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. — a month ago

Doug Craft

9.5

Drinking beautifully — 3 months ago

Stephen Fitzpatrick

8.9

2019 vintage. Immediate aromas of plum, blackberry currant, and oak on the nose. Seemingly heavy, it is not chewy on the palette, but rather a surprisingly smooth and decently structured Napa Cab. Great taste within the first 30 minutes, didn’t need a lot of time to open up, despite being a 2019. — 4 months ago

Julia Indik

9.3

Opens with currants, red apples, carob, vanilla, laced with smoke and earth. Tannins are tight and rich with moderate acidity. — 6 months ago

with Robert

Paul J

9.1

PnP. Dark red, purple color. Dark fruit with ample oak. Deep, young wine. Lovely texture. — 7 months ago

with Manish and Brooke

Turd Ferguson

9.3

Bigger style Pinot. Robust. Mildly stewed fruit and chocolatey but kept just in check. Hardly identifiable as AV Pinot Noir but very pretty nonetheless. Pair with charcoal grilled lamb chops and yayo. — 8 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

This was the WOFTN. Even better than the 03 Calon-Segur & 21 Lithology, but the Lithology had been open a week in the cooler. Still good just not its true self.

The winemakers for the 2016 Kelly Fleming Cabernet Sauvignon were Rebecca George and Françoise Peschon. Rebecca George was the day-to-day winemaker, and Françoise Peschon, consulting Winemaker.

Photo features their new consulting Winemaker, Jennifer Williams as if 7/23. — 10 months ago

Tom Garland

9.4

Double decant and pour(lots of sediment). A splendid still dark garnet with bricking. On the nose:  Wow, compelling areomatics that you can sniff all night with sweet dark fruit, worn leather, black olives, tobacco leaf, stewed meat, coffee grounds, cinnamon. Taste:  Silky, savory wine with dried dark cherry, currants, earth, leather, minerals, and a graphite cocoa long finish. YUM!!!

Drinking super well at 27 years with time to go.  One of many favorite Seavey cabs. — a month ago

with Brenda

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2023 vintage. Banging, as usual, for the price and goes far beyond. 6.24.26. — 2 months ago

KA

9.3

The Grill on the Alley BH — 4 months ago

Gregg Siegal

9.2

A gift from a friend, this is lovely, with a bit of tobacco on the nose and lively cherry and strawberry flavors on the palate. The finish goes on and on. — 5 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

I will sound like a broken record, but this is a Charles Hendricks made wine. As I have stated, in my opinion, a very underestimated Napa Cabernet Winemaker.

Patriarch is my second favorite Regusci red wine made by him. The first is Angelo’s.

I love Napa & Bordeaux history. This family were farmers before they made wine. The farmstead cart pictured is their homage to that family history. You’ll see it every late summer as you walk up to their tasting room. Definitely buy some of their homegrown vegetables when there.

The nose reveals a dark core of currants, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum with skin aplenty, plum to pudding, black cherries, baked strawberries, baked blueberries and circular raspberries, dark chocolate to cake, baking spices-cinnamon stick, nutmeg, clove, vanillin, dark spice, mocha, caramel, dry leather, oldish tobacco, graphite, crush rocks/limestone, dry top soil, dark, red, withering flowers, red roses framed in lavender & violets.

The palate entry is round, ripe, lush fruits with rounded, velvety M+ dryish tannins. There is, like the nose, a dark core of currants, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum with skin aplenty, plum to pudding, black cherries, baked strawberries, baked blueberries and circular raspberries, dark chocolate to cake, mocha powder, caramel, baking spices-cinnamon stick, nutmeg, clove, vanillin, pronounced dark spice, anise to black licorice, mocha, caramel, dry leather, oldish tobacco, graphite, crush rocks/limestone/sandstone, dry, grey volcanic clay, dry herbs, dry top soil, mint notes, dark, red, withering flowers, red roses framed in lavender & violets, beautiful, round acidity, still has nice, evolved tension/structure, excellent balance with a flowing, elegant finish that last two-minutes and long sets on clays, earth and spice.

