Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

When something is sooooooo good, you go back and bring in your own bottle.

This is drinking beautifully, but would be even better in 5yrs.

This started with a caramel front. After a hour decant…it’s evenly balanced fruit, florals & spice/earth. It is now elegance refined with spice and roses from my backyard.

The best version of ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, strawberries, bright cherries, pomegranate & raspberries. Dry crushed rocks-top soil, cedar shavings, tobacco, old leather, mid berry cola, hints of graphite, charcoal, just a touch of moist herbs, some clove/nutmeg, a dab of olive tapenade, tree bark puree, the most insane red & pink roses, red florals, seriously perfect acidity, balance for months, mid tension, long length and elegance that most Tempranillo doesn’t give and long sets in dry soils.

Not your average Tempranillo with the right age. It is refined.

@KobeBeef511 Tokyo

If you find yourself in Tokyo, don’t miss it! They shave fresh Wasabi. — 2 days ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.4

Super Tuscan blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (58%), Cabernet Franc (29%) and Merlot (13%). Dark ruby color. Aromas of red and black fruit, anise,purple flowers and leather. Flavors of black cherry/plum/berry fruit, black licorice, cocoa powder and sweet baking spices. Lovely mineral and minty tones on the long and lingering finish. Silky tannins and a velvety texture. Loaded with finesse and wonderful freshness. Enjoyed with Petey and Kase (Thanks Guys) on the beach in Cape May, NJ. — 9 days ago

Paul J

9.3

PnP. More fruit forward than previous bottles. Even had some Pinot elements. Lovely texture and deep wine. — 20 days ago

with Brooke

Sipping Fine Wine

9.6

Blend 51% Cab Sauv, 22% Merlot, 14% Cab Franc, 8% Malbec, 5% Petit Verdot, very deep Ruby red color, slight brown edges. Opened in 2026. Interesting wine, at first open, encountered aromas of leather, barnyard & earthy funk, after 30 minutes, started to note aromas of dried black fruits, spice & cigar box, slight forest floor, continued to get better after 60 min. Palate showed black cherry, blackberry, choc flavors with tobacco, cedar & spice. Firm drying tannins, persistent acidity, long finish ending with fruit, cedar, spice, & earthy character. Nice! — 7 days ago

Bryan Vogt

8.9

Past peak on this. Raisin and prune are prominent and little fruit left on the palette. — 11 days ago

Paul K

9.6

Love this! — a month ago

Bill Morgan

9.0

Full body Black fruit flavors with hints of cinnamon — 2 months ago

Tom Garland

9.4

Insignia Masterclass

1998 Insignia
2001 Insignia
2004 Insignia
2008 Insignia
2013 Insignia
2023 Insignia

With:
David Pearson, President
Ryan Knoth, winemaker

@Joseph Phelps Vineyards, Napa — 7 days ago

with Brenda

John Howard

Harvest production at Hirsch and Cobb Wineries

9.4

Not as good as expected. A little tired. Nice tho. Day 3, so good! Time and air made this insane. Love, — 6 days ago

KA

9.2

The Eighty Six NYC — 10 days ago

Yoly Sardinas

9.0

Great wine . At Le 1925 for diner ..
Needs to open up. — 11 days ago

Jay Kline

9.6

Opened about an hour prior to service; enjoyed over the course of two days. Fairly consistent throughout but maybe even a touch better on Day 2? The 1976 “Unico” pours a garnet color with a slightly orange rim and a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with intoxicating notes of cassis, black cherry, red plum, dried flowers, coffee (for dayz), tobacco, leather, sandalwood, some organic earth and a mix of cool and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long with gorgeous texture. This bottle came across remarkably young and supremely elegant. So much so, that I thought it was an inspired decision by one of our brothers-in-wine to include it in this particular lineup. We had a little leftover for the next day and it continued to show well. Brilliant stuff. Drink now through 2046+ — a month ago

Joe Flo

9.7

Delicious 🍷!!!! — a month ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Presented double-blind at dinner. The wine pours a deep garnet with a near opaque core and a slightly orange rim with considerable variation; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and desiccated fruit: black currants, blackberries, plum, pipe tobacco, capsicum, pencil shavings, a touch leather, organic earth and a mix of dried herbs and some fine warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. Really tasty stuff.

Initial conclusions: this is an old wine, likely 30-40 years old. That being said, it’s still very distinguishable as it’s showing varietal characteristics. This could be Cabernet Sauvignon (or a blend thereof), Cabernet Franc (or a blend thereof), or Merlot (or a blend thereof). I can see this being Napa because the fruit is still showing some generosity. But there’s a lot of non-fruits there too. Regardless, this was giving Left Bank vibes so I could also see this being Bordeaux from a great vintage like 1982. And that’s my call, Cabernet Sauvignon-blend from France, Bordeaux, Saint-Estèphe, from a classified growth like Calon-Ségur. Shucks. But I’m not mad about my choice! Old Opus One’s are tricky to differentiate. Drinking very well right now but this will live well past 2035. — 11 days ago

Jan A

9.6

A lovely glass of wine that is already surprisingly easy drinking — 6 days ago

Daniel Jara

9.3

Vinazo con decanto y espera de 50 min ! Es un vino de paciencia para disfrutar! Excelente en nariz y en boca potencia , madera , tabaco . — 21 days ago

Jay Kline

9.5

Opened about 90min prior to service; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2001 Monte Bello pours a deep garnet with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with lovely notes of black currants, blackberries, plum, tobacco, purple flowers, an intoxicating mix of exotic Eastern spices, some cocoa, inorganic earth and minerals. On the palate? The wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is long and impeccably balanced. To my palate, this bottle has reached the age when Monte Bello starts to really become interesting. What a delight! Drink now with some air, through 2051. — a month ago

Mark Mannebach

9.2

BlackBerry, currant, tobacco and pencil notes. Nice finish — 20 days ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2016 vintage. A decade has allowed this to blossom a bit. Revealing super-subtle complexities now that frequently get lost in appraisals as they posit as fleeting impressions versus unimpeachable, primary truths. Medium body. 8.12.26. — a month ago

WC Fields

9.5

A stunner. — a month ago