The 2012 Insignia is in great shape today. Bright acids lend tremendous energy to a mid-weight Insignia that is more about finesse rather than power. Sweet red-fleshed fruit, cedar, tobacco, mint and rose petal are all beautifully delineated. There's not much left to say. The 2012 offers tons of pure pleasure. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, May 2024)
— 9 days ago
2024 spring. This has taken something of the place of de Villaine’s La Fortune due to price and availability - for now. Sigh… — 16 days ago
Still one of the best Napa Cabernets for the money. 12 a fruity & very high yield vintage in Napa Valley.
12 is a fruit leaning vintage. It is juicy, ripe, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum pudding, some boysenberries, cedar, medium plus tannins, dry tobacco, leather, dry leaves, expresso, French barrel shavings, sandstone, dark, rich, sweet, turned earth, stems, black, rich, sweet earth, steeped tea, alluvial limestone minerals, baking spices, liquid, dark, red, purple flowers, w/ rainfall acidity and an elegant, rich, fruit driven finish that lasts nearly two-minutes.
12 a vintage to age, but not long age. Lacks the tannins to do what 13, 14 will.
Happy birthday Angela. — a day ago
It’s always a resounding ‘YES’ for JL Chave!!
That includes this luscious and concentrated Syrah from Saint-Joseph AOC in the Northern Rhône of France.
Domaine Jean-Louis Chave is a benchmark and icon of the Rhône Valley – a family-run operation since 1481 – with an entire range of deliciousness through the Domaine Jean-Louis Chave and JL Chave Selection portfolios.
This wine is deep ruby, trending on purple. It has pronounced aromas and flavors of boysenberry, blueberry, black cherry, cassis, pomegranate, also violet, bacon, sanguine, saddle leather, pipe tobacco, clove, cigar, damp earth, and black peppercorn. Alcohol is high (14.5% ABV) with medium (+) fine-grained and well-integrated tannins, medium (+) acidity, a medium (+) body, and a long, elegant finish.
It has a rustic and savory character with robust dark fruit notes; it’s layered, complex, structured, and age-worthy, benefitting from decanting. Still, it’s tasting wonderfully now.
Cheers to JL Chave and treasures of the Rhône!! — a month ago
Great, love Hervé’s wines! Been a while. Black, blue and red berries, medium-light bodied (12.5% abv) and very subtle effervescence on opening. Low tannins, young, long fresh finish, a little vegetal. Unfiltered. — 6 days ago
2019 vintage. Pinot Noir from Burgundy, Grand Vins de Bourgogne. This is an appellation wine from a thin, sloped strip of land called the Cote de D’or then you travel to a hillside in the Joseph Drouhin vineyard for Gevrey-Chambertin. This is a delicious wine. It’s designated as an intro wine from the region — appellation. The pinot noir vineyards in Burgundy trace back to medieval times. Button mushroom and spice on the nose. A light, Balanced, silky, long finish, cherry, Pomegranate, a bit of potting soil moderate acidity that is balanced with low tannins. Get a case. If this is classified as an appellation wine from producer Joseph Drouhin, I can’t wait to try a Villages and Crus. — 9 days ago
In a nice place at shade under 10 years. Popped and poured and was surprisingly ready to go, though 30 mins in the glass helped for sure. Nice mouthfeel and density. Tannins are there but very well integrated. Good dark berry fruit and some pepper on the long finish. Delicious with steak and a pork chop at The Grill. — a month ago
Lee Pitofsky
Love these wines. Rare to find with some age! 2011 is superb tonight, complexly aromatic wafting layers of dark fruit, olive tapenade, camphor, bacon fat and black truffle. The palate shows excellent density and concentration with balanced acids, melting tannins and a stunningly long finish. Beautiful wine. — 14 days ago