stunning bottle of wine. wow. — 20 hours ago
Exquisite. Cherry notes balanced with earth. — a month ago
lifted. hunt or red floral- lavendar? medium tannins. high acid. fuller mid palate than Sonoma Coast. — a month ago
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. — a month ago
Ventura. — a month ago
Great wine, probably past its prime time, but still aromatic, well balanced with lime notes. — 23 days ago
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. — a month ago
Had at Kavel's: Notes of dark cherry, cola, baking spice, a touch of vanilla oak, and soft tannins. — 2 months ago
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
Low acidity with a nice butter finish. — 4 months ago
2022 vintage. Nice enuff in the front and mid-palates with plenty of fruit, spice and richness. Dwindles on the finish and, like nearly all 2022's from Napa, missing that kapow/blammo at the end. 8.19.26. Missed the 2021 and haven't seen the 2023 but feel like they'll come through with the goods. 8.19.26. — 20 days ago
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
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. — 2 months ago
Drinking wonderfully! — 2 months ago
Cherry, raspberry, blueberry, cinnamon, and oak. Maybe a touch young but still delightful. — 3 months ago
Paul J
PnP. Great restaurant value. Dark purple color. Bold wine with great depth. Black fruit with meat and menthol. — 20 days ago