Austin Blackwell

9.3

Strawberry, black cherry jolly rancher, nutmeg, and earth aromas. Strawberry and cherry palate with great acidity and juicy palate. — 4 years ago

Mark Farrell

9.4

Medium ruby with a nose of black cherries, anise, wet gravel, mocha, pipe tobacco, and toffee. Full-bodied with smooth velvety tannins. I think this wine is in its prime. I love the bold, full mouthfeel on this wine. Nice, smooth finish. Birthday wine! — 5 years ago

Matt Nason

9.5

Beautiful herbs and red fruit, little bit of funk, classic. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

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

with Christina and James

Aaron Krauss

10

Sweet and not smokey or Petey. Rhonda loves it. Harper Seldin gave us a 10 year old bottle. — 7 years ago

Nathan Wegener

8.9

Pleasant and balanced with warm fruit and dusty oak good value. — 8 years ago

"Odedi"

9.2

It's time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

Deep purple in color, almost inky, with a short purple rim.

Fruity nose of blackberries, cooked plums, sweet cherries, cedar, light vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, coffee, light cocoa powder and peppercorn.

Full-bodied and smooth with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, vanilla, spices, espresso, cola, light herbs, earth, chocolates, coffee, peppercorn and tobacco.

Tangy finish with round tannins and raspberries.

This is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from Napa Valley. Tangy and interesting.

Spicy, rich and extracted, yet elegant. Nicely balanced with a nice mouth feel.

I had the 2018 not too long ago, and it is very consistent.

Very young, but already drinking nicely, after a couple of hours of airtime. A good quality wine that will age nicely in the next 10 to 15 years.

A good sipping wine that doesn't necessarily need food, but will be great with a big piece of steak as well.

A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Malbec, 10% Petit Verdot and 8% Cabernet Franc. Aged in mostly French oak barrels for 18 months.

14.2% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$85. — 4 years ago

John ODonnell

8.9

My tears from this morning requested the compelling allure of wienehe. ...... popapoes. — 5 years ago

Matt Bailey

9.3

Damn good!First sip was a little crisp (maybe still a little young) but for a hott summer evening really hit the spot. Definitely worth buying another and maybe another after that! — 6 years ago

Meghan C

9.4

NYE 2019-2020 — 6 years ago

Kelly Seiler

10

Tasted at Lorne 8-10-19
Love the light sweetness and fine bubbles — 7 years ago

Paco Suro

8.9

Solid #drycreek Zin. — 8 years ago

Rob Brobst III

9.3

Nice wine. It came to the party wearing a backpack, glasses and a hat with a mosquito net. — 8 years ago

with Jade and Paul

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

About 95% of grapes sourced from Carneros, aged about 8 months on 1/3 new oak with 20% of wine going through malolactic fermentation. Aromas of ripe stone fruits with slight honey oak scents. On palate complex flavors of ripe apple, peach & lemon zest, balanced with good acidity & great mouthfeel. Long finish ending with fruit, wet stone and toasty character. Very nice, will age well. — 4 years ago

John pappel

8.9

Picked up 8 cases. At 5.85 CAD a great bargain for a nice rose. A lovely Grenache for the Summer, but full flavoured enough to enjoy year round. A great second bottle after a nice Chardonnay with Thanksgiving turkey. — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Founded by Donn and Molly Chappelet in 1967 on renowned Pritchard Hill. A blend of 82% Cab Sauv, 10% Petit Verdot & 8% Malbec. Deep Ruby with aromas of dark berry fruits, cedar, cacao and sweet herbs. On the palate rich flavors of blackberry and currants with sweet oak and herbs with a great mouthfeel. Tight tannins, a bit chewy, long ending with fruit, cacao and sweet oak. Will improve, just starting to drink well now! Decant! — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Happy Spring! It’s one of our favorite points in the year. More; daylight, a little warmer in CA and everything starts to bloom which, means a long summer of gardening and being outdoors every day/night is not far off.

Since it was such a great day and basically most Californians are shut-Ins, the voluntary self quarantining was getting to me. I did the landscaping and got an afternoon of fresh air today. A breath of fresh air...ahhh! Wow, was it needed after Gavin’s Newsom’s estimate of 25.5 million Californians would be infected with Coronavirus over 8 weeks yesterday.

So, a good night to celebrate another day of being virus free with my 2nd favorite N/V Rosé Champagne.

All my numerous previous notes apply.

Stay safe everyone and remember the new terminology of the new decade...social distancing! Cheers! 🍾🥂

Photos of; Spring in our backyard & a Billecart Grand Cru Vineyard.

— 6 years ago

David Snyder

9.1

Wines from Fifi are always great — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

This wine has all the makings of being great one day. It’s just about 8-10 years more years away.

The wine is just staring to round out, integrate and show its elegance. Ruby, creamy currants, earth, graphite, tobacco leaf, stones, dark most soil, round acidity and a very well polished finished.

This is my favorite Ribeye wine and it didn’t disappoint...only that is still too young. 95-96 in another decade.

Photos of, the Chateau & grounds, newer tasting room & barrel room and Estate vines that are adjacent to Chateau Latour. — 8 years ago

David L

9.5

12’ Alexana Revana Vineyard Block 8 . The very best five barrels each year. 11 months in barrel, additional 14 months in bottle before release.

A complete waste if you don’t decant this for two hours. Gorgeous color. Nose- Dried flowers & hint of spearmint. Palate- Dark raspberries, dark stone fruits, spices, black pepper. Touch of cola.
Moderate acidity. This would benefit with a little more age. @Martin G Rivard Santa with another delivery to my door. Can’t thank you enough. Love you buddy! — 9 years ago