Mike Saviage

9.2

Dark tawny, opaque. Nice meaty nose with notes of black fruit, moist dark soil, some menthol and some slate stone. Soft and delicate in the mouth, with no tannins or rough edges. This is at peak or just a bit past... but a nice drinker right now. Good effort for the vintage. — 6 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

Bob McDonald

9.5

A complex nose of red and black berries (raspberry) with mocha, dark chocolate and coffee beans. Medium to full bodied rich earthy and berry flavours on the palate with soft yet persistent tannins. An amazing inner core strength even at 18 years which will go on for at least another decade. Richard Hemming MW had a drinking window of 2010 to 2042!! He could well be right. I have been collecting Penfolds Bin 389 for many years and the best practice is to buy at least a dozen, put it in a cool dark corner of your cellar for at least 15 years. I have 8 bottles of this 2002 left. This was a cool vintage with a long hang time for the grapes making it exceptional. 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Shiraz. — 7 years ago

Severn G

9.2

Beautiful deep purple color with a nice, translucent red edge at the glass.

Nose has plum, cedar, violets, cedar, moist earth and fresh black pepper.

Palate has plum, black cherry, bitter dark chocolate, over-ripe strawberry and faint oak.

This wine is very plumy, and just delicious. 2021-23+ for future bottles, likely in a very nice place in 8-10 years past vintage. QPR delivered at our purchase price of $24! — 8 years ago

Montana d'Agliano-Luna

9.1

Past its peak but definitely still drinking well. Still even had a touch of tannin! Definitely a treat to try — 9 years ago

David Wanek

9.8

Need to try this in a line up of other HS. The nose seems to be bigger and more aromatic on this one versus past vintages (from memory). As always super smooth, concentrated and exceedingly well made. — 9 years ago

Greg Gregory

9.4

A remarkable wine, a bit like many ‘45’s in its power and concentration. And while those who are after some more of the La Chapelle structure may be disappointed (and I have sympathy with aspects of the assessment), this is such an full expression of fruit and terroir, that I can really only cheer. Plums, orange zest, pepper and currants on the enticing nose. The palate is awash in luscious, sweet fruit, soy tinged, with melting tannins, round and soft, pure velvet past the mid palate, and it finishes with gusto, batons twirling, with layered exuberance and appealing length. — 10 years ago

JCB

9.4

Extraordinary. Slightly, slightly past its peak. Lovely berries, currants and a hint of shoe leather. Twinge of gunpowder still there but faint. Fading, fading... — 11 years ago

Knightsbridge Wine Shoppe

9.7

Bright fruit, floral and crushed stone. Still a very focused wine with lots of energy and refreshing acidity. Has not seemed to age over the past few years. — 12 years ago

Trevor Maskell

9.7

Such a polarising wine but we loved it. Colour was an amazing amber, deep yeasty flavours but that acid and balance were breathtaking. One of the best Champagnes I’ve ever had. Memorable in every way. — 6 years ago

TheSkip

9.1

A much better showing than the previous couple of times I have had this. I was so disappointed to not like this in the past. Today, a much more well balanced and rounded classic Australian Shiraz. Not jammy but certainly background notes of blackberry jam. Appropriate acidity to balance it out. I guess it just needed some time! — 6 years ago

MICHAEL COOPER DipWSET

Owner TomeVinos wine shops, WSET Level 3, Blogger www.spanishwinesandmore.com, blog.tomevinos.com

9.0

The wine is deep ruby colour. On the nose the wine has pronounced intensity aromas with primary aromas of black fruit (blackberry, black cherry, black plum); secondary aromas of oak (vanilla, cloves, coconut, cedar) and Malolactic conversion (butter, cream); and tertiary aromas of dried fruit (prune), earth and meat.
On the palate the wine is dry with high acidity, high fine grained tannins and medium alcohol. The wine has pronounced intensity flavours with primary flavours of black fruit (blackberry, black cherry, black plum); secondary flavours of oak (vanilla, cloves, coconut, cedar) and Malolactic conversion (butter, cream); and tertiary flavours of dried fruit (prune), earth and meat.
The wine is full bodied and has a long finish.
The wine is outstanding. The wine is balanced with ripe, rich and dried black fruit supported by a high acidity and medium alcohol and while tannic, the tannins are fine-grained. The wine has a long finish that is full of flavor. The aromas and the flavours are pronounced and full of nuanced tertiary aromas and flavours. It is showing typicity of an old-world continental moderate climate/vintage Syrah. — 6 years ago

Muralee Murugesu

9.2

Big Bold Barossa! Purple ink,red fruit and delicious nose. Sadly like most Barossa it lacks of earthy tones. Amazing nose! You could just simply sniff and get high on the flavours (and 14.2% alcohol). — 7 years ago

Devin Bostick

9.0

Really robust jam, that smells of leathery blackberries, brown sugar, goes a bit flat 2-4 years past its time (2004), some acid but falls away, leaving a slightly bitter raspberry taste, the color is awesome, inky red with some magenta / brown — 8 years ago

