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. — 5 years ago

with Christina and James

Ron R

9.3

I’ve always had a sweet spot for this producer. When I saw the WS rating, I had to try it.
It’s my sort of Napa cab, without the nosebleed at the checkout. Rich, plush nose of coffee and maple syrup. Presents with depth and texture on the palate. Tannins are ripe, indicating longevity. I’m going back to the well! — 7 years ago

with Mo

GabWine

9.6

When we open from 1987, we expect everything. One thinks of its conservation in cellar, the risk that it is passed or incredible, with the tannins having evolved in this vial ... The cork pulled-out, in perfect state and one knows in advance that one hit the jackpot and that it will be phenomenal. A coppery robe, a complex nose with aromas of black and floral fruits. In the mouth, an explosion of flavors that take the length and makes us go back in time. A very large estate for an incredible wine, to fall 😍🍷 — 7 years ago

Carl Fischer

9.4

Back upstate and starting with a quick split and caviar to get things back on track. The softest bubbles, brioche, yeasty, toasted almonds. Yum. Great balance to the brine. Christmas Carols have switched to George Michael. Can this year please end already?!?!? — 9 years ago

Katherine Morris

8.9

Strong acidity but excellent body. Complex notes off the palate. Cherry off the back of the tongue. Great with steak. — 9 years ago

Steve Matthiasson

Owner/Winemaker Matthiasson Wines

9.6

1985. Tasting this was like sitting next to a WWII vet on a train...some respect for an old school gentleman...they don't make wines like this any more: herbal, pencil shavings, cigar, tea, lots of acid, grainy tannins, light body, refreshing...let's bring cab like this back! — 10 years ago

Charles Hudson

9.3

Very pleasant - slight jamminess on the front berries on the back. Paired nicely with the food — 10 years ago

Lewis Chester

9.4

2002 vintage Rose. Light salmon, copper hue. Chalk, wet rock to the fore. Red currant and cranberry. Slight blossom notes. Iron fragments. On the palate, very lean and balanced as is the Crystal style. Not the concentration of the white 2002. If there's any tannins here, you have to focus to notice them. Maybe at the back end there's a touch of weight from the tannins. Very young - too young. Don't touch for 7-10 years. Makings of a great wine as acidity is so balanced with the fruit. Love it. NB: Pinot cold macerated for 4 days - to extract colour but little tannins. Then blended with Chardonnay and co-fermented. Quite unique. No added red wine per se. — 10 years ago

Austin Ferrari

Wine Director Hillside Supper Club

9.6

Real wine! Lapierre takes me back to the chez days! — 11 years ago

with Aran

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

After a long week of heavy Napa & Bordeaux Cabernet tastings, I need my, baby back...baby back, BSR 375ml! Ahhhh! 🍾🥂 — 6 years ago

MaJ CappS

8.9

¡Feliz día de los muertos!
Time to scare the dead back to the beyond.
A wine from gnarled Vince’s should do the trick.
Smells of gun powder tea.
decanted for 4 hours, and the fruit is lush with dark ripened berries, and heavy handed spices. the burn will not blow off so one must integrate it into the tasting. High octane.
Expensive for a Zin, yet so well crafted, as we know Turley does.
The lingering acids seething with the alcohol burn. Enjoyable still.
— 7 years ago

Michael Mathews

9.2

Moving up. I love Zins. This is moving up in the world.....2 pinots down. Going down easy today friends. Bottle on deck after this is something special. Hint: Paso Robles, principal player...... — 7 years ago

with Michael, Jeff and 7 others

Nathan Liang

9.6

Held its own through the back half of a classic nouvelle cuisine menu at maison rostang. Excellent wine with hints of tobacco, spice and mineral despite the protein and fat heavy second half. — 8 years ago

Patrick Derdeyn

9.3

I kept coming back to this wine. Usually stands out in a lineup like this because it's a BDB, but tonight it fits right in and is drinking beautifully. The best Comtes I've had to date, I need to find some of these with more age. — 9 years ago

