Alexandre Pagliano

9.2

This was great but not same level as prior bottles. Perhaps a slightly off cork ? Medium dark rubi robe, nose of blackcurrant, top soil and balsam with hints of cedar. Ever so slightly reticent tannins but overall great length and good complexity. Great now, but no rush. — 4 months ago

with Jose, veronique and 4 others

Alexandre Pagliano

9.2

We had it on a diner with friends. Food was a bit of a disappointment considering the reputation (and the price tag) but the bottle was frankly excellent. Tell tale claret which is delivering the goods now but no rush. — a year ago

with Jose, veronique and 1 other

Andrew Cullimore

9.2

Medium ruby garnet , narrow garnet rim . Quite deep spicy tobacco , cassis , redcurrant , grafite , smoky herbal notes on the nose. On the palate this is quite restrained and elegant , with a mix of red and dark fruits , cassis , blueberry , red currant , touch of menthol also . Good refreshing acidity and slightly gritty tannins , good length with grafite and tobacco stained finish . This is showing well and is probably at peak at the moment , no rush as it will stay here for another 8-10 years or so . — a year ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2013 vintage. Both excellent fill and cork. Decanted with infinitesimal sed. Slightly silvery color. Tasted after 1.5 and 2.5 hours open. Medium body. Nose slightly reticent during both tastes. Black tea and eucalyptus prominent first go round with both those still present but minimized second pass. Sprinkle in some cracked black pepper and white sage for round two and we have a winner. Finish lasted over a minute and the concentration was as expected given the decent street cred. No rush to crush but open waay early/decant this if enjoying in the next handful of years. 10.24.24. — 2 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

1999 vintage. Decanted and tasted after four hours. Medium/heavy body. Intense, dark color. Earthy, tannic nose. Plenty of grip and fruit and showing beautiful balance now. Not an Insignia fan but this was excellent and has plenty of quality time left. No rush to crush. 71% Cab, 21% Merlot, 6% PV, 1% Cab Franc, 1% Malbec. 3.5.24. — 3 years ago

Byron Fuller

9.4

Stunning. I often find I prefer LdH reasonably younger (GRs at the 10-15 year mark). This was vigorous, gorgeous, and very fine. Tiny bit of bricking but really still dark-core garnet color right on pour. Lovely nose of warm red fruit, flowers, that iconic snap of VA, and some forest floor action. But much less mushroomy & evolved than many other 70s GRs from the same house. Haunting, long palate true to nose— structured, crunchy fruit with no hard edges. Exceptionally long & evolving the whole time. All in all this has decades ahead and is evolving slowly and marvelously. No rush to drink up just to drink. — 3 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

1988 vintage. Feminine-styled. Ran into some resistance back in the day with the (re-) emergence of this Château and the massive 85/86 and 89/90 efforts. Eff all that. The 1989 AND 1990 vintages probs the best this Château has ever realized. The 1988 slid in then and performed delicate magick. That cocoa powder and blueberry combo still coming forth with undeniable impressions. Whereas those four “bigger” vintages rocked harder, all four have had more noticeable drop off. This 1988 just doing its best La Mission Haut-Brion/Haut-Brion impression and pulling it off. No rush to crush. 5.13.26. — 4 months ago

David Kline

9.6

2013. Dark presence with violet-black from edge to end. Unctious. El Capitan tears with solar flare outcroppings linear paralleling across the cliff face. Lovely mushroom and earth interplay here with blackberry bourgeoning and black olive wisps. Forêt Noir leanings with brittle and toffee behind a curious veil of grill smoke. Palate is met with a rush of intense flavor, warm dark chocolate and raw nib, concentrated black cherry, cedar, blackberries and red currant, ripe blackberry, licorice, tobacco, and a drop of treacle. Wild resonance! Flavor permanences.

