Sean Sims

8.9

Wow, jam, dark stone fruit. Deep purple rim. A pleasure to drink as I grill — 6 years ago

Joe Roth

9.2

Still in great shape! — 6 years ago

with Jeff and Michael

Navi Sood

9.0

Easy summer day drink. Little on the sweeter side. — 7 years ago

with Monisha and Vinay

Mark Flesher

9.3

Nice, aged Cabernet. Debated opening this one. This started more on the plum and raisin side and a little muted. 15 minutes later? Fig and mushroom with basil and oregano, but not a whole lot of fruit. 30 minutes after that? Dirty black cherry, plums, seemed to find itself after a 31 year sleep. Rather substantial weight in the middle. Finishes with a gritty note. Tannins are definitely dropping here and this one is showing all it has. Good time to drink now! — 7 years ago

with Dan, Shay and 1 other

Angelo

9.0

Very nice! — 7 years ago

Raul Puga

9.2

Ok. Ok. Not a normal post. Side by side '14 &'15. The '15 is more approachable and has fruit coming through in bunches. However, it's clear the '14 will get better with time. Final tally was 9.5 for the '15. 9.3 for the '14 — 9 years ago

Martin G Rivard

9.8

Poured side by side with the clos des Papes. It was equally as stunning. 2003 vintage. — 10 years ago

Sarah Nally

9.5

Fantastic cab, perfect by itself or wine dinner. Great compliment with the filet mignon I had tonight. Dry, yet a touch sweet, deep bold flavors. — 6 years ago

Jessica Butler Chowning

9.0

Perfectly balanced wine. — 6 years ago

Daniel M

9.7

Blackberry jam, pepper, a bit of celer, tar, meat juice with a gamey note too. It's intoxicating and it calls for a quick dive. The palate starts with a very nice blackberry jam layer which expands on the width but soon comes a massive acid backbone which pushes the structure toward the end of the palate. It's super powerful yet very complex with different layers: some grip on the side, a buttery, creamy touch and mouthfeel, the acid backbone and some tannins which kick-start and expending finish, very fresh, with blackberry and pepper and a slightly bitter note, just underlined by the gently drying tannins. This is magnificent and comes easily in my top 3 wines all time. I love it and it's an understatement. #birthdaytreat — 6 years ago

Colin Prichett

9.3

Best value for money?!!? — 7 years ago

Joey Kee

9.2

Ha! The comments on this wine are amazingly varied. I found it very overt on a chocolate tip, and more robust on the fruit side than your usual PINOT...but I really enjoyed it, would buy again.... — 7 years ago

Alan Viader

8.9

Good fruit while still having an olive and herbal edge. Nice freshness, smooth on the palate. Actually a bit on the lighter side than expected. Not the best vintage or showing from a great house but still a good wine overall. I have had better vintages. — 8 years ago

Peter 0'Neill

9.2

A pleasant surprise, more complexity than I expected. Some coffee and brioche. Not a long term keeper but good to have around while the vintages either side of it mature. — 9 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

Mark Flesher

9.3

After an hour and a half, this one settled down. Quite "weedy" initially, but then became a very nice wine, almost with a youthful kind of nose. If tasted blind, I would have said this was a 2009-2011 high end CDP. But, there's a HINT of mushroom on the nose and front of the palate, along with raspberry tart and some mature pipe tobacco and worn saddle leather, hint of clove. Finishes with a lot of fruit influence. Tannins have resolved quite nicely on this wine. The youth of this wine is starting to give to a more mature side. Nice. In a good spot right now. — 7 years ago

David Stein

9.1

Still on the young side. Give it time before drinking. Well balanced. Length will come with more time. — 7 years ago

with Bruce

Katherine Buckner

9.8

With Collin. Nice finish. Creamy, full body. — 8 years ago

Karla Alfred

9.6

2014 Dark Side. Slightly peppery nose. Earthy, spicy, full-bodied fruit. Signature Clos Pepe. — 9 years ago

Nico J. Snyman

10

Such beautiful expressions of aged Chablis, tried the 86/88's side by side, definite aged cumquat on the '86, with a little botrytis, the '88 was a little leaner, but needed time to open up. Amazing wines. — 10 years ago