Ron R

9.3

I’ve always had a sweet spot for this producer. When I saw the WS rating, I had to try it.
It’s my sort of Napa cab, without the nosebleed at the checkout. Rich, plush nose of coffee and maple syrup. Presents with depth and texture on the palate. Tannins are ripe, indicating longevity. I’m going back to the well! — 7 years ago

with Mo

JJ Lumia

8.9

Current and mushroom bouquet. Plum and licorice flavors, little heavy on the licorice. Medium bodied. A WS Top 100. — 8 years ago

Boris Mathiszik

9.2

Delicious Brunello. WS 94 Pts. I don’t see it quite there, but beautiful wine. Winner of tasting. — 8 years ago

JJ Lumia

9.4

From the Haro-Lumia Tasters' Dozen. Apparently I had this almost a year ago; I have zero recollection. Anyway....slightly different tasting notes. A lot of rich blackberry fruit, mixed with some accents of plum, followed by a lot of road tar and hints of chocolate. Rich with a lot of depth. Amazing now, but patience will be rewarded. A WS Top 100. — 8 years ago

Jim Wagonfeld

9.0

WS95. #3 WOTY 2013. Red and dark fruit, earth. Lots of wood and a short finish. Decent but not great imho. Perhaps an effect of the hot year. Overrated by WS I think. — 9 years ago

with Valerie and Judy

R J Thom

9.5

Love. Just a magical WS Pinot — 9 years ago

with Askly

JJ Lumia

9.2

Different notes from last tasting. Black cherry wrapped in generous heaping of currant and clove. Finish is spice-filled and memorable. WS Top 100. — 10 years ago

Velma Cooper

9.3

Velma had this 10 years ago

Dave Wood

9.3

Fabulously full with great acidity and balance. This was possibly the best WS I have had to date. — 10 years ago

Josh Bennethum

9.6

The 2011 Wine Spectator wine of the year. 100 points by WS. This bottle lives up to the accolades. Wowza! — 11 years ago

Jason Gestring

9.4

93 points ws. Great wine with filet! — 12 years ago

Rob Brobst III

9.6

Wow wow wow WINE OF THE YEAR 2013 WS! I see why. — 7 years ago

Shay A

9.4

What a Friday group tasting put on by Dan! Killer wines. 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 5 reds, 1 dessert. All blind.

This was my favorite of the 3 WS pinots. Muddled raspberries, juicy cranberries, and a killer dusty/earthy finish. This is drinking really well right now. I actually guessed mid-2000s WS Pinot ✔️. — 8 years ago

with Dan and Weston

Ken Z

9.1

Drank 4/4/18. Nice pairing with steak fajitas.

Nose of cassis with some earthy notes. Flavors of tar, blackberry, black cherry, earth, and some red fruits on the midpalate. Finishes with red cherry, firm, drying tannins, and some oak, vanilla, and spice notes. Long finish. This could go another 10-15 years, but is nice now with some decanting.

3/21/8/4/5 +50 = 91 pts

WS went 93 pts on this. I can't quite get there, but it is one of the best wines I've had at this price point ($17 total wine) — 8 years ago

Dario Scimeca

9.3

WS is consistently good across blends and vineyards, but this is better than most. — 8 years ago

with Heather

Matt Trader

9.3

Fairly familiar with these guys. The Bacci family is producing some increasingly serious juice at all 4 of their wine labels, but the Brunellos are proving to be their best. The 2010 Reserva was num. 49 top 100 on WS, and 100 pt rated by James Suckling. This vintage of the baseline Brunello received a 95 pt critique. Now that the factual formalities are out of the way.. the wine.

Needs a bunch more time in the bottle and if consumed this year, loads of decanting. Orange burgundy rim, and a dark ruby core. Full of smokey cedar, oiled leather, dried thyme/oregano combo, underbrush, and black plum skins. The pallet is full of intense tannin structure, and balanced food friendly acid, exhibiting notes of wild cherries, green and black peppercorn, vanilla, clove, anise, and a faint touch of coffee bean lingering with the herbaceous finish. This is a modern approach to Brunello, or in general Italian wine - French Barriques, and shorter maturation times - as opposed to using big neutral oak barrels "boti" to produce a wine that is less focused on the influencing flavors of new oak, and more focused on the character of the fruit and the terrior. The traditional style needs more time to age to be appreciated, but styles like this modern one will age quite well, and can be approached sooner (most would say the best of both worlds). For $50, an impressive value wine from the DOCG of Brunello di Montalcino. — 9 years ago

JJ Lumia

9.2

This is really under-rated. I can see why. You need to want this. The initial blackberry is immediately overtaken by a heaping amount of road tar and tobacco. It's awesome, but not for everyone. Velvety mouthfeel, but the tannins remain powerful on the finish. Needs some more time to settle down. WS Top 100. Terrific value here. Practically stole this for $20. — 10 years ago

JJ Lumia

9.0

A strong bouquet of cherry and earth. Raspberry, earth and fresh cut herb flavors dominate. Strong, grippy tannins have bite and will help this age well. Hold if you have, or give a long decant. WS Top 100. — 10 years ago

George Yasutake

9.6

100 pointer & WS Wine of the Year.....Fabulous nose, silky smooth, great finish....Best Insignia to date (rivals 1997 & 1998). Thank you Brian.
— 10 years ago

with Brian

Rafael Landestoy

9.1

This was WS wine of the year a little while back and it was lovely. Not sure woty worthy but excellent nonetheless. — 11 years ago

with Ilida

Shawn R

9.5

Perfumed nose of cola, bing cherry hints of nutmeg, cardamom and leather. Acid in this wine integrates well, giving it lift from the front to the back of the palate. Soft textured showing cashmere, sassafras and blueberry. Long supple finish. My favorite of the WS line up. — 8 years ago

Boris Mathiszik

8.9

So here comes the WS of the year top 100 # 41 tannat from Uruguay but I don’t quite see the 90 points. Maybe more decanting and more focus next time... — 8 years ago

Brian Reedy

9.5

One of my favorite vineyards of WS. — 8 years ago

with Sarah

Владимир Иванов

9.0

полностью готово, гладкие танины, средняя кислотность, сильная ароматика (черная смородина, табак, дерево глубокое и теплое); долгое послевкусие; WS 92 — 8 years ago

Loren Gesinsky

9.3

1st time having Foss. Seems like great and distinctive addition to WS portfolio. — 9 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

I'm drinking my last 02. The 02 is drinking fabulously. WS grows such great fruit and 02 a very good year. Dark cherries, dark raspberries, stewed strawberries, a little rhubarb pie, cola, red licorice and sweet mineral dust. Finishes with long beautiful fruit. — 9 years ago

JJ Lumia

9.2

Prior tasting notes mostly apply. Pear, melon and mineral. Some honey notes showing through. Crisp and juicy with some small oak influence. The mineral finish is long and mouthwatering. More developed than 6 months ago. A WS Top 100, and a terrific QPR. — 10 years ago

James K

9.3

WS #6 WOTY. Great with steak. — 10 years ago

with Kyle

Henry Fuseler

9.0

Went very well with the crown roast!! #33 WS 2013 Top 100 — 11 years ago

Tim Burke

10

A gift from Bob's own cellar, my first WS that Burt Williams made himself. Spectacular! And wine the way it was, 13.2% alcohol — 12 years ago