A coravined bottle and relaid in storage from last weekend. Cork perfect with plenty of sediment. Will hold another 2-3 yrs and drink well an additional 5-6 yrs. — 7 months ago

Michelle Sakowicz

9.2

Smooth and light. Excellent — 9 months ago

Garen Staglin

9.7

2021 is amazing. Great vintage and well done. — a month ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

8.9

2023 vintage. Medium body. No distinctive attributes. Clocking in and out for work but conspicuously and consistently unavailable when needed. 7.8.26. — 2 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

I attended a luncheon-tasting recently with the Chef of Roy Estate & several other wineries participating in the tasting. Roy tasted their 2016 & 2007. I bought both. The 16 better than the 2007. Both very different & quite good. This 07 on its own is not as good as it is with steak. Moves between 93 & 94 with the Ribcap.

The nose is lush & brooding. It shows; blackberries, black raspberries, extremely dark cherries, both plums, poached strawberries, blueberries, boysenberries, dark chocolate cake, dark spices, steeped fruit tea, mid berry cola, black & red licorice, nicely, gently, layered baking spices, sweet tarriness-forest floor, leather, dry tobacco, some graphite, caramel-mocha, light black pepper, soft charcoal ash, limestone, dry crushed rocks.-top soil, candied-withering dark, red flowers.

The palate is ripe, round, lush/plush with M-M+ velvety tannins. Nothing that speaks astringent.Blackberries, black raspberries, extremely dark cherry kirsch liqueur, both plums into pudding, poached strawberries, blueberries, boysenberries, some pomegranate, dark spices with mid penetrating heat, steeped fruit tea, mid berry cola, black & red licorice, nicely, gently, layered baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin in that order, herbaceous, savory notes, understated mint-spearmint, sweet tarriness-forest floor, leather, dry tobacco, some graphite, melted dark chocolate, caramel-mocha, light black pepper, soft charcoal ash, limestone, dry crushed rocks-top soil, candied-withering dark, red flowers, excellent round acidity with good tension/structure, well balanced, long length and elegant finish for minutes that long sets on spice & earth.

From their terrace, they have the best hillside rolling vineyards in Napa I have seen. — 3 months ago

Akshay Venkitasubramanian

9.4

Amazing Pinot - not high on acidity or fruitiness- a perfect medium red wine with minerality — 5 months ago

Ming L

9.0

Sourced from the home Silverado vineyard in Stags Leap and Mt George vineyard in Coombsville, this is a young and energetic Bordeaux blend with 88% Cab.

Nose shows ripe black fruits, cedar, subtle baking spices, and hint of graphite. Full body with fresh acidity. The fruits are a bit angular on the palate with fine tannins. Needs a bit more time to polish up. Good value for an estate bottling. — 7 months ago

Paul J

9.3

1hr+ decant. Dark red color with slight bricking on the edges. Medicinal, cough syrup nose with bruised cherries. Similar on the palate with bramble and blackberries. Medium depth and a fairly tart finish. — 7 months ago

with Brooke

Shay A

9.3

Jarvis has always been such a unique producer with its incredible underground facility and fascinating lineup of wines. Their Finch Hollow Chardonnays (this one and the Unfiltered version) are outrageously expensive, but they sure know how to deliver on flavor profile.

My notes here are actually quite similar to the 2015 I opened last year, but everything is a touch more restrained. Normally quite rich with expensive oak usage, this seems nicely balanced…it’s almost fresh in profile. Sweet lemon cream alongside marzipan and sea breeze aromatically. From a phenolic standpoint, it’s close to some of the Aubert offerings with its powerful texture. Finishes with a surprising amount of honeysuckle, caramel dipped apple, and honeycrisp. This seems to be built for a bit longer aging compared to the 2015. I’ll be curious to see how the 2018 is. — 5 years ago