Ron R

9.3

Celebrating the day when fathers can reflect on what’s next with their families and children. Carpe Diem! — a year ago

with Anne-marie

Andrew Cullimore

9.4

Medium ruby , hint of garnet , slight narrower rim , more garnet hue . Quite mineral , herbal tinged blackcurrant, seaside scents . Slightly aloof and austere, though this improves with time in the decanter . However on the palate this opens up with classic cedar tinged dark fruits , blackcurrant, grafite , sea shell and saline tinged. Complex , complete , classic , grafite and mineral tinged with pretty long length finish . Still slightly grippy tannins but these are well integrated and quite polished , fresh balanced acidity. This shows very well and is just coming into its prime drinking window, this also held up very well in decanter for the 4 hours we had it open , always retaining great freshness and verve. From now and over the next 10 to 15 years perhaps . — 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

"Odedi"

9.1

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

A great nose of blueberries, cherries, currants, oak, vanilla, licorice, cloves, herbs, spices, dark chocolates, coffee, peppercorn, vegetables, green herbs, mint, tobacco and black pepper.

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with blueberries, cherries, plums, vanilla, licorice, oak, spices, chocolates, tobacco coke, graphite, herbs, bell pepper, peppercorn, earth and leather.

Long finish with firm tannins and spices.

This CDP is drinking very nicely now, with great complexity and a solid mouthfeel. Grippy and earthy with enough fruits to make it interesting.

Needs an hour to open up properly. I kept smelling on it for a long while.

This was a wonderful vintage, and it is showing. Will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 10 years.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$140. — 8 years ago

Jeffrey Lew

9.7

The best bottle of 90 Haut Brion I have had. A must buy, and a bargain next to the 89. Awesome fruit and complexity. Drinking perfectly now, and maybe a touch young. — 9 years ago

David Langstaff

9.4

This wine needed about 3 hours to release. Initially tight with uncomfortable medicinal nose which then totally dissipated. Drinking now next day and you get the age of fully integrated but not fading tannins. Nose has a delightful dark fruit and smokiness. Great fit of nose and taste, meaning - when tastes after smelling the experience is consistent and not jolting. I think the color purple in a subdued way. Very nice. Memo to self: decant and watch for sediment, and enjoy three hours later. — 9 years ago

with Cynthia and Chris

Ron Siegel

9.5

Very Pauillac like served blind and tasted next to the 86 Mouton. I guessed 86 Dominus as I have had this wine more than a dozen times over the last few years. — 11 years ago

Faith Wells

Media Epoch Estate Wines

9.4

Young and beautiful. Next time, a light decant would be nice. — 12 years ago

Jon Simpson

9.2

Great tastes of plum, cherry, and spice! — 12 years ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.0

Medium ruby garnet quite narrow terracotta rim . Quite herbal , dried strawberry and red cherry nose , touch of iodine , sous bois , dried mushroom notes , discreet roasted coffee note after a while. Quite pretty red fruits on the palate with good freshness , strawberry , earthy cherry and a marine , iodine like note , sous bois underneath . Quite elegant and well balanced acidity with fine tannic grip . Good red fruit , earthy tinged finish . This is showing more advanced than the 2001 Reserva , and would like to try another bottle of this , as I suspect this half is a bit below par. On the basis of this bottle drink now and over the next 5 or so years . — a year ago

Jae Cho

9.1

It’s coming along, best after >24 h. Enjoyable now but will wait another 12m for next one. ‘20 vintage — a year ago

Stephen Dodson

9.0

Big Friesian cow night and this was pretty good…not convinced it’s worth it compared to the classic roc de cambes that came next, but still well appreciated xxx — 4 years ago

Gilbert Van Hassel

9.6

Super CDP. Lush super ripe tannins with dominant black and blue berry taste with pepper at the end. Can be drunk now but will improve over the next 5 to 10 years. — 5 years ago

Steven Gullo

9.4

Just starting to show development. Dried black fruits upfront. Secondary notes of Cigar box, coffee bean, eucalyptus. Very textural, dense, ripe tannins, long length. Excited to see over next 5 years — 8 years ago

Abby Hood

9.5

Nice wine for the price. Bought at Trader Joe’s. — 8 years ago

Scott Howard

9.5

Because one bottle of wine is not enough for turning 50. Heading into the old stuff for the next couple of weeks to celebrate. I hope to age as well as this wine. — 9 years ago