Marek Svanda

9.7

Lots and lots of vanilla. But not overpowering. Just lovely piškot flavours. Finish is never ending. Basically there is no finish as that would employ an end. Lovely stuff — 9 years ago

with Kamila

Will Stanley

9.2

Bags of mango, passion fruit and lemon wrapped up in a juicy, fresh package. Scornfully have I dismissed Cloudy Bay in the past. The 2015 vintage has changed that. — 10 years ago

Mark clowes

9.0

Aroma of Spanish flowers complex flavours' spicy with smooth tannins 2001 vintage — 11 years ago

Benjamin Hickey

9.6

Super complex, great flavours, still some fruit but lots of secondary flavours. Amazing flavours, complexity, balance and length. — 11 years ago

Jeremy Giesbrecht

9.5

Um yeah... #BOOM status granted for this at the #yulwinethrowdown . 81 not the best of vintages and wines are reportedly past peak but this first growth was not. Very interesting flavour profile, certainly secondary characteristics but structurally still pretty sound. I was glad to find it still alive and in my opinion had many more years left before the big decline. Awesome privilege to have tasted. — 11 years ago

Andrew Lampasone

Owner Wine Watch Selections

9.6

Still has a bit of red currant berry fruit notes of cigar box spice and coffee dried herbs and earth. Very smooth and silky drinking a bit past it's peak but still nice. Excellent — 12 years ago

Barry Morgan

9.6

The Canberra district's best red wine. Opulent with a heady perfume of raspberries and cassis. A smooth palate with dark plum, cherry and berry flavours. Tim Kirk is an impressive winemaker. — 6 years ago

Max Kelly

9.3

My last bottle, and caught just past peak. Beautiful cassis and mulberry fruit framed by a prominent note of pipe tobacco from start to finish. Tannins fully resolved into a soft, velvety mouthfeel. Delicious if perhaps missing that bit of structure that has given it focus in past bottles. Beginning it’s slide from secondary to tertiary. Still - lovely bottle to drink with a great friend. — 6 years ago

Stas Medvedev

9.4

🏅 Rating 94+/100 (4,45⭐)

This is my 3rd and the last bottle over the past year. It definitely sits at its plateau now and fully awake. Difficult to say when the drinking window will close down. ⁣
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Lots of energy and precision. Cabernet Sauvignon dominant. Perfumed black currant jam with leaves. Complex tertiary aromas make a beautiful bouquet. Balance of tannins, fruits and acidity at its perfection. Tannins have soften but not yet faded away.⁣
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Undoubted 2nd Growth quality. — 6 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

At the Peter Lehmann dinner at the Downs Club a few days ago. Very dark in colour - almost black. Still a detuned style from the Stonewells of 10 years ago Still manages to be rich, luscious and decadent. Dark plum and chocolate flavours. The winery says this can be cellared with confidence until 2035. — 7 years ago

Michael B

9.2

Laughing stock and specifically portfolio remains one of my favourite BC wines. It’s composed of 45% Merlot, 25% Cab Sav, 22% Cab Franc, 7% Malbec, 1% petit Verdot. The 2012 vintage is still holding well. Dark plums, cherries, raspberries. medium earthiness, mild cigar box followed by red peppers spices, cloves and anise. It is just past it’s peak but still holding well. Should drink within the next year. — 7 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

My last 2011 bottle. The estate of Sette Ponti lies in the heart of the Chianti zone, 15 miles northwest of the city of Arezzo, past the village of San Giustino Valdarno. Crognolo, aged in French Allier barriques, deep red with red fruit aromas and sweet perfumed spice. On the palate raspberry and cherry flavors, gentle spice and soft tannins with great mouthfeel. Good balance, lingering finish ending with some oak and mineral tones. Aged well. — 8 years ago

Jason Brater

9.2

Sampled over time over about 3 hrs. This needs at least 2 hrs decanting as it only started to hit its stride after it past the 2 hrs open. Lingering tannins w dark red fruits. A beautiful example of syrah. — 9 years ago

with Heather and Trent

Jim Barri

9.2

One of my favorites for past 10 years. I'm afraid new ownership could effects future productions we have wait and see. — 10 years ago

Lewis Chester

9.5

1958 Giacomo Conterno Monfortino: from Jay. This was the Ying to the Mascarello's Yang. Lovely rich ruby colour with virtually no bricking on the edge. The nose developed over the course of 15 to 20 mins in the glass. Unlike the Mascarello that was shedding perfume from the moment it hit the glass, the Monfortino needed more air before becoming less brooding. Dark fruits on the nose. Purple plums, black cherries, some forest floor, light tobacco as well as some floral elements prevailed. The palette was a reflection of the nose so no surprises. The fruit was far from dried out and this particular bottle still had plenty of life left in it but from my recent experience this is the exception rather than the rule. I have had around 10 bottles of old Monfortino ('55 / '58 / and '61) over the last year and the bottle variation, as you would expect, is tremendous with the majority of them past their prime. The finish was strong and in keeping with the rest of the package with reasonable length and quality. Drink now. 95/100.

— 11 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Notes of blueberries and touch of camphor developing savoury flavours. Could easily be Left Bank Bordeaux. Good wine but a hard act to follow after their brilliant 1997 which awakened me to how good Napa Cabernet could be. 18- — 12 years ago