Mike Saviage

9.5

Tasted blind. Light gold color. Has a nose that immediately takes me to Chablis. Notes of honey, citrus, wet river stone, ocean breeze, tan spice and white chalky soil. Perfectly balanced in the mouth with lots of fruit and acidity. Screams Raveneau. I guess 2000 Raveneau Valmur. Had this side by side with the 2000 Fevre Clos… the 2000 Raveneau Butteaux had 4 hours of air in the decanter, the 2000 Fevre Clos only 30 min… it clearly showed (1) why you age Chablis and (2) why you give them hours of air to open before consumption. The Raveneau was outstanding and the Fevre didn’t have time to show its expression. — 5 years ago

Jessica Butler Chowning

9.0

Perfectly balanced wine. — 6 years ago

Karen Turner

9.0

Although normally a lover of red, this is my go to summer wine ... crisp smooth and a slight sweet taste, perfect for lazy summer afternoons by the pool or relaxing with friends. — 6 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.3

Nice, aged Cabernet. Debated opening this one. This started more on the plum and raisin side and a little muted. 15 minutes later? Fig and mushroom with basil and oregano, but not a whole lot of fruit. 30 minutes after that? Dirty black cherry, plums, seemed to find itself after a 31 year sleep. Rather substantial weight in the middle. Finishes with a gritty note. Tannins are definitely dropping here and this one is showing all it has. Good time to drink now! — 7 years ago

with Dan, Shay and 1 other

Chris England

9.5

An extremely generous Secret Santa gift from @badphotographer29 aka Mami - this Lynch Bages is nearing peak drinking I’d say & in a lovely spot 😍 but will live 10-15 more years easy 👍 Thanks Mami 😘 🤗

📍 Lynch Bages 1996

🏵 95 points

🍇 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc & 2% Petit Verdot

🍷 Slight garnet ruby w/ a brick edge (⏩ scroll for pic)

👃 Earthy smokey charred oak infused blackcurrant, berry & spiced dark plum through mineral rock, pencil lead & gravel w/ soot embers, mint/herbs, old leather, leaves, prune, date & mocha grounds - an imperial nasal entanglement from the dark side 😍

👄 Med body of smooth earthy black currant & dark plum bathed in minerals w/ blackberry, mocha & liquorice

🎯 Long char-grilled deep dark fruits in slight dry minerals with a touch bitter ground mocha liquorice herby wallop
— 7 years ago

Katherine Buckner

9.8

With Collin. Nice finish. Creamy, full body. — 7 years ago

Eric Peterson

10

Extremely pleasant wine. Smooth tanins, mild boysenberry notes. — 5 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. — 5 years ago

with Christina and James

E & K G

9.3

‘96 and ‘99 side by side. A real treat from a good friend. Similar fruit and flavor profile though the ‘99 had a bit more weight and structure. Both were a pleasure with dinner. — 6 years ago

Colin Prichett

9.3

Best value for money?!!? — 7 years ago

Joey Kee

9.2

Ha! The comments on this wine are amazingly varied. I found it very overt on a chocolate tip, and more robust on the fruit side than your usual PINOT...but I really enjoyed it, would buy again.... — 7 years ago

Haylee Gardiner

9.3

Hayl really loves it. Tab- not bad. Varietal blend. Perfect for picnics, BBQ, sipping around with friends pool side. — 7 years ago

Nerd_Emperor

10

This is the ultimate red wine!! 😍 You taste the fruit as soon as it hits your tongue. Has a smooth finish. This definitely is a mislabel because their is no end to the hope in this bottle. #Perfect10 — 8 years ago

Sarah Nally

9.5

Fantastic cab, perfect by itself or wine dinner. Great compliment with the filet mignon I had tonight. Dry, yet a touch sweet, deep bold flavors. — 5 years ago

Joe Roth

9.2

Still in great shape! — 5 years ago

with Jeff and Michael

Navi Sood

9.0

Easy summer day drink. Little on the sweeter side. — 6 years ago

with Monisha and Vinay

Mark Flesher

9.3

After an hour and a half, this one settled down. Quite "weedy" initially, but then became a very nice wine, almost with a youthful kind of nose. If tasted blind, I would have said this was a 2009-2011 high end CDP. But, there's a HINT of mushroom on the nose and front of the palate, along with raspberry tart and some mature pipe tobacco and worn saddle leather, hint of clove. Finishes with a lot of fruit influence. Tannins have resolved quite nicely on this wine. The youth of this wine is starting to give to a more mature side. Nice. In a good spot right now. — 7 years ago

Angelo

9.0

Very nice! — 7 years ago

Eric

9.4

Meaty peppery dense and intense. — 7 years ago

Bret Barker

9.3

Monte Bello is a favorite for my wife and I. This bottle is probably just on the other side and slowly fading but still delicious. The classic barnyard nose is still there with more earth tones, leather and cherry fruit — 8 years ago