FabianG

8.9

#unitedpolaris — 2 years ago

Patrice Conxicoeur

9.1

Toscana blue blood. Slightly restrained but beautiful. — 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

Cate Harmon

9.8

crisp and strawberry-y — 8 years ago

Y Kwon

9.4

Definitely old worldly. Blackberries, blue berries, graphite, crushed stones and plenty of tannins. This will age for a long time. — 8 years ago

Conrad Green

9.5

Glorious stuff. Dark fruit. Inky blue fruit with sandalwood and intensity. Splendid stuff. You’d think this was 20 years old. Spectacular. — 9 years ago

with Walker and David

Steve Parker

9.0

Fresh and well balanced. Not over worked. Lovely Chardonnay. Paired nicely with fresh pasta, Okanagan to Matt and hand peeled shrimp. — 9 years ago

Paul K

9.5

👃 is incredible. Black and blue fruit + olive.
Medium+ body, chewy mouthfeel. Blackberry, currant, black cherry, touch of dust, and acidity that is Corison. This is my favorite Napa Corison. Different than the ‘14s, ‘16’s, and 18’s that I love. Thanks @Cathy Corison !! — 4 years ago

Patrick Peters

9.2

Dry, good acidity which is a little unusual for a Riesling. Good weight, bright color, this wine is delicious! — 5 years ago

with Sarah

LM Segal

9.5

I’ve long held that these basic Beauca’s are, with some age and in great years, among the best value priced cellar gems around. This bottle proved it. Tasted like it was bottled yesterday, on pop alcohol and plum compote. After 1.5 hrs a completely different animal, concentrated black and blue fruit, tar, charcuterie smoke and old leather. Seamless and round. More Burgundy vibe than ever expected. Long as the night. Wow. Good for at least another 10 years in the cellar. — 6 years ago

Paul Rollett

9.0

Earthy and tons of red berry goodness. Classic pencil eraser on the nose, great Gamay! — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

When it comes to my B-day, there is only one fit, an old Pichon Lalande with my Ribeye. As a lover of Bordeaux, these two are my favorite pairing. It’s a very slow walk to the finishline. A small bite of steak and a sip of 89 Pichon Lalande. Then, repeat until finished. I had some concerns about this bottle. A slightly slippery and crumbling cork. The first sip was not bad, but not what you want or are expecting. After some time in the decanter, it really started to shine. On the nose; ripe, ruby, floral cassis, blackberries, dark sweet & sour cherries, baked strawberries, blue fruit hues, dry cranberries, baked rhubarb, saddlewood, soft, used leather, bay leaf, touch of sage, hint of spearmint, eucalyptus, vanilla, cinnamon, crushed dry crushed rock powder, black turned earth, dry brown soil with clay, tobacco leaf and perfumed red florals with violets. The body is full, round and silky. Tannins are well resolved at around 80%. The texture, length, tension and length are in a sweet spot. The fruits are ripe, ruby & expressively floral. Blackberries, dark sweet & sour cherries, baked strawberries, blue fruit hues, dry cranberries, baked rhubarb, saddlewood, soft, used leather, bay leaf, touch of sage, hint of spearmint, eucalyptus, vanilla, cinnamon, crushed dry crushed rock powder, black turned earth, dry brown soil with clay, scorched earth, tobacco leaf and perfumed red florals with violets. The acidity is just a little off but still nice. The finish is divided nearly equally in fruit, earth, florals and herbaceous. It’s very enjoyable but falls just a little short in longer, lingering length. This bottle had good storage, not great. Even so, still has another three to five years ahead. A bottle with excellent storage has another five years beyond this one. Photos of; the backside of Pichon Lalande, angled terrace view of their vines right next to Latour, my steak & twice baked potato (so good) and CEO Nicolas Glumineau. — 8 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Deep Ruby, aged for 18 months in French oak, about 25% new, aromas of red and blue fruits with spice and earthy scents. On the palate flavors of plum, cherry and blueberry with some spice and cacao. This full-body wine had velvety smooth tannins, well balanced, long finish ending with fruit, spice and earthy character. — 4 years ago

Arleigh

9.0

Fruity, not heavy or too sweet — 5 years ago

Lynn Derbyshire

9.0

Delicious w/ grilled pork chops and roasted cauliflower. Smooth, with a hint of sweetness, I want more! 3/13/20 at home w/ Chas — 6 years ago

Shay A

9.5

WNH event number two. Rhône varietal wines with TX BBQ...a match made in Heaven!

Enjoyed this towards the end of lunch as it seemed to be on he heavier side. If I tasted blind, I may have gone with WA state Syrah...there was a richness to this that translates to bacon, ripe black and blue fruit. Less red fruit and spice but more fig, bayleaf and blackberry. Not herbal or funky (olive like) but the concentration and power here is impressive. Youthful. Will be dreamy stuff in the next few years! Well done @Bill Bender . — 8 years ago

with Mike, David and 4 others

Neal Ferry

9.0

Generally I pass on California Pinots, however this one is well worth the time — 8 years ago

Joe Flo

9.8

This bottle is much better than the last one. Blue, red and black fruits along with a hint of floral notes. This wine is rich, with inky black currant & blueberry finish. — 8 years ago

Jeremy Buss

9.1

Excellent Riesling! Bright acidity. Dry and some citrus on the palate. — 9 years ago

Jose Espinosa

9.6

Combines with everything — 9 years ago