Brian Hearty

9.2

2023. Sausage and beef stuffed peppers called for a big red and this young Zinfandel blend hit the spot. — 13 days ago

Stephen Osgood

10

8% alc. GORGEOUS bright red sparkler. Drink it cold. — 3 months ago

David Miska

9.1

Really like this. — 7 months ago

Evan Buyze

9.0

Really nice and refreshing. Has some tannins but not overly dry or sweet. Would drink again! — a year ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

My last Little Wine #8 - see previous notes, from only 17 weeks ago - these will be brief. A blend of 5 vintages of 2015 to 2019 inclusive. Very much the product of ancient vines which it is. Black fruits with plums and dark chocolate with those trademark silky tannins and low acid. One could not help but love this. I see Suckling gave this 97 points. I just took delivery of this year’s allocation which is mainly from the fabulous 2021 vintage in South Australia. — 3 years ago

"Odedi"

9.1

It's time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

Inky in color with a short reddish rim.

Fruity nose with black currants, black plums, blueberries, ripe cherries, light cedar, light earth, vanilla, black pepper, chocolates, coffee and pencil lead.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and long skinny legs.

Dry on the palate with plums, black currants, coffee, oak, vanilla, vegetables, black pepper, spices, chocolates, dark coffee, herbs, tobacco leaf, leather and earth.

Medium on the finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a very nice Cabernet Sauvignon based blend from Napa Valley. Still young and will benefit from some bottle aging. Has good potential to become a really nice wine.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 90 minutes of airtime. Really nice nose once it opens up.

Would be nice to revisit it in 5 years, however, already drinking nicely and showing nice complexity.

The Malbec seems very dominant at the moment. Spicy and tangy. Fruit forward and tasty.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with cheeses and olives.

A blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot and 8% Malbec. Aged in mostly French oak barrels for 18 months.

14.2% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$85. — 5 years ago

Matt Bailey

9.3

Damn good!First sip was a little crisp (maybe still a little young) but for a hott summer evening really hit the spot. Definitely worth buying another and maybe another after that! — 6 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2012 vintage. Double decanted and tasted after two hours. Light-medium body. Most overt impression was a black cherry note. Otherwise, it was all about endless delicacies, nuances and subtleties. NSG before the "global warming"...aka ripe years since/including 2015. Was indicative/evocative of a ton of excellent, early '90's Oregon Pinots that roped me into this gangster life. Missed that cru...er...crew more than realized. At the top of the bell curve and likely so for the next 4-5 years. Phenomenal and not to be missed. 7.19.26. — 23 days ago

"Odedi"

9.2

Inky in color with a reddish rim.

Fruity nose of black currants, plums, licorice, light cedar, earth, cola, herbs, spices, tobacco leaf, dark coffee, black tea and light garigge notes.

Full-bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with black plums, currants, oak, light licorice, spices, dark chocolates, earth, tobacco leaf, cola, herbs, peppercorn and light vegetables.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This young Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from Napa Valley is already drinking beautifully. Rich and fruit forward. Nicely balanced with a smooth mouthfeel. Elegant and complex, spicy and tangy.

Delicious now, and will continue to age nicely in the next 10 to 15 years.

The alcohol is nicely integrated already, although not as high as typically from this region.

Robert Parker 95 points. Wine Spectator 92 points.

I've had a few vintages of this wine and this is not my favorite, by far.

A great sipping wine that will also pair nicely with a big piece of steak.

A blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot and 1% Malbec.

14% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$450. — 4 months ago

Chris Palmer

9.2

Langdon thinks this is a great wine for the $9.99 price. It’s growing on me. — 3 years ago

Austin Blackwell

9.3

Strawberry, black cherry jolly rancher, nutmeg, and earth aromas. Strawberry and cherry palate with great acidity and juicy palate. — 4 years ago

Mark Farrell

9.4

Medium ruby with a nose of black cherries, anise, wet gravel, mocha, pipe tobacco, and toffee. Full-bodied with smooth velvety tannins. I think this wine is in its prime. I love the bold, full mouthfeel on this wine. Nice, smooth finish. Birthday wine! — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

A blend of 76% Cab Sauv, 8% Cab Franc, 7% Merlot, 5% Malbec & 4% Petit Verdot, 18 months in 60% new French oak, deep Ruby, purple edges, with aromas of berry fruit, sweet herb and earthy spice. On the palate flavors of cherry, ripe blackberry and currants with notes of cacao and sweet herbs. Long finish, grippy ripe tannins ending with graphite and earthy mineral. Drink now & over next few years. — 6 years ago

"Odedi"

9.2

#AgedWineTuesday

Golden in color.

Strong nose of citrus, yellow apples, light pineapples, spices, light cedar, earth, herbs and white pepper.

Full-bodied and elegant with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with limes, light grapefruits, spices, light oak, earth and herbs.

Long finish with limes and almonds.

This delicious 10 years old Chardonnay from Napa Valley is still drinking beautifully. Very complex, elegant and nicely balanced.

Still showing enough fruits to balance the earth notes. Nicely aged, and will not get better from this point on.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 20 minutes of airtime.

It's always nice to try these kind of aged wines. Good by itself as a sipping and with food.

100% Chardonnay grapes were aged in (34% new) French Oak barrels for 8 months.

14.2% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$75. — 14 days ago

Peter Sultan

9.0

A softer, sweeter style I don’t usually associate with Lauer. Still, this is my bath water I want to luxuriate in… — 5 months ago

with Owen

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.2

1986 vintage. Sampled 5 bottles for a BDX dinner at Mister A's-San Diego. Double decanted and tasted through 5 hours. Rustic and chunky. Zero finesse but it's Montrose. Can hold steady at this quality for another 7-8 years easy. 3.14.24. — 2 years ago

Aaron Rankin

9.2

Very much ‘No Girls’ in that this tells exactly you what it is and how it’s feeling. Feed it simple comforts and it’ll love you forever. Interesting and earnest, if uncomplicated.

Very approachable young while showing the Cayuse funk kiss. This is going to enter my rotation of burger wines. — 4 years ago

John pappel

8.9

Picked up 8 cases. At 5.85 CAD a great bargain for a nice rose. A lovely Grenache for the Summer, but full flavoured enough to enjoy year round. A great second bottle after a nice Chardonnay with Thanksgiving turkey. — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Founded by Donn and Molly Chappelet in 1967 on renowned Pritchard Hill. A blend of 82% Cab Sauv, 10% Petit Verdot & 8% Malbec. Deep Ruby with aromas of dark berry fruits, cedar, cacao and sweet herbs. On the palate rich flavors of blackberry and currants with sweet oak and herbs with a great mouthfeel. Tight tannins, a bit chewy, long ending with fruit, cacao and sweet oak. Will improve, just starting to drink well now! Decant! — 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