Chris England

9.6

This may be the smoothest Hermitage I've had @ £83 it's like a pig rolling in velvet 🐷 so smooooth 😍 Great now but 97+ over next 5-20yrs 😎

🍷 Ruby w/ purple hue

👃 Cloves, Olives, thyme & piggy 💩 through blackberry w/ touch of liquorice & minerals

👄 Med+ body incredibly super smooth olive tapenade, blackberry & dark cherry - surprisingly well balanced @ this age 👍

🎯 Long dark fruit & olive pure silk finish — 9 years ago

Raymond C Wiley

9.3

This was a house warming gift from a old friend. Love the nose and legs on this wine. Absolutely great for watching the sun go down next to a fire with your favorite someone! — 10 years ago

Sharyn Grant

9.0

Big quality fruit bomb - 2006 - drinking softly now, open 2 hours. Would like to see if the fruit resolves over the next few years. — 11 years ago

Jordan Monkman

10

Some of that dank Bordeaux funk! Blueberry pie, plum, pipe tobacco, leather. Smells like this will keep showing more layers over the next couple hours. — 12 years ago

Vino Joe

9.5

Excellent excellent. Decanted for two hours before being consumed and then enjoyed over next 3+. Weighty and very heady. Dark rich fruit aged but not dusty. I feel this wine is in the zone. — a year ago

Norman

9.5

Next level. Actually the air from the decant did it well. Could have aired it out longer but we had Warriors game to get to!!! — a year ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Served blind alongside what was eventually revealed to be a 1997 Freemark Abbey. This was the easiest of the pairings to get our heads collectively around as we felt confident this was Bordeaux and the other was from Napa. Unfortunately, I no longer have my notes for that wine but this was particularly memorable because I had held back a glass of the 1970 Montrose and had a lovely time tasting the two of those wines side-by-side. It was remarkable how much they had in common with one another. In fact, the only real difference between the two was that the 2000 just had more of its structure in tact. Other than that, the Montrose DNA was undeniable with loads of all the darkest, blackest fruits: currants and blackberries with coffee, tobacco, and graphite. At nearly 23 years young, the structure remains positively monumental. Despite all of that, it was ever so winsome. The finish was long with wonderful acid and lovely, ferrous minerals. Drink now with patience and over the next handful of decades. — 3 years ago

Shay A

9.6

Last night’s “Evening With Krug” event, where they officially released their 2006 vintage. Beautiful evening with many different Krug offerings paired with a delicious meal.

The reason for the occasion. Loved trying this next to the ‘04 as they are completely different beasts at the moment. This is strutting Krug’s classic style of round, rich and opulent profile. The warm vintage has this totally open for business now, but obviously only getting better. Bakers yeast, toffee, and lemon pastry aromatics. Very fresh and inviting on the palate revealing golden caramel dipped apples, honeysuckle and nougat. Delicious. — 7 years ago

with Jason, joe and 3 others

Scott McCaffrey

9.5

Amazing wine that seems to get no press coverage. Very surprised and impressed. Hope it stays low key so I can take advantage of its price before it becomes the next triple digit wine — 8 years ago

Eric Linderman

9.5

No 4 in magnum — 9 years ago

with Jill and Stephen

Mike Saviage

9.7

From the wine list at EMP bought by a new friend at the table next to us to go mano a mano against the 88 La Turque I shared. Slightly darker red and more pure in color. Amazing aroma that is more linear than the animalistic La La but in the same league. Hit its stride right out of the pop and pour gate. Lovely perfume with a more briary nose but speaks Cote Rotie from the get go. Perfectly integrated fruit and structure. Best Jamet I've had. Thanks to Danny for this treat. — 9 years ago

Alex Lallos

Owner No Limit Fine Wines, Private Wine Consultant

9.3

Always love comtes de champagne blanc de Blancs. Although this 05 is a baby, it is already a great wine. It offers a beautiful salinity, toasted brioche, almonds and mandarin orange. I would hang onto it for at least a few years and enjoy over the next decade or more — 11 years ago

Chris Paul

Wine Educator Copain Wines

9.3

Very nice aging. Some color change and pretty smooth. Very interesting to taste next to the 2012. — 11 years ago

with Alexis and Philip

Justin Boggs

9.1

Great wine, but still very young and a little tannic. Finish was smoother and longer on the last bottle I had of this one. Will save my next bottle for years. — 13 years ago