Jay Kline

9.5

Opened about 90min prior to service; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 1998 pours a deep garnet/purple with an opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is just entering the transition from developing to vinous, with notes of ripe black plum, Montmorency cherry, purple flowers, cocoa, tobacco, dried herbs, fine baking spices, a touch of leather, some organic earth and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is long and the texture is almost like velvet. This is a delicious wine that seems to be just getting started. Considering the amount of fruit and structure still present at 28 years old, I expect a very long life yet ahead. Drink now with some air, through 2068. — 3 months ago

Conrad Green

9.4

Very dense and pure. Quite forequarter for Margaux but full of life and intensity. Great purity and length. — 5 months ago

with Paul and Ara

Ericsson

9.6

Young and bold with all its life ahead of itself. — 10 months ago

Andrew McIntyre

9.5

Birth year Latour for our 700th wine on Delectable! Very mature but still with lots of life. Leather, graphite and earthy notes and still so much power. A great pleasure to drink! — 3 years ago

Mike Saviage

10

Day 2 of WineBoyz Wineapalooza. Tasted blind, but the whole weekend was built around taking down this bottle so we had a good idea this was it. Deep dark reddish color with amber rims. Looks a little like an old Madeira, and darker the 61 Latour next to it. Crazy nose that evolved all day long. Deep and penetrating, very floral. Notes of dark fruit, smoked meat, black truffles, cocoa, hoisin sauce, mushrooms and dark earth. Rich and silky in the mouth. I kept a glass of this in front of me all day long so I could monitor the evolution of it. Peacocks in a way that only a few wines can. My friend got this at an auction where the consignor was the original owner and acquired it directly from the Domaine - so impeccable provenance. Clearly one of the great, all-time bottles. A freak of nature and winemaking. Thanks for sharing, Murray! — 5 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.7

From a great old looking bottle with a mid shoulder fill. Cork is fully saturated and the crud under the capsule had formed a strong seal. Slow-ox’d for a few hours, then decanted for an hour or two before taken to L’Escargot in Carmel. Amber tawny rims with a reddish tawny core. Crazy nose right from the start. Notes of sweet black cherries, tobacco leaf, plums, black pepper, ash and crusty wood, pencil shavings, some just unwrapped cigar and some menthol. Silky in the mouth with firm structure and soft but present acidity. Long and memorable finish. Outstanding performance over several hours. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

I recently had a conversation with a few Joseph Phelps Ambassador’s at Pebble Beach Food & Wine in April. I said, I had every vintage of Insignia back to 2006 in storage. They said, “you should really drink up the 2006.” So, I coravined an 06 last weekend, a taste. I agreed then. But tonight not the case, it shows it still has a fair amount of life. Another 5-8 yrs and perhaps plus.

My Ribcap, a definition of Medium Rare Plus.

The nose reveals floral; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, poached strawberries, dark cherries and blue fruit notes. Melted dark chocolate, mocha, caramel, softly layered baking spices, very underrated graphite, steeped tea, mid berry cola, red licorice, limestone powder, dry top soil, dry twig, red, dark candied to slightly withering florals w/ liquid violet cola.

The palate shows well resolved, rounded, velvety M+ tannins. Nicely ripe fruits that are floral; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, poached strawberries, dark cherries and blue fruit notes. Melted dark chocolate, mocha, caramel river, softly layered baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick & vanillin, warm caramel, dark Asian spices with palate burrowing heat, dry tobacco/ leather, cedar, grilled meats, very underrated graphite, sweet tarriness, black licorice, steeped tea, mid berry cola, red licorice, limestone powder, dry top soil, dry twig, red, dark candied to slightly withering florals w/ liquid violet cola, candied to withering; dark, red, blue florals wrapped in liquid violets, epic rainfall acidity, well balanced-structured-toned, elegant finish that lasts minutes and falls on earth & heated spice.

95-96 peaking. — 3 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

This is far too young but when I have a chance to look in on Cheval Blanc I do.

Nose shows; ripe blackberries, strawberries, dark cherries, plum, moist clays, coffee, moist herbs, roasted chestnuts, amazing florals that are red flowers, red roses, lilacs & violets.

The palate shows some nice evolution but still too young to drink. Ripe and slightly candied; blackberries, strawberries, dark cherries, raspberries & plum. Moist clays, coffee, moist herbs, roasted chestnuts, espresso, mid berry cola, caramel, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, crazy, round, bold spice, moist tobacco, used leather, graphite, dark, rich earth, dry stone, limestone, soft oak powder notes, amazing florals that are red flowers, red roses, lilacs & violets, round, rainfall acidity, balance, mid structure/tension, grand length and a two-minute long polished finish.

94-97 — 5 months ago

Aji

9.4

Great wine — 2 years ago

Paul Benson

9.3

Very smooth flavorful Pinot noir. Good vanilla notes. Great inexpensive table wine. — 5 years ago

Will Stanley

9.5

Decanted for around an hour, the recently released 2013 Grand Vin from Chateau Musar is an enormous wine at present in its youth. Gradually, it opened into a gorgeous, exotic and utterly unique product of this unlikely corner of the wine world. There’s plenty of Bordeaux-like character in the form of dark fruit and cigar box, but there are notes too of cranberry, liquorice, clove, mandarin and five spice. The mouthfeel, as a whole, has a quasi Brunello quality to it, with its bright cherry fruit and mouthwatering acidity. But woe is anyone to compare this wine to any other, for it is incomparable. One of Serge Hochar’s last vintages before his passing in 2014, and one that will doubtless have a long life. — 6 years ago

Gordana Josovic

9.5

Fabulous! A long life ahead it of, complex, wild, personality for days. — 6 years ago

Briggs Donaldson

9.0

A nice well rounded Zen. Didn't drink it with meat, just chocolate and it paired well. — 7 years ago

Bruce Leboff

9.4

Drinking magnificently. Ready to go. Lots of life left but really nice. — 4 months ago

with Michael and David

Pierre-Alain Chenour

8.9

Interesting Sauvignon blanc. Smell of passion fruit. Mid dry-sweet surprisingly — 4 months ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.5

40 years birthday crazy party. So many 1986’s. No formal notes. This was bright and surprisingly fresh. My favorite of the evening. — 5 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.6

1988 vintage. Medium body. Lighter Sauternes color. Plenty of golden/ripe notes along with exquisite caramel influence but it was the acidity that stole the show. Didn’t even have to cross the fingers, hold my breath or “pretend” it was still alive. Fully mature and raring to go. Not improving but not declining either. So much life ahead. I think “Woof!” accurately sums it all up. 3.20.26. — 8 months ago

Ira Schwartz

9.3

Regardless of vintage it never disappoints. Beautiful combination of yeast and minerals with fruit playing a supporting role. Solid core of acidity. I’m sure more life ahead but enjoy now while your ‘06 & ‘08 mature — 4 years ago

Jane Day

9.8

Bought in 2005 at the bargain price of $22. I’d been saving it. Worth the wait. It was absolutely delicious, old school, refined, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon at its peak. If I could only drink one wine for the rest of my life, this would be it (assuming availability). — 6 years ago

Justin Hart

9.3

Wow! Still bright, chalky, and full of youthful grip. Red plum, raspberry, lichee and white pepper notes are most dominant. This could easily go another few years and not be at its peak. — 7 years ago

with Cherish and Jen