Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Barrel taste of the 2016 Insignia.

The nose shows bright red floral fruits. Ripe; dark cherries, blackberries, creamed black raspberries, strawberries, blueberries and a touch of pomegranate. Vanillin, light cinnamon, dark rich soils, dark chocolate bar, soft understated volcanic minerals, violets, red and dark florals.

The wine is still extremely fresh. The body medium full. Tannins are round & slight tarry. The fruits are very ripe and bright. Ripe; dark cherries, blackberries, creamed black raspberries, strawberries, blueberries and a touch of pomegranate. Vanillin, light cinnamon, dark rich soils, dark chocolate bar, soft understated volcanic minerals, limestone, violets, red and dark florals. The acidity is fresh and waterfallish. The fruit is beautiful. The wine has a long way to go in barrel but, it shows great promise. The finish is already well polished with great structure, length and balance.

Photos of; their Napa Estate vines, logo woven into the carpet, futures offering area and long shot of their visitor center building and terrace. — 8 years ago

Victor Hwang

9.2

Palate was kind of shot but I remember this was big beautiful but too young. — 9 years ago

Trevor Carruthers

9.0

Bags of sweet berry fruits, smooth. Lasting finish of vanilla and some oak. Delicious. — 9 years ago

WineMascot

9.3

1976, holy crap this thing was amazing. Just at about the end of its life but it put up a great fight. brick color and warm cranberry throughout. Silk. — 10 years ago

Said Medina

9.8

There is no better day for a Riesling-drinker than getting a Grosses Gewächs Keller Kierspiel Riesling, 2009 vintage put in front of you. This drank extremely well and supposedly could even be pushed a cpl years further! The stuff dreams are made of. — 10 years ago

Adam Jesberger

9.7

At first a bit closed and tight. With time the hype became understood. Layers on layers of dense dark fruit with epic length and complexity. Stunning in every facet. The nose contained an inky tone that i love in the high grade napa cabs. Followed by a subtle mint accent that really complimented our prime tri tip with rosemary. Marthas is one martha fuggah. After a couple hours......the menthol/eucalyptus became insane. Like a york peppermint rush on the nose. Almost icy in nature. If i had known, i would have allowed for a 2+ hour decant before touching this wine. This is a wine that really lives up to its reputation. It was a baby, tannins were still super grippy and coarse. This needed about 7-10 more years. I will be finding more to put away! — 10 years ago

with Jenelle

Jimmy Hayes

Estate Director Mayacamas Vineyard

9.6

Bravo. A stunning Cabernet that feels so well put together. Soft but not flabby, generous but not overdone. Black fruit driven. So lovely to drink a wine this comfortable in its own skin.. — 11 years ago

John Skupny - Lang & Reed Wine Company

9.3

Now this is an obscure blend that really works - still a little young and tight but shows balance and subtle nuances of the multiple parts - tastes like it was put together by a pro. — 12 years ago

Christine Mortensen

9.8

Very tasty! As Lloyd put it... "It's a step above our wine in a box." :) — 13 years ago

Antonio Galloni

Founder, Vinous

9.7

One of many truly great wines I drank last night. I bought 12 mags of the 2004 on release. Have to put the rest far out of reach. What a totally stunning, gorgeous wine... 🍷😋😱 — 8 years ago

Bill Bender

9.4

Absolutely nothing Lost in Translation here. A nice aged Tig that unfurled slowly and put on weight and substance throughout the evening. Black cherry, cedar chips and a marked intensity once it hit it’s stride. So plush. — 9 years ago

Norman

10

Last night was special. What a set of wines and only one was shot. Fantastic — 9 years ago

with Jason, Rich and 1 other

Jon Nadler

9.0

I like it. It's different. Can't quite put into words how. Definitely needed decanting. — 10 years ago

Jessica Pfeifer

8.9

A little young today, but could be beautiful in a few years. Put this one away! — 10 years ago

with Nikhil

Matthew Duré

9.1

Elegant North Coast fruit with all the smoke and spice you want from Syrah. Put a few away for down the road but sings a great tune after a good decanting now. Always love these wines! — 11 years ago

Matt Sterr

9.2

Vibrant with a very polished mouthfeel and fresh cream. We'll put together. — 11 years ago

Simon Rebbechi

9.2

In my mind a very elegant cab franc. More predictable but more fruit - almost gamy at times - but lots of herbs to pull it through. Put it in the cellar — 11 years ago

Thomas Weber

9.1

Great wine. Awesome value. Beautiful cherries, red fruit and toast in nose, smooth elegant body with more red fruit that carries. Not hard to put this back to your mouth! — 12 years ago

with Brooke and Chris

Ed Chin

9.8

Can't put my finger on it — 12 years ago

Matt Perlman

9.3

Put me in Coche! Hard to believe this was “just” their village meursault — 8 years ago

E & K G

9.5

We had the 2004, 2008, 2010 today. All good vintages. 2004 was the consensus WOTN being the most “put together”. The balance between fruit, acidity, structure was all there. — 8 years ago

Ryan Lyonnais

10

One of the best wines I have ever tasted. — 9 years ago

Justin Cykler

9.5

Isosceles is the flagship wine of Justin vineyards that put Paso Robles on the wine map. The 2014 Isosceles could lay for 10+ years, but also has a ready-now taste that makes it incredibly unique. Another beautiful Cab-driven beauty! — 9 years ago

Patrick Kelly

9.2

Couldn't quite put a finger on the nose. Maybe baby food left in the barn. Still, swirl, swirl, swirl, drink. Magnificent. — 10 years ago

Michael Adelman

9.2

Wow... Always overlooked because it's not from Napa... Lovely mountain fruit with cocoa and cedar. Lots of love was put forth and it shows. Such a treat to have! — 10 years ago

Dave Meyers

9.1

Go south, young man! There's still value in Burgundy. This has put on some weight with time, in a very good way. — 11 years ago

Craig Benner

9.3

Had this after about 100 martinis so our taste buds were shot, but we all enjoyed it immensely. — 11 years ago

Grey Jay

8.9

I've probably had more of this wine than any other all year and its unfortunately been inconsistent. Some have tasted corked, others I would put against the best Barberas out there. Then again, there's a reason I will come back to this bottle, because when it's good, it phenomenal for an under $20 Barbera d'Asti. This particular bottle was middle of the road good, not amazing compared to what else we've opened tonight. Definitely sweeter than what I remember, but not in a bad way. — 11 years ago

Matt Osborne

10

Put this baby down for a decade. Bigger than Benhur but is it worth $700 AUD? I'll let you decide. — 12 years ago

Nate Rose

Wine Director Specs

10

That shot glows... — 13 years ago