Alessandro Dalle Carbonare

9.7

Beautiful subtle aroma from Merlot makes it pretty. Its free spirit nose makes you feel what the wine is going to be about. Drinkable and fresh. Apparently missing weight but it doesn’t miss a bit all the way thru the tasting. The aftertaste is long and very, very pleasant after one minute. — 2 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

The nose reveals slightly sour & bruised fruits. Bruised golden apple & pear, overripe pineapple, lemon meringue, green apple, lime zest/candy, melted, salted caramel, honeysuckle, white & yellow peach, brown butter, caramelized brown sugar, hints of mint, sea fossils, grey volcanics, whiff of white spice, vanillin, bread dough, yellow lilies, spring flowers with mixed floral greens.

The palate is rich, lush, round, a touch gluey & full. Nice mousse, micro-oxygenation, slightly sour & bruised fruits Bruised golden apple & pear, overripe pineapple, lemon meringue, green apple, lime zest/candy, melted, salted caramel, honeysuckle/honey comb, white & yellow peach, inside banana peel, brown butter, caramelized brown sugar, nougat, hints of mint, sea fossils, gritty, penetrating chalkiness, grey volcanics, some white spice with nice lighter heat, vanillin, bread dough, yellow lilies, spring flowers with mixed floral greens. Excellent acidy. The long, even, fresh, well balanced finish persists nicely and is delicious.

Nice bottle and well priced at $38 w/ deluxe gift box.

Photos of; House of Roederer, caves with A-Frames for the hand Riddlers, walk through tunnel and marquee Grand Cru vineyard. — 6 years ago

Andrew Lohse

9.0

Citrus, tropical, melon / ripe, fresh fruit / peachy softness, almost vanilla / north of neutral, super charming — 8 years ago

Peter Wassam

9.8

A softened ruby color. Beautiful balance, everything in harmony. Wet earth, raspberry, cinnamon, a whiff of truffle, intoxicating nose. So much ripe, fresh red fruit on the palate. Such soft tannins, damson plum, a mineral streak running through. Drinking a 15 year old wine for 15th anniversary of diabetes. This is splendid in the moment — 9 years ago

BurgundyFan

9.5

In a magnum format, this 2002 had very little signs of maturing but it was delicious, fresh, the crispy nose is something amazing in Montbello — 10 years ago

Rachel Merriam

Wine Director Casa Mono

9.0

Gulpable goodness. Bright fresh mineral white smoke berry fruit #zinccountertop — 11 years ago

John Malcolm

9.8

Fabulous. Paired with lobster. Fresh and refreshing. Right up there with Cristal and Pol Roger Winston Churchill as my favorite champagne. — 2 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

Jared Keddy

9.0

Whips me away to a land of yore. Pears. Zest. Fresh yet gentle winds. — 8 years ago

Cathy Levy

9.5

1998 vintage... decanted first. Then tasted a burst of fresh cherries. Delicious! — 9 years ago

Heath Higgins

9.3

Lighter body. Fresh, spicy, kirsch, and leather. Better than expected — 10 years ago

Neil Cornish

8.9

Out of 3 liter. Fresh and minty! — 11 years ago

with Michael and Jon

Nose Reiko

9.6

I love this Blanc de Blancs ! Fresh crisp but rich also. It was nice to have this with my friend's celebration with great Sushi ;D — 12 years ago

Jan de Weerd

9.2

Nice, fresh and vibrant Sauvignon blanc from New Zealand. Gooseberry (reminded me of growing up on the farm at home) and hints of subdued grapefruit. Beautiful light gold color, crystal clear. Not from Marlborough on the northern end of the South Island but Martinborough on the North Island. Very interesting region that grows all their grapes on a strip of 3-4 miles long and 1-2 miles wide raised tectonic plate of alluvial gravel. Pinot noir is king in this region, but this Sauvignon blanc was also very nice. — 5 years ago

with Tammy

Jon Bergqvist

9.7

Top shoulder. Got the cork out in one piece. Absolutely perfect bottle with a lot left to give. Thick balsamic fruit, soft tannins, integrated oak, fresh acidity, everything in absolute balance. In a way almost perfect on the verge of lacking a bit of personality, but only almost. This has 10 years of life ahead of it but No reason to wait. — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Had this over a year ago, this is a new batch, a Fav! Rodolphe Péters took over the reins of this venerable estate in the southern Côte des Blancs in 2008, becoming the fourth generation to lead since the estate was founded in 1919, under the name Camille Péters. 100% Chardonnay, Crisp, fine mousse with steady flow of bubbles. Citrus, and biscuit aromas. Fresh fruit flavors of peach, apples and lemons, smooth and dry. Long mineral finish ending with elegance. Nice! — 6 years ago

Paul Masson

9.2

Charming, textbook mature Chinon with freshly ground black pepper and barely ripe raspberry. With air, a more exotic spice profile unfurls alongside earthy and floral flourishes. Fresh and lively in the mouth, with lightly gripping tannins promising another decade of aging potential. A compact wine, but complex, and complete from nose to finish. Imported by Louis Dressner, this vintage was purchased recently at Wine Warehouse in Charlottesville, VA. — 9 years ago

Jeremiah

9.0

Citrusy, effervescent with fresh fruit aromas, passionfruit, peaches, simply delicious — 9 years ago

John B. Paterson

Wine Director Frankies Spuntino & Prime Meats

9.3

Freshest of the fresh. Magnum. — 11 years ago

Steven Hammer

9.6

Nose of menthol, jam, black tea, old cedar. Complex. Balanced mouthfeel with notable acid and decent heft. Finish layers through cigar to licorice and fresh pepper. Just right now. — 11 years ago

with Lauren