Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Deep Ruby, purple edges, with aromas of fresh berry fruits, cigar box spice and earthy mineral notes. On the palate rich ripe fruit, blackberry & black cherry with hints of dried spices. Good balance with slightly firm tannins, opened quickly, and lively acidity. Long finish, complex ending with oak, herb, mineral and earthy character. Will improve with short term aging, but don’t wait too long as you might be disappointed! Very nice Shiraz! — 5 years ago

Keith Lite

9.5

A big bold plumy purple bomb As dense and luscious as a wine can get in a glass. Decanted for 2 hrs and its still a baby with blackberry, dark chocolate licorice and pepper on the nose and on the palate. A long long finish and loads of tannins to sum it all up — 7 years ago

with Bruce

Paul J

9.3

1+hr decant. Definitely drinking young. Dark purple color. Nice mix of Bordeaux and Napa. Seems higher in OH than 13.5%. Nice deep cherry fruit with hints of smoke. Strangely I think it got worse with air. This was better than expected. — 7 years ago

with Brooke

Manchester Sheldon

9.1

Dark purple colors juxtaposed with bright red fruit on the palate. Not jammy or too fruit forward. Nicely balanced from start to finish. Light tannins that soften after a few minutes. — 8 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.5

Dark purple plum skin color from center to the rim’s edge where some scarlet also appears. Opaque. Great fruit forward nose that grabs your attention. Notes of blackberries, ripe plums, violets, tobacco, forest floor and some crushed walnuts. Rich and silky in the mouth. Great balance and texture. Tannins perfectly integrated. Long finish. If a Cal Cab can be seductive, this is it. Still youthful but in a great zone tonight. — 8 years ago

Heather Jobin

9.0

From Epcot's food & wine fair. I would ❤️ to have more — 9 years ago

Tom Small

9.2

Excellent cab - especially for the price. First thing I noticed was the color, a very deep purple that suggests its depth. Don't be fooled by the less than $10 cost - this one is worth keeping in stock. — 9 years ago

Fernando Kfouri

9.0

Clear, deep ruby with purple hue. Clean nose, medium intensity, showing ripe black fruits, chocolate, english cake, liquorice, black pepper. Dry. Medium body, full tannins, medium acidity, flavours of ripe black fruits, chocolate, english cake, liquorice, black pepper. Medium finish. Excellent. — 10 years ago

"Odedi"

9.4

Inky dark color with a purple rim.
On the nose, Blueberries, figs, blackberries, spices, vanilla and black pepper.

Long, thin legs and 14.5% alcohol.
Bold, big and full bodied.

Smooth, sweet and sexy on the palate, with blackberries, dried figs, raisins, black pepper, vanilla and herbs.

Long lasting finish with smooth tannins and black pepper. Excellent!! — 11 years ago

George Hesse

9.2

Flemings for our 13th anniversary. Had again several years later. Deep purple in color. Striking and strong nose. This is a complex blend with a loyal following. Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon. I bought a 2015 from LA Wine Co in July of 2017 and opened in November of 2017. — 12 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

Sipping Fine Wine

10

To me Shafer is among the worlds best wineries. Aged 32 months in 100% new French oak. Vivid deep purple color, and outstanding aromas of red/black fruits, cherries and blackberries, with hints of cedar, floral oak & spice. Tasting this wine was absolutely magnificent, concentrated dark berry fruit flavors, spices, leather and oak, exploding on my palate. Soft velvety subtle tannins provide a nice deep lingering finish. Truly an outstanding Cab, one of the best. If you can find yourself a bottle, do not hesitate. Should last at least 10 more yrs. — 7 years ago

Andrew Savaloja

9.0

I sure like this one. Dark purple, big jammy dark fruit, cocoa and coffee flavors. A real treat — 7 years ago

Clive McNish

9.2

It’s Thursday but this is a Friday wine. Deep purple in colour, nose is a fruity mix of blackberry, cherry, liquorice and chocolate. Tannins are a little gripping but they allow the flavour to linger, I can taste cherries, blueberries, cloves and pepper. This is a well balanced wine which is very drinkable but no doubt will be smoother in a few years. Recommended. — 8 years ago

John Brunner

9.4

Blackberry Spring flowers Blueberry light tannin dark purple Bordeaux elements gravel hint of plum — 9 years ago

with Jan

Louie Christensen

9.4

Everything you'd expect and more. All the rich dark fruit, chocolate and lush purple flowers, but none of the sticky over-ripe flavors. So balanced. — 9 years ago

Cory Fierro

9.3

My buddy asked me for a "big, bold red" and this is what I gave him. He's in love. Deep, dark purple with a magenta rim. The oak is evident with a vanilla sugary explosion on the nose. The palate tastes like a creme brulee with a ton of blackberries and red plums. A lot of people don't care for this big style but when you want it, this is what you should go for. — 10 years ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.4

Was lucky and grabbed a small tasting of this before it disappeared. I looked through the notes and noticed that believe either love or hate this wine. The color was ruby red with purple hues. Nose was fruit forward with a ton of dark berries and cassis. The palate is thick, plush, voluptuous, extracted with cherries and cassis. Moderate tannins (7/10) and moderate body that still need time to integrate more. Long and lingering finish. Definite potential to improve. — 11 years ago

Kevin Baldacci

9.7

Great tannin structure, alcohol content compliments it well, beautiful color: nothing inky, great mountain fruit: deep with a long finish. — 13 years ago

Taylor Burnside

9.1

Light-bodied and delicious. Perfect for socializing! — 6 years ago

Hailey Bouchard

9.3

Beautiful purple color — 7 years ago

Devin Bostick

9.4

Cranberry leather smell, residual sugars (and brown sugar) alcohol hibiscus smell, rich bloody purple color, tastes like woody candied aged blackberries and the balance is tremendous, great alcohol bite that comibines with aged succulent fruits and a heated final jaminess that ease and tingles through the finish. — 7 years ago

Lee Richey

9.3

2016 vintage, very reliable fun wine for the budget. Easy drinking yet flavorful. — 7 years ago

Suzanne Hulsey

9.0

Nice light and a bit fruity. Deep cherry undertones with a nice smooth finish! 2015 vintage — 8 years ago

with Amanda and Leisha

Patrick O'Hara

9.0

Cherry and spice — 8 years ago

L Damore

8.9

Very enjoyable. Deep color. More of a Bordeaux style Pinot — 9 years ago

Nico J. Snyman

9.8

Pure expression of old Hermitage, old leather & dried purple flowers, there's still such an intensity of fruit to this though, it's definitely a world class wine... — 10 years ago

Matté

Manager The Wine Cellars

9.4

Beguiling purity of black and purple fruit and sweet spice on the nose, freshly baked cherry pie, beaut! In the mouth this is rich without cloying and has wonderful ripe red fruited acidity, slick eminently drinkable, subtle beauty — 11 years ago

Ben Peitzer

9.6

Berry!!! Soft fizzy, my favorite beer for people who don't drink beer. — 11 years ago

Jennifer Durban

9.1

tastes like purple — 12 years ago

with Laurel