunky sediment). A remarkable still dark ruby red color. On the nose: Seductive notes of stewed plum, worn leather, soy sauce, pencil lead, mint. Taste: velvety, creamy, savory, layered, polished wine with dried dark cherry/plum, dark chocolate, tar, graphite, and a peppery-smokey earth dry long finish. YUM! Great showing and what you need in an aged Insignia. — 2 months ago

Outstanding block 5. Much more concentration and power than precious vintages. Strawberry, raspberry, pepper, wood spice. The power of the very best from Central Otago but with an elegance.
Really great pinot.
— 4 months ago
Not Y Block, but quite nice with chicken and asparagus then trout and tomato salad. Balanced between fruit and oak with a lovely finish.
Enjoyed again with chicken. — 4 months ago
+2 hour decant(decent sediment). A marvelous dark magenta color. On the nose: perfumed red fruit, potting soil, graphite, cedar lined cigar box, herbaceous. Taste: Powerful, structured wine with red fruit, currants, planting soil, spice, and a cedar-minerally-mocha lingering and evolving finish! YUM! — 6 months ago



This was a gift from a close friend who worked for Silver Oak as a garden manager until they eliminated that part of their business. Beautiful color in the glass. Ruby with a hint of rust on the edge. Aroma is complex with berries and flint. Also just a hint of pine needles. Christmas trees. Flavors are full and fine. This is BIG BOY wine. Delicious. — 8 months ago
Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim, and medium plus intensity.
Fruity nose and medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate and complex.
Showing sweet raspberries, cherries, red currants, light oak, spices, chocolates and peppercorn.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.
This is a delicious Zinfandel from Oakville in Napa Valley. Rich, fruit forward and entertaining. Elegant and interesting.
Good right out of the bottle, and better with airtime. The high alcohol is not too noticeable at this point.
Right out of the bottle it feels like a light Napa Cabernet, but gets into its own after 2 hours in the decanter, when more red fruits show up, and it feels more like a Zinfandel. So interesting.
This Single Vineyard Zinfandel is easy drinking and a great sipping wine. A good party wine too.
14.9% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$38. — 2 months ago
I’ve had this vintage several times over the last few yrs. I had it two yrs ago w/ Andy Beckstoffer & Tor Kenward. This is the weakest link I’ve had. It simply lacked the proper storage of the previous bottles I’ve had.
The color is still dark and the fruit is still intact. But this bottle has just started its plum, date, dark raisin and fig stage. Let me say again…just.
This is 13% ABV…love it. As I do with many 80’s Napa & Bordeaux’s. It does get better with each coldish coravined sip.
The tannins are well resolved and there is complete integration & evolution. Ripe, juicy; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, dark spiced strawberries & circling raspberries. Potpourri, baking spice delight-soft clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick & vanilla, understated caramel, dark chocolate baking bar to chocolate pudding, milk chocolate, moist herbs, hints of mushrooms, saline, dry soil/limestone powder, forest floor with leaves, used tobacco & leather, gentle graphite, moist clay, dark spice w/ mid palate heat, withering dark, red flowers, violets & lavender, round, rainfall acidity with a well balanced, elegant finish that lasts 90 seconds and long sets on earth & spices. — 3 days ago
Dense Ruby with a Crimson rim. Aromas of red and black berries, chocolate, and smoked meat. Full bodied and muscular. From a single vineyard in McLaren Vale which was planted 124 years ago. Silky tannins. A great red on a cold night in Winter. Love the old fashioned label which probably hasn’t changed in 100 years showing the two Kay Brothers. Hope to have the patience to drink the last bottle in say 2028 to 2030. — 3 months ago

