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

Michael Miller

9.1

Smooth and elegant. Acidic w mineral and white pepper notes w just a touch of Brett. I imagine this is what Syrah tasted like 100 years ago. 😊🙏🍷 — 7 years ago

Jack Petras

9.1

1995 vintage. Still deep purple red, subtle earthy leather aromas with a burst of fresh red raspberries mid palate. Lots of herbal hints like anise and tarragon. Finished with graphite and iron. Changed with each sip. Very nice mature and fully approachable left bank beauty. — 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

Patrick O'Hara

9.0

Cherry and spice — 9 years ago

Michael Chase

9.8

Deep purple in colour. Some sediment. Cedar, tobacco, black currant on the nose. Black fruit, tobacco to taste. Long finish. Opened up in the glass. Could handle one to two more years in the cellar. — 9 years ago

L Damore

8.9

Very enjoyable. Deep color. More of a Bordeaux style Pinot — 10 years ago

Neil Shah

9.2

Wish I could wait long enough for this to age, but it's so nice. — 11 years ago

Ben Peitzer

9.6

Berry!!! Soft fizzy, my favorite beer for people who don't drink beer. — 12 years ago

Lisa Simon

Sales & Marketing Garagista Group

9.8

This had been in my moms wine cellar since 1992.. While it can still age, notes were beautiful.. White pepper, licorice and mint, purple color — 13 years ago

Leonard Huot

9.0

I forgot how incredible the burrowing owl cab franc is. Luscious tannins and long legs. — 6 years ago

Taylor Burnside

9.1

Light-bodied and delicious. Perfect for socializing! — 7 years ago

Steven Beishuizen

9.0

Stellar and crisp. Fruity and aromatic. — 7 years ago

with Anita

Lee Richey

9.3

2016 vintage, very reliable fun wine for the budget. Easy drinking yet flavorful. — 8 years ago

Andrew Savaloja

9.0

I sure like this one. Dark purple, big jammy dark fruit, cocoa and coffee flavors. A real treat — 8 years ago

GabWine

9.5

Color : Red
Wine estate : Marchesi Antinori
Designation : Toscana
Name : Tignanello (Tignanella 💕)
Country : Italy
Vivino : 5/5
Note : I present you the Tignanella and its pink label! Thanks the fading of another bottle, I ended up with this 1985.
Of course, the wine had not moved and was incredible. A sublime dark purple-red robe. A nose that transports us to Tuscany with fresh notes of leather, cherry and flowers. The elegance of Sangiovese and silk tannins gives us a beautiful length with a structured and beautiful finale.
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Je vous présente la Tignanella et son étiquette rose ! Merci la décoloration d’une autre bouteille, je me suis retrouvé avec ce 1985.
Bien évidemment, le vin n’avait pas bougé et était incroyable. Une robe sublime foncée, violet-rouge. Un nez qui nous transporte en Toscane avec des notes fraîche de cuir, cerise et fleurs. L’élégance du Sangiovese et des tannins de soie nous donne une belle longueur avec un final structuré et magnifique.
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👍🏻Vivino, FB : GabWine | IG : gabriel_dvl 🥂 — 8 years ago

Heather Jobin

9.0

From Epcot's food & wine fair. I would ❤️ to have more — 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. — 11 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!! — 12 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

Jayna Fontenot

9.2

Purple, opaque color and strong legs. Subtle sweet blackberry on the nose with oak. Hits the pallette smooth, and tastes fruity and thick and lightly sweet. I found myself wishing for more of a tannic finish to balance it out, but this wine would be great with barbecue ribs or a spicy steak. — 6 years ago

Jon Hanlon

8.9

Very nice pinot. Paired perfect with lamb and gnocchi. Gift from Carmen as part of case deal. — 7 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

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

Andy Hock

9.0

This is a delightful and fascinating wine with good age potential. Seek out stateside. Remarkably jammy black cherry from Okanagan BC fruit aside classic, bracing cool climate acidity. Moderate+ alcohol and moderate/- tannin. — 8 years ago

Daniel Steilen

8.9

Kind of a shame to open so young - needs 5-10 yrs to come together. Not quite enough acidity to bring fruit into balance. Purple, full bodied, fruit forward wine. Tons drinking blueberry/blackberry with a bit of earth. Still very tasty, especially with an hour or so of air. — 9 years ago

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. — 10 years ago

Adam Jesberger

9.6

Super delicious. Unusual in its red fruit, cranberry, pomegranate and bacon fat emerge on the nose with black pepper and olives. The palate has a slight salinity and a vinegar note that compliments the berries and meat on the palate. Nice purple flowers intertwined in it all. Fantastic and drinking perfectly NOW. Cedary lengthy finish. Great Northern Rhone just slightly atypical. — 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