Dark, inky color. Smooth. Chocolate, plum. Solid choice. — 5 years ago
I enjoy this red blend more than most and will continue to have a bottle on hand as it makes me happy. Not good enough? See other, longer, reviews if you want adjectives. Alternatively, buy a bottle and try it for yourself and share with a friend at a party. It’s a fan favorite for-a-reason. And that reason doesn’t have the word “berry” or “legs” or “mocha” — 7 years ago
Bordeaux-Style Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (68%), Merlot (28%), Petite Verdot (2%) and Cabernet Franc (2%). Dark ruby color with purple highlights. Brilliant nose of plush red fruit, graphite and high quality oak. Bold red and black fruit flavors with hints of earth, cocoa, dried herbs and spices. Very long and Smokey finish. Bold, complex and concentrated. Tannins are very smooth. Nice choice, Kasey! — 3 years ago
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
NW. Decent but not spectacular — 4 years ago
Don’t stop now....my word. Parker was right. It drinks beautifully early. Wow. — 5 years ago
The word that comes to mind when drinking this wine is POWER! Big blueberry/blackberry/plum fruit with hints of chocolate, coffee and licorice. Mint and dried spices on the finish. Even though it’s a full bodied powerhouse (15.5% alcohol) it is still elegant and well structured. The tannins are amazingly soft and the wine has wonderful depth. Great effort! — 7 years ago
Wine from our Fredericksburg trip. From 4.0??? — 7 years ago
Anders Berglund
Friskt syrligt gott — a year ago