Alexandre Pagliano

9.1

Dark rubi robe, nose of asphalt, tobacco, cedar wood and a hint of blackcurrant. Very balanced and fresh in the mouth, complex, with a slight dry port note on the finish. Much better than the first bottle. Good stuff even if we prefer more classical vintages. — 2 days ago

with Jose, veronique and 1 other

Anthony Cammarata Jr.

9.4

What a great refined wine. The 2018 Insignia opens with aromas of dark fruit, florals, and spice. On the palate, blackberry, mocha, and plum come through with a nice texture and tannins. The finish is long, savory, and elegant. Wow! — 11 days ago

with Daniel and Michael

Scott E. Becker

9.2

[Tasted on August 22, 2020 at Home with Tom and Kathy]

Purchased wine during 2018 visit to winery. Blackberry, black currant and black cherry fruit, with graphite and spice. — 5 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Opus One 2011
Napa Valley, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A Bordeaux-style blend from one of Napa’s most iconic estates, co-founded by Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild. The 2011 vintage was a challenging, cool year in Napa, producing wines of lower alcohol, more restraint, and higher acidity compared to the opulent, sun-soaked vintages before and after. Blend typically centers on Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec.

Aromas & Flavors
Opens with blackcurrant, cassis, and dried cherry layered with graphite, violets, tobacco leaf, and hints of cedar and espresso. As it evolves in the glass, notes of leather, savory herbs, and cocoa powder emerge.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied compared to more powerful Opus vintages, with fresh acidity and fine-grained tannins. Elegant and balanced, showing more finesse and structure than richness. The finish lingers with red and black fruits, spice, and a touch of earth.

Winemaking Notes
Aged in French oak for 18 months. The cooler season resulted in smaller yields, but a style closer to classic Bordeaux restraint rather than plush Napa ripeness.

Food Pairing
Beautiful with herb-crusted lamb, grilled duck breast, wild mushroom risotto, or aged cheeses like Comté.

Verdict
A vintage that divided critics due to its lighter profile, but for those who enjoy elegance and classical structure, the 2011 Opus One is a refreshing outlier. Drink now, though it still has a few years of graceful life ahead. Cheers!
— 15 days ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Before I get into the notes, Flora Springs “Trilogy” is one of those wines from my formative years in this wine journey. Subsequently, it holds a special place in my heart. You can probably imagine how excited I was to enjoy the 1994 a vintage I likely drank long ago, out of a double-magnum no less! Giddy.

Popped and poured from double-magnum into red Solo cups and enjoyed her the course of an hour. The 1994 “Trilogy” pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and significant sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and desiccated dark and red fruits: brambles, currants, plums, tobacco, old leather, dusty earth and gentle warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin (integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and the texture is silky. The large format has no doubt had an effect on this wine’s nearly evergreen properties but what a treat! Drink now regardless of format and enjoy this in its full maturity. — 17 days ago

"Odedi"

9.2

It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

Inky in color with a short reddish rim.

Pretty nose with wild flowers, black fruits, light cedar, earth, Indian spices, dark coffee, tobacco leaf and herbs.

Full bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with black currants, black plums, cedar, cooked cherries, spices, licorice, light vanilla, tobacco leaf, herbs, peppercorn and earth.

Long finish with grippy tannins and tangy cherries.

This delicious Cabernet Sauvignon blend from Margaux is still so young, but drinking beautifully already. Rich and soft. Complex and interesting.

Showing good structure with a spicy nose. Needed a long time to open up properly.

This 2nd Growth Margaux is Complex and nicely balanced. Ripe and delicious now, but in your face kind of wine.

I had the 2018 not too long ago, and it was drinking better. Needs a few years to relax in the bottle. Would be nice to revisit it in 7 years, and will continue to age nicely in the next 20 years.

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

A blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and a touch of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Aged in (60% new) French Oak barrels for 18 months.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$90. — 20 days ago

Ivor

9.1

Lovely now with a great glass filling nose. Fresh an vibrant on the palate, juicy red fruits, cedar, smoke and cigar boxes. Delicate now after 16 years but far from over the hill. Love this wine and an incredible value. — 5 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

At the end of the Last Bottle Marathon a few weeks ago, I am surmising they cleared out the remaining Spring Mtn. Inventory. So, I bought this 2012 & a mag of 2007. Pretty good decision at $29 on the 2012 and $79 on the 2007 magnum. The 2012 is over delivering at $29.

Interesting story with this winery that closed in 2019. An investment fund bought the property & two others Spring Mtn. wineries and started investing to build them into something better. As bad luck goes sometimes, the Glass Fires followed in 2020. That was a big setback and they’re still in the process of regrouping.

The nose has a dark currents, red, blue & some purple fruits in its core. Hints of smoke, dark, sharpish spices, baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, soft used leather, fresh tobacco, barrel shavings, fresh & withering red & dark florals.

The palate shows dry, velvety, dark medium to plus tannins. Ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, hovering raspberries dark cherries with notes of strawberries & blueberries. Dark spices that press the palate with heat, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick shavings, vanillin, dark chocolate, warm caramel, some black licorice, dry herbaceous tones, moist to dryish grey volcanics/clay, crushed dry rocks, dark, rich earth with dry leaves, dry tobacco with ash, dry; dark, red, florals with withering violets, very nice acidity. The finish is long almost two-minutes, it’s well structured/tensioned for a 2012, balanced with elegance & smartly polished settling on earthiness & spice on the long set.

Has another 10-15 yrs ahead of it. — 10 days ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

Showing well at 50 yrs, still fresh with good acidity. Classic LB with red & black fruit, currant, cedar, leather, graphite, spice & tobacco leaf — 10 days ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

Youthful showing mostly black fruits with cedar, graphite, mocha, spice & tobacco — 16 days ago