#Colgin #colginIXestate #2013 #Napa #StHelena — 6 months ago

David Koenen

9.4

Tobacco, black cherry, bramble, licorice, sun-dried tomatoes, inky, powerful tannins, there’s absolutely no rush to open the next bottle. — a year ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

Popped and doubled decanted. Not that much sediment yet. Nose is rich in iron-scented wet clay, with sweet, dense cherry fruit trying to push its way through. Some dried underbrush as well. Densely-flavored initially, and then the relatively crisp acids take over, and the palate thins out a little but lingers. Flavors include barely-ripe cassis and dark cherry, with loads of minerally clay notes. Bone dry. Still feels a bit tight. Drinking well now but no rush. — 2 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.4

Youthful, full bodied, old school style of Bordeaux with sweet black fruits, cassis, cedar, leather, graphite, spice box, cigar ash & tobacco notes. No rush with many years ahead — 2 years ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.5

Golden Lemon colour . Rich nose , vanilla lemon tart , toasted nuts, touch of butter . Persistent and rich , ripe lemon , candied peel, orange rind , yellow fruit , quite creamy . Good acidity, lovely balance , rich though still mineral on the finish, structured. From now , though absolutely no rush , probably even better in 5 - 8 years, will last another 10 years. — 3 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.6

1990 vintage. Wow. Whatta nose! Haven't had this since the mid-90's when it was a mere baby and tight as nails. Could smell this all night long. Oodles of impressively dark color and still medium-bodied. Nose prefaced the previous life of this wine as a total, in your face, tannic bad-ass, tattooed love boy. Flavor profile revealed a more delicate, plummy and slightly plushy finish. Smoother and fatter than expected on the back end. One of the best wines this estate has ever made and no rush to crush. This wine will outlive you and your retirement funds. — 4 years ago

Alexandre Pagliano

9.2

Medium dark rubi robe, does not look like a 40 year old wine. Nose of top soil, cedar wood, spices and a hint of flowers. Very good length and with polished tannins, medium bodied, great acidity. The wine is fantastic now but no rush. Great stuff. — 4 months ago

with Jose, veronique and 1 other

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2016 vintage. Decanted. Tasted after 2.25 hours. The usual dark fruit for this producer overriding all controls and doubling as the tannin police. Not the easiest wine to slip into. Excellent stylistically. In zero rush. 4.9.26. — 5 months ago

David Koenen

9.5

Gorgeous nose! Grilled red pepper. Charcoal, thyme, warm earth. Pleasant, still quite rough tannins, iron and blood in the aroma, ink, iodine, sun-dried tomatoes, balsamic like acidity. Brilliant now, no rush. — a year ago

Tom Garland

9.5

1.5 hour decant(decent chunky/fine sediment). A remarkable purplish magenta color. On the nose: very aeromatic notes of black & red berries, truffles, loamy soil, worn leather, tobacco leaf, floral, herbaceous. Taste: soft, elegant, balanced, layered mouthfeel wine with blackberry, dark plum, leather, crushed granite, dried herbs, and a spiced cedar long finish with some dusty tannins. YUM! At the start of its drinking window with 20-30 years to go, so no rush. — a year ago

with Brenda

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2015 vintage. Decanted and tasted immediately. Very little sediment. Medium-medium-heavy body. Structure and both ample grip and fruit in a beautiful balance currently and for the foreseeable future. No rush to crush. Revisit in a decade. Wowzers. 5.17.24. — 2 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2005 vintage. Decanted and open for 3.5 hours before tasting. Intense and spicy richness in the frontal palate/gums. Harmonious the rest of the journey. Very very close to opening the door to the hall of mirrors and entering the "zone" of optimal drinking. Still pretty youthful and no rush to crush. At least two decades of gorgeous enjoyment ahead. Even the greatest wines change themselves in the looking glass. 5.17.23. — 3 years ago

Alexandre Pagliano

9.2

Blackish purple robe, nose of cigar box, asphalt, blackcurrant and a hint of black pepper and spices. Medium bodied and very velvety, good length. Ready now but no rush. A really good bottle from a vintage we dont particularly like. — 4 years ago

with Adriana