Jay Kline

9.2

Opened three days earlier. The 2023 pours a deep ruby/purple color with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of ripe brambles, lavender pastilles, bacon fat, black pepper, and fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. A delightful pairing with Bison ribeye. Young but showing its potential. Drink now through 2043. — 7 days ago

Paul J

9.7

Dark gold color. Slightly past prime. Needs 20 minutes of air. Pears, popcorn, cream, and nuts on the nose. Same on the palate with some vanilla and coconut. Super deep wine with a long finish. I love aged Napa Chard!! — 21 days ago

with Brooke

Ken Venezio

9.2

Twomey's 25th anniversary RRV Pinot. Expressive florals both on taste and nose. Red cherry opener and I get a bit of smoke and dusty soil. Medium mouthfeel and mild tannins. The wine is well-balanced and quite expressive through the finish. — 25 days ago

Elmars

9.3

Great wine, probably past its prime time, but still aromatic, well balanced with lime notes. — 11 hours ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.1

To much of a fruit bomb good wine just not for me. — 2 months ago

Bob Boyle

9.2

Drinking wonderfully! — 2 months ago

Stephane Bardin

9.2

Low acidity with a nice butter finish. — 3 months ago

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. — 16 days ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.8

Beautiful, whip-smart Northern Rhône Syrah with blackberry, violets, granite and, after air, a gorgeous olive note running through both the nose and palate. The texture is sleek and refined, with excellent freshness, fine tannins and a long, elegant finish. Not quite as complete or tightly composed as the monumental 2019, but still an exceptional Gonon and a brilliant expression of the vintage. — a month ago

Andrea Watt

8.9

Very nice and classically Californian. Oak forward with cream followed by pear and a balancing touch of citrus. A little oakier than my favorites but still nice. You’ll like more if that’s your style. — 16 days ago

"Odedi"

9.1

Reddish in color with medium intensity.

Fruity nose with cherries, fresh raspberries, light oak, spices, chocolates, earth, herbs and tobacco leaf.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with strawberries, raspberries, fresh cherries, light oak, chocolates, herbs, earth, light tobacco and black pepper.

Good length on the finish with fine grained tannins and tangy pomegranates.

This 3 year old Pinot Noir from Russian River Valley is starting to drink very nicely now.

Fruit forward and easy drinking, elegant and nicely balanced. Tangy and refreshing, complex and entertaining.

Will continue to age nicely in 5 years.

I gave it a light chill and had it all by itself.

100% Pinot Noir grapes were aged in (35% new) French Oak barrels for 9 months.

13.9% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$45. — 2 months ago

Andrea Watt

9.4

Cherry, raspberry, blueberry, cinnamon, and oak. Maybe a touch young but still delightful. — 2 months ago

Jake Hajer

9.2

Clean fruit. Mixed peppercorn. Tasty old world Syrah. — 4 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

My first of nine bottles. Good first look. 13 such an excellent & big vintage. This is still midway to the top of the bell curve. 15-20 yrs plus depending on storage & taste.

The 2013 fruit clusters had small berries that were nicely ripened by the season, which meant more skins vs berry that gave it tannins, structure & depth.

Epic vintage.

The nose reveals; a lift of sage & rosemary. Black currants, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, dark cherry liqueur, anise core to black licorice, sage, soft rosemary, dark chocolate to pudding, mixed cola, steeped tea, some black pepper, limestone, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil, dry twig, grey volcanics, withering to dry; dark, red, purple flowers.

The palate is round, lush & thick. M+ dry, velvety tannins that penetrate deeply w/ teeth. Black raspberries, black plum, dark cherry liqueur, anise core to black licorice, sage, soft rosemary, dark chocolate to black plum pudding, caramel, dark spices w/ heat, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon to stick, vanillin, mixed cola, steeped tea, some black pepper, limestone, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil, dry twig, moist clay, grey volcanics, leather, graphite, moist tobacco, oak barrel shavings, withering to dry; dark, red, purple flowers, round, rainfall acidity with a rich/lush, nearly balanced, still strongly toned/structured, elegant finish with length & teeth that lasts minutes and lands on spice & earthiness.

It is still a baby. Plenty of life ahead. It has much more to offer. 15-20 yrs depending on storage and age taste. Add 1-2 points in 10 yrs. — 2 days ago

Maggie Harrison

9.2

lifted. hunt or red floral- lavendar? medium tannins. high acid. fuller mid palate than Sonoma Coast. — 11 days ago

Gladys Xiques

8.9

Exquisite. Cherry notes balanced with earth. — 3 days ago

with Karilyn

Robert Swart

9.0

Had at Kavel's: Notes of dark cherry, cola, baking spice, a touch of vanilla oak, and soft tannins. — a month ago

Brandon Boesch

9.4

Such a great nose of fruit and flowers. Palate coating fruits and citrus and acidity. Outstanding — 2 months ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

This was youthful with rich cherry, red berry fruits, earth, baking spices, mineral & floral tones — 2 months ago

Damian

8.9

Strawberry jam, high alcohol, red fruit compote. — 4 months ago