Jol

9.1

2013 s est ouvert plus rapidement robe presque rosée — a month 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. — 3 months ago

Tom Garland

9.3

1 hour decant(some chunky/fine sediment). A beautiful dark magenta color. On the nose: Subdued notes of dark fruit, tobacco leaf, herbaceous, charred wood, pencil shavings. Taste: silky, layered wine with dark cherry/plum, earth, iron, smoke, graphite, and a peppery mineral dark chocolate medium plus finish. YUM!!! — 5 months ago

Brad Baumgarten

9.2

Delicious. 2009 Drank on Super Bowl Sunday 2026. Still plenty of dark red fruit. Still juicy. — 8 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.0

90% Tempranillo; 10% Graciano. Red fruited perfume, earthy with medium plus intensity. Palate at 21 years is developed, balanced and soft with fully integrated tannins. Medium weight with declining strength to its inner core. Not near as good on the 2nd night. This aged overnight and finishes a little sour. I was going to give it 94 points but will now give 90 points. — 2 years ago

Edward Chung

9.2

Killer nose, cherries, leathery and highly structured with fine tannins. Benefits from a long decant of an hour plus. In fact, I enjoyed my second day sip even more??!!! Definitely will benefit from a lot more aging. Opened on Christmas Eve 2021. — 5 years ago

Sean

9.8

Drank April 2021. Still quite young and very vibrant. Well rounded tannins and great structure. Jam, plum, blueberry, blackcurrant, raspberry and pepper notes. Has another 15 plus years of life left but drinks well now. — 6 years ago

Paul J

9.4

1 hour plus decant. Dark purple color. Nose and wine were a mix of Bordeaux and Napa. Wine was fruit forward with dark cherry. Very young wine that coats your teeth. Little bit of a rough finish with some tartness and pepper. Probably needs 7+ yrs. — 7 years ago

with Brooke

"Odedi"

9.3

#AgedWineTuesday

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish/ brick rim.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with a beautiful nose.

Showing black plums, black currants, cedar, dried figs, licorice, dark chocolates, earth, rhubarb, tobacco leaf, light black tea and black pepper.

Long finish with soft tannins and tangy cherries.

This 32 year old Pauillac is still drinking beautifully, but a bit past its prime. Rich and elegant. Very complex and spicy.

This Second Growth Bordeaux needed 5 hours to open up properly, and was not that special right out of the bottle.

Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel, and still showing enough fruits to balance the earth notes.

Robert Parker 91 points.

Good by itself as a sipping wine, and with food.

A blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 8% Petit Verdot.

12.5% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$200. — a month ago

Tom Garland

9.0

Decant for sediment(minimal sediment)and pour. A majestic still dark magenta with some bricking. On the nose: beautiful notes of dark fruit, pencil shavings, menthol, potting soil, floral, grilled meat. Taste: silky wine with blackberry/dark cherry, black tea, cinnamon, minerals, licorice, graphite and a dry, astringent, spiced espresso medium plus finish with a touch of heat. Finish is not working for me, but see how it evolves as the night goes. — 3 months ago

with Brenda

JOHNMERCIE

9.1

A wonderful flavor. The crisp spiciness is very pleasant. — 4 months ago

"Odedi"

9.2

It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Earthy nose with black fruits and chocolate notes.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, cooked cherries, spices, oak, licorice, dark chocolates, coffee, light vegetables, herbs and black pepper.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Paulliac. Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel. Complex, elegant and fruit forward.

This 9 year old is peaking now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 to 7 years.

Easy drinking, and good by itself or with food.

A blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot. Aged in (75% new) French oak barrels for 17 months.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$85. — 8 months ago

Paul J

9.3

Solid. Tough to follow the Accendo. Cherry fruit with some plums are most prominent. Medium plus depth. Continuum just isn’t my style, but not bad by any means. — 2 years ago

with Brooke

Jocholla

9.2

Really well balanced. Expressive and concentrated. — 5 years ago

Tom Garland

9.2

04 was an uneven growing season, maybe a little underrated since stuck between 03 & 05...good en primeur pricing for the 04s...Got this for around $150.

