Peter van den Besselaar

9.4

Vintage 1995 | Vanilla, forrest wood, true to type, well balanced but also tannins - very good effort — 21 days ago

Willie Carter

9.8

What a superb wine, first and foremost. Just so beautiful and powerful. A deep, dark burgundy color in the glass. The nose is pure and alive with cherries and blackberries initially. Oak, as ever, along with a slight hint of vanilla and earth. Really pretty floral notes which accentuates the total package.

Terrific depth and balance here. Every now and again Napa reminds you of what it can really be. Very modern and elegant with so much personality. Everything here is restrained and refined. The fruit on the palate is dramatic and fresh. Vibrant red fruit with the customary woodsy elements. A touch of tobacco and well integrated smoke just for good measure. The finish is long and lusty and leaves you wanting more. Made for the long run for sure but so delicious now. A true gem of a wine. — a month ago

Delectable Wine

Follow to learn about our favorite wines & people.

9.6

The 2012 Insignia is in great shape today. Bright acids lend tremendous energy to a mid-weight Insignia that is more about finesse rather than power. Sweet red-fleshed fruit, cedar, tobacco, mint and rose petal are all beautifully delineated. There's not much left to say. The 2012 offers tons of pure pleasure. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, May 2024)
— 10 days ago

Sylvie schryburt

9.1

Excellent. Doit être bien aéré. Sec, bien généreux mais pas corsé. Un mélange de cèdre, prune, tabac, fruits rouges confits s, bien équilibré, aucune lourdeur. Les goûts sont plus doux que le Faustina V. Excellent avec un ragoût de veau marsala. SAQ $31 — 22 days ago

Garen Staglin

9.8

Amazing. Fruit acid and balance. — 25 days ago

Ira Schwartz

9.6

Tasting group meet up with many of the regulars not able to attend . I knew the organizer invited someone whom we had not tasted with in about 15 years . He certainly made an entrance bringing this, in magnum no less. When poured it showed a fine mousse but it faded quickly. A very broad nose that hinted of some age. In the mouth it was like a sports car traveling a highway. Almond , brioche and some oxidative notes sped thru my mouth. The flavors accelerated only to linger similar to when you take your foot off the accelerator. Coasted effortlessly with no need to step on the brakes — 2 months ago

Joe Weinberger

9.4

In a wonderful spot. — 5 months ago

Jay Kline

9.4

From magnum, the 1996 Grande Année pours a brilliant pale gold color with a persistent mousse. Initially, the wine showed more oxidative notes but it freshened up considerably with air (in fact, a tiny amount was leftover for the next morning and it remained brilliant, racy even!). On the nose, notes of almond, citrus, honey, chalky minerals and brioche. On the palate, wine is developing with absolutely brilliant acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and zippy. The 1996 vintage is simply amazing. Here we are, 28 years past vintage and this bright and full of life! Granted, it’s a magnum, but still. Drink now with patience or enjoy through 2046+. — 2 months ago

Andrew McIntyre

9.4

Wifes birth year wine was so impressive. Smoke and leather, very polished. Reminded me of a great Pinot. Great experience — 23 days ago

Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

9.2

Never not delicious. Love Cristal with a little age. — 12 hours ago

Vino Joe

9.3

I am biased for Rioja but this is a very good demonstration of why. Great balance ripe reserved fruit in harmony with some slight puckering length. Better in 10 years. Totally fine now. — 22 days ago

Alessandro Dalle Carbonare

9.6

Precise, minty, fresh. Subtle on the entrance then arrives a great weight. Quite tipical Ducru-Beaucaillou even tho is lacking a form of depth to make it very great. It’s probably just that bit too austere. — a month ago

David Peifer

9.0

Very fruit forward with a hint of oak. Aged. — 8 days ago

Luke Chesney

9.5

enjoyed with a cigarette: as god intended — a month ago

Jeroen Koenen

9.4

Massive wine. Seems to be built for the long haul. — a month ago

Scott E. Becker

9.0

[Tasted on April 6, 2024 at Home with Linda and Joel]

Blend of 55% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay and 15% Pinot Meunier. Mandarin orange, apricot, pear and red fruits, with honey, ginger, vanilla and toast. — a month ago

Roman Ochocki

9.5

Delicious, fruity with a strawberry, butter, biscuit, grass and honey. — 2 months ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.2

Cesar leal jvarela , cramos, mgallego — 2 months ago

Dmitry Muzychak

9.1

Прекрасный темпранильо 1995 года. Уже немного подуставший. Выпито у меня дома в Лимассоле вместе с Саввасом и Юлией. 24.02.24 грустный день. — 3 months ago

Scott Kahn

9.0

Thoroughly integrated tannins in an aged wine that has started its decline. Dark fruit, vanilla oak and cedar on the palette. Classic Bordeaux on the nose. — 15 days ago

Shay A

9.2

Annual birthday WWC hosting. As normal, 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds, 1 dessert, all presented blind.

Fun to open birth year wines around your birthday, especially when you can do a Bordeaux and Napa side by side. While not a great vintage, this held up well after a few hours and presented as expected. Clean and zero Brett. Great color! Deep ruby with hardly any bricking. Leather, cassis, vanilla pipe tobacco on the nose. Sporting a good bit of dusty red and black fruits (mostly tart raspberries and blackberries), there was a little savory truffle note mixed with an herbal and mocha finish. Still quite grippy. Pretty. — a month ago

Tom Heckert

9.2

Wine auction winner. Smooth and subtle. Finish to match. Cherry tobacco notes. Paired with grilled ribeye steaks — 22 days ago

Lars

9.2

2018 in 2024. Could use some more time in the cellar. — 8 days ago

Freek Welter

10

Drinking, not tasting! Late release grande cuvee, vintage unknown, but somewhere between 1967 and 1981 — a month ago

Ella Cicone

9.0

Drank on Marmon. Sat well with me and easy to drink — a month ago

Scott Kahn

9.3

Darker fruit and smoke, lower acidity and beautiful tannins. Still a young wine. — a month ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.4

Cena cna ugrch — a month ago

Lorna Hajdini

9.1

At WS - smooth — a month ago

Lauren Conklin

9.0

We’re a fan — 2 months ago

Stacy

9.4

️ Napa Valley, California
✔️ 까베르네쇼비뇽•까베르네프랑•말벡•쁘띠보르도•메를로 블렌디드
✔️ 어두운 가넷 컬러
✔️ 15개월 프렌치오크 숙성
✔️ 풍부한 오크•바닐라•다크초콜릿•후추 향
✔️ 블랙베리•체리•플럼•블랙커런트 향
✔️ 블루베리 잼 향도 느껴짐
✔️ 풀바디에 타닌도 강한 와인이지만, 질감은 부드러움
✔️ 와인의 존재감이 확실해서 향이 진한 소고기•양고기•버섯요리와 페어링해도 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥! — 4 months ago