Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

I recently had a conversation with a few Joseph Phelps Ambassador’s at Pebble Beach Food & Wine in April. I said, I had every vintage of Insignia back to 2006 in storage. They said, “you should really drink up the 2006.” So, I coravined an 06 last weekend, a taste. I agreed then. But tonight not the case, it shows it still has a fair amount of life. Another 5-8 yrs and perhaps plus.

My Ribcap, a definition of Medium Rare Plus.

The nose reveals floral; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, poached strawberries, dark cherries and blue fruit notes. Melted dark chocolate, mocha, caramel, softly layered baking spices, very underrated graphite, steeped tea, mid berry cola, red licorice, limestone powder, dry top soil, dry twig, red, dark candied to slightly withering florals w/ liquid violet cola.

The palate shows well resolved, rounded, velvety M+ tannins. Nicely ripe fruits that are floral; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, poached strawberries, dark cherries and blue fruit notes. Melted dark chocolate, mocha, caramel river, softly layered baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick & vanillin, warm caramel, dark Asian spices with palate burrowing heat, dry tobacco/ leather, cedar, grilled meats, very underrated graphite, sweet tarriness, black licorice, steeped tea, mid berry cola, red licorice, limestone powder, dry top soil, dry twig, red, dark candied to slightly withering florals w/ liquid violet cola, candied to withering; dark, red, blue florals wrapped in liquid violets, epic rainfall acidity, well balanced-structured-toned, elegant finish that lasts minutes and falls on earth & heated spice.

95-96 peaking. — a month ago

Joel Lara

9.4

Upon opening, this seemed a bit disjointed, with muted fruit flavors and strong herbal notes. Decanting didn’t seem to help much, but day 2 it finally opened up nicely, with nice complexity and intensity on the palate. Cherry, raspberry, cassis, bay leaf, dried Italian herbs, anise, cloves, vanilla, cedar, earth, and balsamic notes all come through. Really tasty, but maybe a bit too intense. I can see this improving with a few more years of aging so the flavors coalesce and soften a bit more. — a month ago

Rick Phillips

9.4

Couldn’t get enough of the 2013 so opened this split of 22. Has years to grow with its floral raspberry & hint of the boldness it will achieve. Just hope Im still around to still taste it in 10 years! — 2 months ago

with Letha

Lindsey Maris

9.4

Gibson’s Chicago outdoor bar — 2 months ago

Conrad Green

9.5

Savory and game. Great rich and pure plummy fruit with a hint of spice on the nose. Inky and balanced with iron and graphite. Stunning and balanced — 3 months ago

with Paul and Ara

Jeroen Koenen

9.5

Off-bottle; seemed 20 years older..: — 3 months ago

Paul K

9.6

Blown away — 3 months ago

romo

9.4

Anti-roast, all tart cherry and white pepper, gentle tannin, faint horse hair. Wow. — 4 months ago

Andrew Schirmer

9.6

Stunning bottle - showed really well after 3 hours or so. Maturing, integrated tannin, structured, a nose you wanna swim in… — 9 months ago

with Alsu

Rolo

9.9

360 Dubrovnik — 15 days ago

with Dinakar

Mike Obley

8.9

Surprisingly good for a waek vintage — a month ago

Paul K

9.6

Love this! — 18 days ago

David Russell

9.2

13.5% Elements — a month ago

Monis Mirza

9.7

Phenomenal wine. Tannins are completely softened with dark fruits. Incredibly enjoyable. The 2009 still going strong 17 years later. This can easily stay in bottle another 5-10 years. — 2 months ago

Jj Joe

9.5

What a surprise, good for korean foods and chicken too — 2 months ago

Jay Kline

9.2

From magnum. Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of several hours. The 2012 pours a garnet color with a translucent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with punchy notes of Morello cherry, raspberry, pomegranate, orange rind, red flowers, and a mix of cool and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and the texture is almost chewy. The 2012 is still an awesome value; really tasty stuff. Drink now through 2042. — 3 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2023 vintage. 6.3.26. — 3 months ago

Alexandre Pagliano

9.2

This was great but not same level as prior bottles. Perhaps a slightly off cork ? Medium dark rubi robe, nose of blackcurrant, top soil and balsam with hints of cedar. Ever so slightly reticent tannins but overall great length and good complexity. Great now, but no rush. — 4 months ago

with Jose, veronique and 4 others

Monica Lo

9.1

Like drinking chocolate — 11 years ago

Brandon Boesch

9.4

So solid. Had it at a steakhouse in Estes park. Great fruit and tannin and balance. — 16 days ago

Gabriella Boros

10

A perfect wine. Balanced and complex. A gorgeous first hit of plum with a hint of cherry. So broad fruit at first but then settles on the tongue with a noise terror of tannin. No bitterness just smooth and lovely. Girgeous wine. 2010 vintage gift bottle from Donna and Anders — a month ago

Ceccherini Cristiano

9.2

Very elegant wine that has found a lovely balance.
Long aftertaste and surely potential to keep going. — a month ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.3

Eugenio@jason jorge b en sullivans tucson — a month ago

Abe Froman

9.8

Delicious @caymus with wife m. The bartender Steve let me know that this is what 90% of people come in for and it’s incredible. Super smooth. — a month ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

This is far too young but when I have a chance to look in on Cheval Blanc I do.

Nose shows; ripe blackberries, strawberries, dark cherries, plum, moist clays, coffee, moist herbs, roasted chestnuts, amazing florals that are red flowers, red roses, lilacs & violets.

The palate shows some nice evolution but still too young to drink. Ripe and slightly candied; blackberries, strawberries, dark cherries, raspberries & plum. Moist clays, coffee, moist herbs, roasted chestnuts, espresso, mid berry cola, caramel, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, crazy, round, bold spice, moist tobacco, used leather, graphite, dark, rich earth, dry stone, limestone, soft oak powder notes, amazing florals that are red flowers, red roses, lilacs & violets, round, rainfall acidity, balance, mid structure/tension, grand length and a two-minute long polished finish.

94-97 — 2 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2022 vintage. Medium-heavy body. Needs time/patience but shows pretty well currently if you're out of either/both. 6.3.26. — 3 months ago

Scot Walker

9.2

Dark fruit in the nose with plums, black cherries, leather and blackberries in the palate. Paired well with steak au poivre. Drank in 2026, could use aeration to fully enjoy the wine. — 3 months ago

Jessica Knickerbocker

9.2

Quite good. Worth the $$ paid. — 4 months ago

Kent Wessels

9.4

Had at bite and third and main — 6 months ago

Michael OHara

9.6

Amazing Pinot — 12 years ago