1.5 hour decant (decent chunky sediment). A captivating dark crimson color with a slight bricking. On the nose: sweet red fruit, cassis, floral, cedar, smoked meat, and mint. Taste: fresh, nice acidity, good structure, med to full body wine with blackberry, dried herbs, spice box, pencil lead, with a plum vanilla medium plus finish and a little tannic kick at the end.....few more bottles in the cellar to follow over the next few years. Cheers! — 6 years ago

with Brenda

"Odedi"

9.2

Dark ruby in color with a wide purplish rim.

Earthy nose and medium plus in body with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing red and black fruits with cedar, earth, tobacco leaf, herbs, peppercorn, mediterranean spices and chocolate notes.

Tangy finish with fine grained tannins and raspberries.

This Bordeaux blend from Napa Valley is extremely young and needs 10 years in the bottle to mature properly. Elegant and fruit forward, yet restrained.

I've had many different vintages of this wine, but never had it so young. Not as powerful as some other vintages, but already complex and nicely balanced.

Feels like a good quality Left Bank Bordeaux, and will continue to age nicely, and get better in the next 20 years.

Robert Parker 95 points. Wine Spectator 92 points.

A good 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. Aged in new French oak barrels for 18 months.

14% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$490. — a month ago

"Odedi"

9.2

It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

Dark ruby in color with a purple rim.

Beautiful nose and medium plus in body with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing red and black fruits with cedar, licorice, chocolates, herbs, light earth, spices, tobacco leaf, dark coffee and light green vegetables.

Spicy finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This iconic Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from Santa Cruz Mountains in California is still very young, but already delicious, even by itself.

Needs a few hours to open up properly, and will continue to age nicely in the next 30 years. Showing good potential to become a 95+ point wine.

A great sipping wine that paired beautifully with my Lamb chops.

A blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Aged in American oak barrels for 20 months.

13.8% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$300. — 4 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

Brief notes. Dense crimson with a ruby rim. Traces of cowyard, (mild Brett?) also blackberry and black pepper notes. A rich palate of medium plus intensity - savoury and earthy notes and black olive. A fantastic food wine. Love this style. One of the better world expressions of Syrah. Have my last bottle in early 2028. — 8 months ago

"Odedi"

9.2

#AgedWineTuesday.

When in Rioja, drink Rioja.

Reddish in color with a wide reddish rim.

Nose of red fruits with earth and mildew notes.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity and mouthfeel. Elegant and restrained.

On the palate red fruits with earth, light wood, spices, coffee, dark chocolates, tobacco leaf, herbs, light wet leaves and peppercorn.

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

This recent release of this Rioja Reserva is drinking very nicely now.

A good quality wine. Easy drinking, and a good food wine that I paired with dried meats and crackers.

This 11 year old feels so very young still, and will continue to age nicely in the next 25 years.

Needs time to open up properly, but good right out of the bottle too.

A blend of 70% Tempranillo with Garnacha, Graciano and Mazuelo. Aged for 6 years in used American oak barrels.

13% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$60. — 3 years ago

"Odedi"

9.3

To celebrate 5,500 reviews on Vivino, here is a beautiful wine from Washington State.

Dark ruby in color with a short brick rim.

Sweet nose of blackberries, black currants, sweet cherries, cedar, leather, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco, herbs and black pepper.

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

Dry and fruity on the palate with sweet cherries, plums, blueberries, oak, light vanilla, spices, espresso, cola, light vegetables, leather, earth, tobacco, vinaigrette, peppercorn, pencil lead, light bell pepper and dark chocolates.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cranberries.

This is a great Syrah from Washington State. Showing great complexity with a nice mouthfeel. Elegant, yet rich. Just Beautiful.

This 12 year old is drinking very nicely now and will continue to age nicely in the next decade.

Needs 3 hours to open up properly and show some tannins.

Wine Enthusiasts 100 points. Robert Parker 97 points.

I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.

Tasty and delicious.

14.4% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$275. — 7 years ago