Jay Kline

9.2

Opened three days earlier. The 2023 pours a deep ruby/purple color with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of ripe brambles, lavender pastilles, bacon fat, black pepper, and fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. A delightful pairing with Bison ribeye. Young but showing its potential. Drink now through 2043. — 7 days ago

PM

9.4

Served this 2005 Leoville Barton and a 2000 Lagrange for a group dinner. Both fantastic, very similar. — 12 days ago

Mary H

9.0

Tannins have softened but still lend a nice structure, tasted angular rather than round. Dark red fruit, blackberries, relatively fresh. Graphite and a good mix of spices, cinnamon stick. Medium finish. @ La Tete d’Or — 10 days ago

Jamie Lauder

9.8

2005 vintage.
Rich black cherries, cocoa spice, orange peel, dark flowers, subois and earthy.
Long generous finish with crisp acidity and fine grained tannins.
This was bequeathed to me years ago at a Celebration of Life for a gentleman who was greatly influential and guiding on my wine journey.
A stunning wine from an incredible individual.
Cheers everyone.
🥂🥂 — 11 days ago

John Van Trijp

9.3

Half bottle — 8 days ago

"Odedi"

9.3

#AgedWineTuesday

Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.

Nose of blueberries, black plums, cooked cherries, oak, licorice, earth, tobacco leaf, herbs, peppercorn and mediterranean spices.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with black currants, black plums, blackberries, light cedar, earth, herbs, dark chocolates, tobacco leaf, light forest floor and black pepper.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 21 year old 4th growth Bordeaux is drinking beautifully now. Still showing enough fruits to balance the earth notes. Rich, elegant and very complex and engaging.

This iconic 2005 vintage is drinking very nicely now, and drinking at its peak. Will continue to drink nicely in the next 10 years. Nicely balanced with a soft mouthfeel.

I had this vintage 2 years ago, and it is drinking much better now, and very approachable right out of the bottle.

Wine Enthusiasts 93 points. Wine Advocate 93 points.

Good by itself as a sipping wine or with food.

A blend of 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot.

13% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$200. — a month ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.8

Beautiful, whip-smart Northern Rhône Syrah with blackberry, violets, granite and, after air, a gorgeous olive note running through both the nose and palate. The texture is sleek and refined, with excellent freshness, fine tannins and a long, elegant finish. Not quite as complete or tightly composed as the monumental 2019, but still an exceptional Gonon and a brilliant expression of the vintage. — a month ago

Ron Siegel

9.4

This btl was still fresh & in perfect condition. I am always amazed how well the 66’s show especially the La Mission HB. — 5 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

My first of nine bottles. Good first look. 13 such an excellent & big vintage. This is still midway to the top of the bell curve. 15-20 yrs plus depending on storage & taste.

The 2013 fruit clusters had small berries that were nicely ripened by the season, which meant more skins vs berry that gave it tannins, structure & depth.

Epic vintage.

The nose reveals; a lift of sage & rosemary. Black currants, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, dark cherry liqueur, anise core to black licorice, sage, soft rosemary, dark chocolate to pudding, mixed cola, steeped tea, some black pepper, limestone, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil, dry twig, grey volcanics, withering to dry; dark, red, purple flowers.

The palate is round, lush & thick. M+ dry, velvety tannins that penetrate deeply w/ teeth. Black raspberries, black plum, dark cherry liqueur, anise core to black licorice, sage, soft rosemary, dark chocolate to black plum pudding, caramel, dark spices w/ heat, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon to stick, vanillin, mixed cola, steeped tea, some black pepper, limestone, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil, dry twig, moist clay, grey volcanics, leather, graphite, moist tobacco, oak barrel shavings, withering to dry; dark, red, purple flowers, round, rainfall acidity with a rich/lush, nearly balanced, still strongly toned/structured, elegant finish with length & teeth that lasts minutes and lands on spice & earthiness.

It is still a baby. Plenty of life ahead. It has much more to offer. 15-20 yrs depending on storage and age taste. Add 1-2 points in 10 yrs. — 2 days ago

Michael Amoruso

8.9

2015 vintage. Should have had a bit earlier. Black fruits. Still fresh though. Earthy mint — 12 days ago

KA

9.4

Wally’s Beverly Hills — 2 days ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

Another great btl! Consistent with my prior notes — 9 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.2

Medium ruby with a medium garnet rim . Touch more sweetness on the nose , with rose , ripe cherry , red plum , raspberry , blood orange and some slightly toasty notes . On the palate this is juicy and quite sweet fruit profiled with raspberry, strawberry, quite fruit dominated . Rounded but noticeable tannins , fresh vibrant acidity and decent length . This is quite young, certainly compared to the Malconsorts , pretty sweet fruit , but overall well balanced and probably just needs a little more time . Quite a lot appears to be hidden at the moment , comes across a little one dimensional, but I think it will get there . Come back in 5-8 years, should drink well a further 10, if not more. — 25 days ago

Tom Garland

9.0

+2 hour decant(loads of sediment). A splendid dark crimson color. On the nose: Intense notes of stewed ripe red fruit, clove, soy sauce, pencil lead, meat. Taste: silky, rich, hedonistic style with some plum/blackberry, licorice, mineral, graphite, soil,and a spiced earthy medium plus dry finish. Enjoyed it more 3 years ago as the opulent fruit fades with this very extracted wine. — a day ago

with Brenda

Ron Siegel

9.2

Mostly black fruits with notes of cassis, cedar, leather, graphite & tobacco — 9 days ago

Stuart Pollack

9.0

Okay Right-Bank Bordeaux. Too young to open now. There is a nice bitterness to this Bordeaux. — 16 days ago

K Brooks

9.1

Delicious with Pat’s grilled steak. Lovely nose, dark fruit and long finish. ($89) — 6 hours ago

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. — 16 days ago

Garen Staglin

9.7

2021 is amazing. Great vintage and well done. — 20 days 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 — 24 days ago