Jay Kline

9.4

Opened around 8pm the evening prior, double decanted and left in room temperature until service on Friday evening. In total, this was opened 24hours before service. The 1995 pours a beautiful garnet with transparent core; medium viscosity with moderate stating of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with surprisingly boozy dark fruit. Brambles, cassis, bell pepper, licorice, spearmint and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long with great acidity. Overall, remarkably youthful. While it’s certainly ready to go, it will likely continue some positive evolution over the next couple of decades. Drink now with a long decant through 2045. — 2 years ago

Ron R

9.4

See my prior notes. — 4 years ago

with Anne-marie

Ericsson

9.4

See prior notes. Outstanding Chardonnay… — 4 years ago

Joseph Barsky

9.5

2013 Vintage. Consistent with prior notes, yet this bottle was showing some sediment crusting. Winery direct bottle, so not a provenance issue. Best wine of the weekend. Decant recommended. — 4 years ago

Severn G

9.1

A solid case buy on most vintages, can't really go wrong here. 🤯 NV(2018) Pinot Noir Crémant; please see my prior notes. — 5 years ago

Severn G

9.1

A slightly better bottle than our prior '17...quite looking ahead to the '18 which I am picking up in a couple weeks and hope to be posting on in early '21.
'17 is still a fine bottle of rosé, no disappointing. — 5 years ago

Severn G

9.1

All prior notes apply! One of the best value, sparkling Riesling in the FLX. Our last 2017 and the nose is just exploding out of the Gabriel Glas! Lovely. — 6 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

Great producer of Meursault. Consistent with my many prior notes — 2 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

Such a nice wine at this $$$ level. A wine & producer that I have purchased by the case every year since being introduced to this at la Paulee. Plenty of material here that will reward cellaring. Consistent with my prior notes. — 3 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

This was showing well tonight. Consistent with my prior notes — 4 years ago

Guillermo Gonzalez

9.0

The Txakoli that put Txakoli on the map! Tart pomegranate and grapefruit. Effervescence and salinity that feel like sea spray. A little less nuanced than prior vintages. Perfect with salmon bowls. — 4 years ago

Joseph Barsky

9.3

2018 Vintage. 14.1% ABV. Consistent with prior notes. — 4 years ago

Severn G

9.1

Similar to prior notes:

Nose has Maraschino cherry juice, mashed strawberry/banana and red delicious apple peel.
Palate has sweet strawberry, banana peel, ripe red currant and light green herb notes.

The wine is 100% DeChaunac, a more common varietal for colder climates, like Ontario; fruit is sourced locally (FLX region) from Sheldrake Point. — 5 years ago

Ron R

9.5

Prior notes apply. This ranks as one of the very best Napa cabs in the less than $100 range - we just love this stuff. — 5 years ago

with Anne-marie

Ron Siegel

9.3

Classic vintage for GL that is drinking well mirroring my many prior notes — 3 years ago

Jay Kline

9.4

It was Father’s Day and I had decided on grilled rack of lamb for dinner so I selected this bottle of 2011 Chateau Musar rouge from our cellar. According to Musar’s records, the 2011 vintage was one of the most challenging since the early 1990’s. It was ultimately a late-maturing vintage with harvest taking place on October 13th, the latest since the 1983 vintage!

I decanted this bottle about eight hours prior to dinner. It should be noted that immediately upon opening, the bouquet was strikingly gorgeous with powerful aromatics that were obvious from several feet away and this trait carried through until dinner time.

In the glass, the wine presents a deep garnet color. Slightly turbid with a near opaque core. On the nose, black plums, blackberries, cassis, tobacco, organic earth, exotic spices, leather, spiced meat, and pomegranate. I detect a touch of VA as well. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the nose with an added bit of red rope licorice. Lovely, long, savory…amazing. This was a brilliant compliment to the lamb (which was served with beets and goat cheese and fattoush) and everything I wanted in a Musar tonight. Drinking well now with a hefty decant and I expect well cellared examples to drink well past 2035. — 3 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.5

A blend of 65% Cab Sauv, 20% Cab Franc & 15% Merlot, note more CF and no Petit V as in prior years. Deep Ruby with aromas of black and red fruits and sweet vanilla cedar aromas. On the palate black cherry, blackberry and plum flavors with vanilla, tobacco and oak spice. Smooth and refined tannins, long ending with sweet earthy tones. Wow!! Need to decant! Tried twice, Wow! — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Blend of 96% Sauv Blanc with 4% Sauv Gris adding an interesting dynamic to the wine & distinctive aromas (prior to ‘18 vintage some Semillon added). Pale lemon color, citrus, tropical & floral aromas. On the palate peach, melon, herb & earthy tones, well balanced with acidity, smooth yet robust on a long finish ending rich with wet stone character. Good value! A Fav!! Very consistent! — 4 years ago

Mark Turner

9.9

This was the mystery bottle in our Super Tuscan tasting event. It was up against the 2016 Masseto, Ornellaia, Sassicaia, Solaia, Tignanello, and Redigaffi. This wine was outstanding. Probably one of the top 5 vintages of Insignia since 1994 in my opinion. Deep purple color, blueberry, blackberry, chocolate, some lead pencil and earth on the nose. Super smooth and elegant on the palate. Really well balanced fruit, tannins, acid. Long elegant finish of dark fruit and earthy with a touch of spice that lingered beautifully. We decanted this and all others about 2.5 hours prior to tasting. Second favorite of the night behind the Masseto which was a force of nature. — 5 years ago

with Jared, Craig and 2 others

Severn G

9.1

The best Champagne one can buy for $27! Our last bottle until my next shipment lands between now and the end of the year. Prior notes still apply. — 6 years ago