Tom Casagrande

9.0

Night 2 notes. The oaky notes from being first opened on night one are gone. It’s a little softer, higher in acid, and less intense than other vintages I’ve had. Nose has bright, ripe red berries, some brambly notes, and irony earth. On the palate there’s nice intensity on entry, but it flattens out a bit in the finish. I’d say this is for earlier drinking than the typical Storybooks I’m used to. — 11 days ago

Conrad Green

9.4

Very dense and pure. Quite forequarter for Margaux but full of life and intensity. Great purity and length. — 2 months ago

with Paul and Ara

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.6

1988 vintage. Medium body. Lighter Sauternes color. Plenty of golden/ripe notes along with exquisite caramel influence but it was the acidity that stole the show. Didn’t even have to cross the fingers, hold my breath or “pretend” it was still alive. Fully mature and raring to go. Not improving but not declining either. So much life ahead. I think “Woof!” accurately sums it all up. 3.20.26. — 5 months ago

Jeroen Koenen

9.7

Music ‘n Magnum tasting..
🎶 Monty Python - Always look on the bright side of life. — 8 months ago

Keith Ward

9.3

Beautiful Cab Sauv from a stellar year in Napa! Can’t beat Montelena for structure, balance and a long shelf life. The only comparable wine (I’ve tasted) from this vintage is Shafer Hillside Select. This wine was fruit forward, mid pallet of aged leather, tobacco, nice tan is and a finish that lasted until the next sip!! Drink now, but would still be a very nice wine 10+ years from now!! — 4 years ago

Austin Blackwell

8.9

Lighter bodied than even some of their Pinots but has decent balance. — 6 years ago

with Angelina

K Brooks

9.1

Still quite nice with roasted chicken breast. — 4 days 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. — 10 days ago

Ericsson

9.6

Young and bold with all its life ahead of itself. — 7 months ago

John Pavlovich

9.6

Opened for my 80th birthday. Wow, at its peak, deep cherry colour, fresh, vibrant, complex with amazing depth and flavours, a long aftertaste. So tasty. — 8 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

In typical Calon-Segur fashion, still kinda of a baby. Nice evolution but plenty of life left in this warm vintage Calon-Segur. — 9 months ago

Paul Benson

9.3

Very smooth flavorful Pinot noir. Good vanilla notes. Great inexpensive table wine. — 4 years ago

Gordana Josovic

9.5

Fabulous! A long life ahead it of, complex, wild, personality for days. — 6 years ago

Bruce Leboff

9.4

Drinking magnificently. Ready to go. Lots of life left but really nice. — a month ago

with Michael and David

Pierre-Alain Chenour

8.9

Interesting Sauvignon blanc. Smell of passion fruit. Mid dry-sweet surprisingly — a month ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

2014 vintage. From a 375ml effort. Tasted after being open for 1.5 hours and in the 48-50 degree range. Heavy bod. Plenty of candied orange fruit and unfiltered honey/mead. Just starting to get “interesting.” Needs another decade to add the ole pizzazz. 3.21.26. — 5 months ago

Vino Joe

9.3

It was more subdued than I expected. I tend to like the Merlot heavy Bordeaux but this one was still a bit muted. Perhaps it needs more time even though it’s well in its recommended range. Dark and heavy. Solid but left me underwhelmed. Decanted. Better after an hour. — 7 months ago

Zachary Zerbe

9.3

Incredible wine, tons of life left. — 9 months ago

Nick Jouras

9.4

Double magnum still has a lot of life left we sure enjoyed it with the crowd!! — 10 months ago

Jane Day

9.8

Bought in 2005 at the bargain price of $22. I’d been saving it. Worth the wait. It was absolutely delicious, old school, refined, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon at its peak. If I could only drink one wine for the rest of my life, this would be it (assuming availability). — 5 years ago