It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.
Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.
Beautiful nose of black fruits with cedar and chocolate notes.
Full-bodied and smooth, with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, light earth, herbs, mediterranean spices, dark chocolates, tobacco leaf and peppercorn.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.
This is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. Complex and nicely balanced, fruit forward and elegant. Spicy and entertaining.
This Single Vineyard Cabernet is still young, but already enjoyable even by itself. Will continue to age nicely in the next 15 to 20 years. Showing good potential to become a 96+ point wine.
A great sipping wine that will also pair nicely with a big piece of steak.
100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were dry farmed and aged in (80% new) French oak barrels for 24 months.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$140. — 4 months ago
One of the best Pinots I’ve had from anywhere this year. Also I should state the only note I’ve been able to put on Delectable out of 4 attempts. The previous 3 have disappeared. Light in colour and a beautifully fragrant wine with Medium + intensity. 98 points from Huon Hooke and he made this comment, “A mesmerising wine - surely one of Bindi’s best ever “. I can only agree. This is a top quality Pinot Noir no matter the origin and will probably reach the end of HH’s drinking window of 2034. This Is easily of Premier Cru and in some cases Grand Cru standard. — 6 months ago

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Delicious throughout. The 2021 pours a bright garnet color with transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of Morello cherry, raspberry, cranberry, red flowers, orange zest, some tar, talcum powder, dried herbs and dry, organic earth. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. This is about as sapid of a young Classico I’ve had from Produttori. It’s a bold wine right now but some time on its side will bring more into balance. Drink now with some patience through 2051. — 2 days ago

Light golden in color.
Beautiful nose of honeydew, apples, honeysuckle, tropical fruits, spices and melons.
Full-bodied with high acidity and long legs.
Sweet on the palate with apples, citrus, mangoes, spices, honeysuckle, herbs, honey and light earth.
Long finish with sweet honey notes.
This delicious 9 year old Sauternes is drinking beautifully now. Complex and interesting. Elegant and fruit forward. Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel.
Feels very fresh, but a bit subdued and earthier right now, compared to other vintages. Will continue to age nicely in the next 40 years.
Loved the nose more than the palate here. So expressive.
Wine Spectator 96 points. Robert Parker 99 points.
A blend of 75% Sémillon and 25% Sauvignon Blanc. Aged in all new French oak barrels for 24 months. Drank from a 750ml bottle.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$450. — 23 days ago

Double decant and pour(some fine/cloudy sediment). A striking still dark magenta color with bricking. On the nose: subtle perfumed notes of dark fruit, pencil shavings, smoked meat, worn leather, tobacco leaf, eucalyptus. Taste: silky, balanced wine with some dried dark fruit, currants, earth, asian spice, dried herbs, and a graphite/dried cherry/coffee ground medium plus finish...lacks some depth and some still there sharp tannins gonna knock the score down. — 4 months ago

Hopefully Delectable will allow me to write a complete note. Here we go ….
Dark Ruby with a crimson rim. Closed on the nose initially. Straight from the bottle - should have decanted it. Rich on the palate. Latent power with much to give. Dark cherry with dried herbs still to come with further cellaring. This is the first of 5 bottles. In the early days Block 3 was the undisputed best Pinot in NZ but now Block 5 is considered along with other contenders from around NZ. Have the next one in a year. Many good judges think this is the best ever Block 3 up to this point. — 6 months ago

Light fruity aroma, dark red, medium body, dry and succulent, dark fruit flavor, paired nicely with venison. — 8 months ago
"Odedi"
Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.
Fruity nose with black fruits, cedar, chocolates, tobacco, mediterranean spices, licorice peppercorn, coffee and cola.
Full-bodied with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate and very fruity with blackberries, black currants, cooked plums, dried fruits, vanilla, cedar, licorice, cola, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, spices, light earth and black tea.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.
This is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. Rich, complex and extracted. Fruit forward, Nicely balanced and elegant.
This 6 year old Cabernet is already drinking beautifully, and will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years.
I've had many different vintages of this wine and it always delivers.
A great sipping wine that will also pair nicely with a nice piece of steak.
A blend of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$80. — 16 days ago