David Koenen

9.4

Tobacco, black cherry, bramble, licorice, sun-dried tomatoes, inky, powerful tannins, there’s absolutely no rush to open the next bottle. — a year ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2013 vintage. Both excellent fill and cork. Decanted with infinitesimal sed. Slightly silvery color. Tasted after 1.5 and 2.5 hours open. Medium body. Nose slightly reticent during both tastes. Black tea and eucalyptus prominent first go round with both those still present but minimized second pass. Sprinkle in some cracked black pepper and white sage for round two and we have a winner. Finish lasted over a minute and the concentration was as expected given the decent street cred. No rush to crush but open waay early/decant this if enjoying in the next handful of years. 10.24.24. — 2 years ago

Byron Fuller

9.4

Stunning. I often find I prefer LdH reasonably younger (GRs at the 10-15 year mark). This was vigorous, gorgeous, and very fine. Tiny bit of bricking but really still dark-core garnet color right on pour. Lovely nose of warm red fruit, flowers, that iconic snap of VA, and some forest floor action. But much less mushroomy & evolved than many other 70s GRs from the same house. Haunting, long palate true to nose— structured, crunchy fruit with no hard edges. Exceptionally long & evolving the whole time. All in all this has decades ahead and is evolving slowly and marvelously. No rush to drink up just to drink. — 3 years ago

Brent Young

9.5

Mountain Cabernet

Served with the Vinloq System

Day1
Classic in style. Complex. Lovely
👃Blackberries, cherries, crushed stones, eucalyptus, graphite and spice
👅Very refined. Perfumed cherry fruit with graphite. Youthful

Kept in fridge under Vinloq preservation

DAY7
Silky texture. Elegant. Classic style

DAY9
Complex. Feels less than 15yrs old

DAY16
Finishes with sweet purple fruit and an excellent graphite note with spice. Silky. Drinking perfectly. No rush to open these but this in a very nice spot. Wish I had more bottles

Sean Capiaux is the winemaker here — 4 years ago

Alexandre Pagliano

9.6

Medium dark rubi robe, open nose with cedar, blackcurrant, hints of kirsch and asian spices. Very long and elegant, medium bodied, we had it with friends around a steak with champignons. Perfect match, great friends and food. Wine is singing now but no rush, classic claret at its best. Enthusiastically recommended. — 5 years ago

with Adriana

Alexandre Pagliano

9.1

A very balanced wine in his late secondary evolution. Lots of fruit left, civilized tannins, medium bodied and much better than most 88s we had. Good now but really no rush. Excellent bottle !! — 5 years ago

with Adriana

Joe Gillies

9.4

Wow, amazingly good right now. Decanted for a hour. Beautiful aromas of plum and violet. BlackBerry, cedar, graphite, and cigar on the palate. Tannins showing some and just coming into its prime drinking window...no rush and excellent! — 6 years ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.2

Medium ruby garnet , narrow garnet rim . Quite deep spicy tobacco , cassis , redcurrant , grafite , smoky herbal notes on the nose. On the palate this is quite restrained and elegant , with a mix of red and dark fruits , cassis , blueberry , red currant , touch of menthol also . Good refreshing acidity and slightly gritty tannins , good length with grafite and tobacco stained finish . This is showing well and is probably at peak at the moment , no rush as it will stay here for another 8-10 years or so . — a year ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

1999 vintage. Decanted and tasted after four hours. Medium/heavy body. Intense, dark color. Earthy, tannic nose. Plenty of grip and fruit and showing beautiful balance now. Not an Insignia fan but this was excellent and has plenty of quality time left. No rush to crush. 71% Cab, 21% Merlot, 6% PV, 1% Cab Franc, 1% Malbec. 3.5.24. — 2 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.6

1990 vintage. Wow. Whatta nose! Haven't had this since the mid-90's when it was a mere baby and tight as nails. Could smell this all night long. Oodles of impressively dark color and still medium-bodied. Nose prefaced the previous life of this wine as a total, in your face, tannic bad-ass, tattooed love boy. Flavor profile revealed a more delicate, plummy and slightly plushy finish. Smoother and fatter than expected on the back end. One of the best wines this estate has ever made and no rush to crush. This wine will outlive you and your retirement funds. — 3 years ago

Julia Indik

9.3

First a big rush of lush fruit, then smoky tones with hints of fig and chocolate. The finish is long with moderately strong tannins and little acid. — 4 years ago

Alexandre Pagliano

9.3

Licorice, tobacco, dark fruits, crushed violets, on a medium bodied wrap. Long, elegant and very accessible but no rush. Oh so good this one. Enthusiastically recommended. — 5 years ago

with Adriana

Alexandre Pagliano

9.2

Beautiful dark rubi robe, nose of asian spices, licorice, crushed flowers and leather. Fresh, medium bodied and spicy in the mouth, with good length and amazingly good for a 46 year old. Great stuff and no rush to drink. — 5 years ago

with Adriana

Tom Casagrande

9.2

Popped and doubled decanted. Not that much sediment yet. Nose is rich in iron-scented wet clay, with sweet, dense cherry fruit trying to push its way through. Some dried underbrush as well. Densely-flavored initially, and then the relatively crisp acids take over, and the palate thins out a little but lingers. Flavors include barely-ripe cassis and dark cherry, with loads of minerally clay notes. Bone dry. Still feels a bit tight. Drinking well now but no rush. — a year ago

Ron Siegel

9.4

Youthful, full bodied, old school style of Bordeaux with sweet black fruits, cassis, cedar, leather, graphite, spice box, cigar ash & tobacco notes. No rush with many years ahead — 2 years ago

Byron Hewett

9.3

Beautiful Bordeaux with the classic flavors. No rush. — 3 years ago

Alexandre Pagliano

9.2

Blackish purple robe, nose of cigar box, asphalt, blackcurrant and a hint of black pepper and spices. Medium bodied and very velvety, good length. Ready now but no rush. A really good bottle from a vintage we dont particularly like. — 4 years ago

with Adriana

Alexandre Pagliano

9.2

Dark garnet robe, nose of blackcurrant and anise, then dark fruits, violettes and spices together with tobacco and tar, pepper. Medium bodied, elegant, long, its opening now but no rush. We liked it a great deal, its a very fine wine. — 4 years ago

with Adriana

Alexandre Pagliano

9.3

Oh, so good. Elegant, fresh, complex, more Barsac than Sauternes. Very exotic too with flowers and spices.
If you are into Sauternes or Barsac buy a case or two, it does not get much better than this. Fantastic now but no rush. — 5 years ago

with Adriana

Alexandre Pagliano

9.3

Great showing for one of our preferred wines. There is no rush as the underlying material is barely showing evolution now. Wonderful notes of dark berries, cherries and flowers. Please decant. Has a lot to it with great acidity and tanins and again no rush. Highly recommended !! — 6 years ago

with Adriana