Merritt Santino Raül Gilé

9.1

Had this back-to-back with the 02 CCB. Bouncing from the Franc to the Sauvignon was kind of like getting off a crazy MV Augusta test ride and back on to your reliable, familiar, well worn BMW R. You love that R. But my god the MV.... — 9 years ago

with Alison

Michael Mathews

9.1

At Redstone w/Shelly. Just back from Orlando w/Rettke. #pro — 10 years ago

with Rick, Jeff and 2 others

Ray Isle

Executive Wine Editor Food & Wine Magazine

9.6

From magnum. Kept changing every time I went back to it. Spectacular wine. — 10 years ago

Tom Riley

9.2

Twelve years in and this wine is so damn perky. Let me get back to you in another hour. Maybe it will be a tad less exuberant and a bit more relaxed. No matter what happens it's still gonna be delicious. These folks are so delightfully reliable. 13.0 abv — 10 years ago

Christine Havens

9.4

This is one of those life-altering, once-in-a-lifetime bottles; the 1989 Montrose is about beauty and perfection, with restraint. A blend 65% Cabernet, 25% Merlot, 10% Cab Franc, much like a great Burgundy, it's multi-faceted without being the least bit heavy. Perfumy, ethereal aromas of back currant, blueberries, mint, truffle, leather and earth. Silky on entry, with ultra fine tannins that glide across the palate, only to gracefully crescendo in a seemingly endless arc of minerals, cedar and fruit. — 11 years ago

Chris England

9.7

Incredible potential loaded in this top St Julien from a top year @ £145 paid now £200-235 this is a monster 😈 superb now but wow in 10-20 years juice of the gods 😍 Had eased back since a year ago as it was more full on then 😉 This wine will outlive me 😁

📍 Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou 2010

🏵 97-98 points w/ 100 potential in time 👍

🍇 90% Cabernet Sauvignon & 10% Merlot

🍷 Opaque blackened deep ruby

👃 Heady intense hit of blackcurrant, mint leaf, dark plum & violet w/ soft oak, minerals, mocha, liquorice & fresh cedar

👄 Med+ body of mocha infused creamy smooth plump blackcurrant w/ cocoa, damson compote & blackberry jam

🎯 Long mocha & liquorice blackcurrant smack in the choppers 💥 w/ a mineral & blackberry kick — 7 years ago

Shay A

9.4

Wonderful evening at the City Club courtesy of Jeff’s hosting at the Friday group. Cellar guessing Jeff is a dangerous game as he’s the type who plans to throw curveballs! All wines served blind.

Ageless. Based on color, I immediately thought Napa but the palate had me second guessing. Some rose petal, spice and tart cherry. Cedar. This tastes so much younger than the ‘88 I opened a few months back. Wonderful wines. — 7 years ago

with Dan

Mono Head

9.0

2006 -lighter , dry. A little dry and light for me. When coming back to this it’s quite nice. 9.0. $260 — 7 years ago

Rupesh Parikh

9.2

What a great cab; structured yet fruity; minimum tanins in the back end; loved it — 8 years ago

Shawn R

9.3

Back in the good ol' days of Silver Oak...I bought several on release knowing very little what my wine future would hold. Cellared perfect, green/bell pepper and straight up dust on the nose. Plenty of fruit and tannins with bright acidity. Mouth fills with a ting of cherry, cola and a mineral element. Finish comes then goes. Hint of spice on the back side. — 9 years ago

Greg Rubin

8.9

A little over the hill but considering it was in the back room of a crappy liquor store...ill take it! — 9 years ago

Allison Muma

9.2

Loved this Zin. Hubby and I drank the bottle in one sitting. — 9 years ago

Matt Forester

9.2

2001. Not the highest expression of Comtesse. We had the '94 and '01 back to back and the '94 was worlds ahead. The '01 seemed backward and awkward, aggressive and tannic. Still enjoyable. — 10 years ago

with R

Thomas Hughes

9.5

I was disappointed with my last Caymus Special Selection vintage, but this beauty brought me back to a bottle that won Wine Spectator's #1 Wine of the Year ... Twice!! Incredible fruit and balance. This can be cellared and enjoyed for years to come. Cheers!! — 10 years ago

Karen Bicknell

9.1

Like the flavor of this wine just for kicking back and relaxing. Smooth and enjoyable. — 10 years ago

Tina Termsomket

9.6

Carried this back 8 years ago when i visited Bodega the first time. This wine is traditional classic old school Rioja- earthy and fully developed primary nose, soft acid n tannin, haunting finish... 🍷💃 — 11 years ago

with Jon