Jay Kline

9.4

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2012 Terrace Select pours a deep garnet color with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of black currants, blackberries, tobacco, Poblano pepper, mixed flowers, dried herbs, fine warm spices and dry, gravelly earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and the texture is divine. At the very early stages of its window, this is already exceptional. Wonderfully complex and delineated. Drink now through 2047. — 11 days ago

Matthew Cohen

9.6

N: muted. Complex. Pink roses. Floral.

P: silky tanins. Really juicy. Long. Almost sweet tart. Hint rubber.

Grapevine 285 — 6 months ago

Robert Torretti

9.1

Nice, cool-climate California Pinot Noir. Good red and dark fruits on the palate. I served it a bit too cold, but as it warmed up, the earthiness that this wine is known for came through. I don’t love California Pinot, but Rhys almost always impresses me. — 7 months ago

Nathan Renfro

9.8

This wine is absolutely gorgeous! Give it a 30 min rest in the glass. Bright ripe fruit nose. Silky mouthfeel, the perfectly ripe black and blue fruit comes forth, followed by intense minerality, soft yet grippy tannins leaving a slightly chalky mouthfeel. So elegant, such finesse. Graphite, black licorice, blueberry pie, baking spices, hint of mocha. Superb medium-long finish. It’s this experience that makes Dr Crane one of my favorite vineyards. Absolutely love this wine and this vineyard! — a year ago

Jason and Jennie

9.6

B did a great job in 2017. This is an outrageously good cab franc. Big wine but tastes like cab franc. Minerality, hint of green, plush dark fruit. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Been awhile since I pulled out an Insigna.

The 03 Pichon Lalande is the better wine and steak pairing. However, Napa Cabernet is the choice to finish steak and enjoy on its own after. You never want to do Napa before Bordeaux IMHO. It’s much harder to adjust from sweeter to something more earthy.

Enjoyed the 05 as my score reflects. I don’t remember it being as sweet as it was in previous tastings. Still quite good. It just tipped my sweet scale a little too much.

The body is, rich, lush & round. It’s achieved good evolution after 13 years in bottle and will continue to improve over the next 6-8 years and last another 15 years. As I mentioned, the fruit was ripe & sweet. Blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, plums, hints of blueberries and strawberries haunting the backend. Rich, dark earth, Rutherford dusty tannins and dry soils, purple cola, touch of fresh tobacco & graphite, light baking spices of; cinnamon, dash of clove, nutmeg and vanillin, anise to black licorice, saddle-wood, used leather, dry stems, some dry, crushed rocks/limestone with red, dark, purple and blue florals. The acidity round and nicely executed. The finish was similar wire to wire. It’s, lush, rich, elegant, touch too sweet, polished, well balanced & knitted with a soft, persistent, dark spice on the long set. Very enjoyable second bottle.

Photos of; Joseph Phelps Winery & sloping estate vines, inside lounge are with views of the back side, tasting terrace and front lobby/salon area upon entering past check in. — 6 years ago

with Christina and James

Tom Garland

9.5

Diamond Creek Vineyards
Decades of Rarities event...........
1993, 2003, 2013 library vintages along with the newly released 2023 vintage. With winemaker Graham Wehmeier.

All from 3Liter:
1993 gravelly meadow
1993 red rock terrace
1993 volcanic hill
2003 gravelly  meadow
2003 red rock terrace
2003 volcanic hill
2013 gravelly meadow
2013 red rock terrace
2013 volcanic hill
2023 gravelly meadow
2023 red rock terrace
2023 volcanic hill

@Diamond Creek Vineyards,  Napa — 10 days ago

with Brenda

Christian Fischer

9.6

So we are tasting the 2005 side by side with the 2007. Both decanted and both are singing. This is a difficult call and I am giving both a 9.6 rating, not willing to rank one above the other. Deep and complex flavor profile. Incredibly smooth. Fantastic wine. — 2 months ago

Jan de Weerd

9.4

This wine was awesome! It sang like the person in the opera of the Olympics closing ceremony. On all cylinders. Layers of beautiful bright dark blue and red fruit flavors carried by very present but super silky tannins that gave it ‘stop-in-your-track’ intensity. All in beautiful harmony. — 7 months ago

with Tammy

Scott E. Becker

9.3

[Tasted on February 1, 2026 at Tom and Kathy’s house with Tom and Kathy]

Cherry and strawberry fruit, with black tea, spice and rose petals. — 8 months ago

Mark Laumann

9.2

Fathers Day - Mal brought back from St Helena - US Open - Matt Fitzpatrick wins — 4 years ago

with Mallory

Andrew

8.9

Crisp, apples — 6 years ago

Benjamin Hickey

9.2

Dark berry, bright pepper — a month ago

William Lauder

9.6

Amazing Beckstoffer Cab — a month ago

John Malcolm

9.6

Outstanding! Luscious, full-bodied. Tasting cassis, black cherries, and blackberries. Fabulous bouquet and a long, satisfying finish. — 2 months ago

Steve Rura

9.3

Berry compote, black cherry, raspberry, vanilla, dried cranberries. Semi-sweet long finish with dried herbs. Big wine for a big snowstorm, with spaghetti. — 7 months ago

Duane Mason

9.8

Absolutely great California Cab. Wonderful wine with fruit and tannin in perfect balance . Great job Mike Smith — 8 months ago

Jack Gyben

9.5

Beautiful Cabernet.amazing with a prime NY..
Fantastic 2012 Cabernet. So right! — 5 years ago

Kelly Gould

9.7

Same maker as prisoner. Dark fruit. Delicious. So good — 5 years ago

Chris

9.7

Big Saturday, feels good to wash away a 2016. Cherry and blueberry and raisin with long palette and a soft finish. — 6 years ago