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

DE

9.5

At Clayton with a cigar big as the 96 — 2 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.2

2022 vintage. From a 375ml bottle. The St. Estèphe exception that proves the rule. Super-delicate cocoa powder with sumptuous richness throughout. Light-medium body. Cos is an outlier on the right. This is on the left. Nearly everything else is in between, hammer and nail 3D BDX...dry, dirty and distinctive. Excellent quality BDX to woo initiates with. 6.26.26. — 2 months ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of several hours. The 1998 pours a deep garnet/purple with an opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with positively charming notes of plum, brambles, grilled Poblano pepper, pipe tobacco, dried mixed flowers, a mix of organic and inorganic earth, fine wood and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and savory. This is about as traditional as it gets and was simply brilliant tonight. Squarely in the zone. Drink now through 2038+. — 3 months ago

Jake Hajer

9.2

Clean fruit. Mixed peppercorn. Tasty old world Syrah. — 5 months ago

Michael Younkins

9.3

A truly delicious rose. I am surprised its rating is low. — 4 months ago

Donald Williams

9.5

Don’t see this varietal on a restaurant menu very often, so I grabbed it. Great choice. With rack of lamb and braised beef short ribs, it was truly wonderful. — 6 months ago

with Bonnie

John Bratincevic

9.3

Didn’t take notes — I remember lush, graphite, and tasty. — 8 months ago

Veronica S

9.0

Wonderful daily drink — 5 years ago

Eric Urbani

9.0

At Stubborn Seed in Vegas — a month ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

Another great btl! Consistent with my prior notes — a month ago

Paul Adams

9.4

Aromas of fresh red fruit, petrified, and a slight wood herb scent. Moderate acidity, heavy silky tannins, medium full body, flavors of wet slate, black pepper, and a hint of jammy red fruit — 2 months ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.2

vintage 2020 | Totally in balance, a cedarwood charmer, laurel. Roundness. Had the swallow factor when I tasted it. — 2 months ago

Mary Beth Mulholland

9.2

I loved the flavor and finish of this. Great smell and one of the few deeper reds I can drink without food—but also thoroughly enjoyed it with our surf and turf dinner. Would buy again for a dinner party wine. — 3 months ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.0

vintage 1986 | Brushwood in smell, soft taste, a point — 4 months ago

David Koenen

9.4

Gingerbread, cigar box, shoe polish, red bell pepper, fireplace, tobacco leaf, wet earth. Balanced and distinguished. A very chic and classic glass. Beautiful in it’s transition from summer notes to autumn. Drink now. — 4 months ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.5

Strawberries, black cherries, dark chocolate and truffles. Very powerful. Apparently it is aged in 100% new oak, which is often not the best idea,but in this one it's perfectly integrated. Very long finish. — 5 months ago

John Van Trijp

9.7

A very powerful full bodied Pinot Noir that I like — 6 months ago

emilie cycz

9.0

Nice yellow color. Vibrant bubbles. Citrus flavor with pineapple notes. The mouth-feel is vibrant — 4 years ago

Meghan C

9.2

Sent by Mom & Alan — 6 years ago

John Howard

Harvest production at Hirsch and Cobb Wineries

9.6

Omfg so good!! — a month ago

Yoly Sardinas

9.3

Great wine.. very easy to drink. At Frenchies had Poulet roti .. — a month ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.4

Billy shannon obelix — 2 months ago

Scott E. Becker

9.2

[Tasted on July 2, 2026 at Home]
— 2 months ago

Jeroen Koenen

9.5

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

Roman Boudou

9.8

“Why is your wine so fucking good!?” — 4 months ago

Jeroen Koenen

9.5

Tasted at the chateau from a pristine, recorked bottle… 🙏🏻 (💯 for the privilige of this evening….)
Second bottle was less good, more soupy and evolved. — 5 months ago

Juan Mendez

9.7

Enjoyed at Del Frisco — 5 months ago

with Allyson

Sam Friedland

8.9

Was fine, but nothing to write home about!✍️ — 7 months ago

Tom Garland

9.4

1hour decant(some chunky/fine sediment). A striking still dark magenta color with little bricking. On the nose: Inviting notes of sweet red/blue fruit, smoked meat, floral, worn leather, nutmeg, wet forest floor. Taste: velvety, smooth, elegant, savory mature wine with dried cherries, cocoa, leather, scorched earth, and a minerally mocha long lingering finish. YUM!! — 8 months ago

with Brenda