Alessandro Dalle Carbonare

9.5

An overall good wine even thow it takes a long time to opens properly.
Do not rush in driving it and give it enough decanting time. — a year ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.7

1982 vintage. Wow. Where to begin? Decanted with the cork holding up extremely well (used a Durand). Throwing an absolute ton of sed so took about 4 minutes to decant properly. Plenty of color. Tasted 2 hrs, 3 hrs and 4 hrs after decant. Nose a little reticent the first foray but plenty of damp earth, elderberry showing up later. Then the graphite came in huge along with lesser, second-hand smoke/tobacco aromas. An addition of a remarkable freshness of both watercress and dill in the last few tastes. Light-medium body. Have tasted a few tired, big-boy '82's. This ain't one of them. This remarkable bottle did nothing to alter my opinion that I'd rather have a bottle of La Mission Haut Brion than any-including (just barely) Château Haut-Brion-first growth in the same vintage. Doesn't get much better and this one has plenty of time remaining. No rush to crush. Thank you, Dermott! 3.12.23 — 2 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. — 3 years ago

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. — 3 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. — 4 years ago

with Adriana

Alexandre Pagliano

9.5

Great dark rubi robe that does not betray the 18 years. As always reticent in the nose, its in the palate you recognize Lafite. Incredibly elegant tannins, notes of blackcurrant, mint, cedar and flowers, its mature, dense, elegant and with a long finish. This is probably the wine of the vintage. Now drinking great but really no rush. Enthusiastically recommended ! — 5 years ago

with Adriana

Steve Pollack

9.3

Classic and in a great spot. No rush. — 6 years 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 — a year 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. — 2 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 — 3 years ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Over the last few years, I’ve grown quite fond of Raul Pérez’s wines. The challenge is, some of them can be rather elusive. “La Penitencia” is one of those wines. So I was pretty excited to try this. Popped and poured; consumed over three days. Wine pours deep ruby bordering purple and slightly turbid with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity. There does appear to be a small amount of fine sediment clinging to the side of the glass. On the nose, the wine is intense. There’s obvious presence of VA and overall, comes across natty; more than any other Raul Pérez wine I’ve had before. That being said, it is remarkably fresh with notes of cherry and blackberry; the pits, seeds, stems and all. There’s also spices, cinder block, and un-excavated basement. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+, bordering on high acid. Again, bright red and dark fruits along with pomegranate, grapefruit, and basil. The finish is a touch mousey with a biscuity sort of thing happening but it’s tolerable and I’m pretty sensitive. This would be too wild for many. Reminds me a bit of Fabio Gea’s “Onde Gravitational”. Plenty of life ahead for these. As it stands, I have another bottle and I won’t be in any particular rush to drink it. Lovely stuff. — 3 years ago

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. — 4 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! — 5 years 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. — a year ago

Elizabeth

8.9

Honey lemon, fresh lime, a bit of mineral and sea on the nose, on the palate it’s got oak, butter, ripe lemons, blood oranges, nice acidity rush, watery finish. Refreshing and not heavy, good balance of oak and freshness. — 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. — 2 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. — 4 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 !! — 4 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 !! — 5 years ago

with Adriana

Daniel P. Drake

9.2

Hello everyone, I have gone back tonight to a wine that I have liked for a long time. I have opened the 2015 Amavi Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon from the Walla Walla Valley a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.

On the nose there are notes of black cherry, blackberry, black currant, cedar, vanilla, rose petals, pencil lead, forest floor and a bit of minerality.

At first sip brings back a rush of memories of the first Amavi Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon and floods my mind to over flowing. The notes on the palate are of black cherry, blackberry, black plum, black currant, cedar, herbs, a bit of oak and a good earthiness.

This wine is full bodied that is well balanced with medium + acidity and medium + mouth gripping tannins that lead to a long dusty earth and dark fruit finish. I am very happy with this wine and at the price point I bought this at.plan on purchasing a few more. Have a great week, be safe and enjoy wine. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 6 years ago