Alison Miller

9.0

Medium tannins, ripe blackberries and nice acidity — 5 years ago

Keaton Kail

9.3

Bright reflective ruby. Purple/pink flowers, pomegranate and grenadine, cigar smoke. — 6 years ago

Andy Hall

9.6

This is a seriously good wine. Great nose, great structure and terrific balance from the front palette to the backend. Drinks like a 1990’s Cali cab. Just a baby, it has many years to age! — 6 years ago

Joseph Dodge

9.0

Happy 21st Anniversary bottle at the lovely Ranch House in Ojai, CA. Could use another year or 2 in the bottle . A little tannic still, notes if cherries, pomegranate and dill. Great mouth feel and even finish — 7 years ago

with Diana

Big Wave Dave

9.4

Such a contrast to 2016! 2014 was warmer and with 2 more years of bottle age, the wine is more fruit forward, more opulent and more balanced against the brooding, spicy character of Gibbston. Fabulous! — 7 years ago

with Rocket

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Chardonnay pairing with Saffron Fettucine with Saffron Cream, Pancetta,
Summer Corn, Parsley and Pecorino Romano.

Green apple, juicy pineapple flesh, green melon, cream, butter, light honey notes, some lime candy, rich, waxy and well polished. One of a handful of CA Chardonnay’s I enjoy because of their light wood influence. At steal at $36 member price.

Not the best pair I’ve had but, it worked ok.

Photos of, their terrace view, Saffron Fettucine with Saffron Cream, Pancetta, Summer Corn, Parsley and Pecorino Romano, the rotating ball waterfall and hand blown glass that decorated their cellar halls.
— 8 years ago

Jan de Weerd

9.3

Potent! Deep dark sweet plum/fig with a spicy edge. Smooth finish for a perfect landing. — 8 years ago

with Tammy

Andrew

8.9

Crisp, apples — 5 years ago

Mike Whitworth

9.8

Classic Napa...delicious — 6 years ago

Heath Bradby

9.3

Really lively but fantastic. — 6 years ago

Garry Siskos

9.3

OMG delicious! It was suggested this would be great for Thanksgiving dinner. I'll definitely buy a few bottles. — 7 years ago

Chris England

9.8

My favourite Pomerol in a great year 🏆 now sells @ £250-£285 😱 On its 6th try & it’s now much better integrated & drinking lovely but will age more 😉 A New Year’s Eve delight 😍 enjoyed with Lasagne 🍝
.
📍 Vieux Chateau Certan 1998 Pomerol
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🏵 98 points for 1998 😁 & should improve
.
🍇 90% Merlot & 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
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🍷 Garnet ruby w/ brick edge
.
👃 Nasal Nookie Gang Bang of creamy dark spiced damson plum in soft smoked oak & light cedar w/ soggy earth, wet leaves, liquorice, rock minerals, cracked pencil lead, dirty gravel, cocoa, black berry fruits, charred soot embers, mint & herbs - nasaltastic baby 😍
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👄 Med earthy body of silky smooth ripe dark plum & black berry fruits w/ red cherry, raspberry liquorice & choc mocha in slight dry rock minerals
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🎯 Long deep plum & dark berry earthy soft liquorice mocha choca cherry & a light dry mineral oaky seductive smack in your chops — 7 years ago

Melinda Ruch

9.4

Awesome dry white wine, smooth finish w no bite aftertaste — 8 years ago

Trevor Kincaid

9.5

Dark cherry. Bold fruit. — 8 years ago

Mike Beltran

9.2

The Cos was decanted two hours earlier and that helped lift the aromatics. Slight brown on the edge but plenty of classic Bordeaux fruit. Good cork . Shows very well and was a nice addition to dinner. Still has life and vitality.👍👍 — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Been awhile since I pulled out an Insigna.

The 03 Pichon Lalande is the better wine and steak pairing. However, Napa Cabernet is the choice to finish steak and enjoy on its own after. You never want to do Napa before Bordeaux IMHO. It’s much harder to adjust from sweeter to something more earthy.

Enjoyed the 05 as my score reflects. I don’t remember it being as sweet as it was in previous tastings. Still quite good. It just tipped my sweet scale a little too much.

The body is, rich, lush & round. It’s achieved good evolution after 13 years in bottle and will continue to improve over the next 6-8 years and last another 15 years. As I mentioned, the fruit was ripe & sweet. Blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, plums, hints of blueberries and strawberries haunting the backend. Rich, dark earth, Rutherford dusty tannins and dry soils, purple cola, touch of fresh tobacco & graphite, light baking spices of; cinnamon, dash of clove, nutmeg and vanillin, anise to black licorice, saddle-wood, used leather, dry stems, some dry, crushed rocks/limestone with red, dark, purple and blue florals. The acidity round and nicely executed. The finish was similar wire to wire. It’s, lush, rich, elegant, touch too sweet, polished, well balanced & knitted with a soft, persistent, dark spice on the long set. Very enjoyable second bottle.

Photos of; Joseph Phelps Winery & sloping estate vines, inside lounge are with views of the back side, tasting terrace and front lobby/salon area upon entering past check in. — 6 years ago

with Christina and James

Tom Garland

9.3

Double decant (decent sediment) and pour. Color is a red/purple with hints of brown on the edge. On the nose: black fruit, cherry, chocolate, spices. Taste: dark cherry, plum, blueberry, spice, sweet tannins with a velvet mouth feel. — 7 years ago

with Brenda

Mike Beltran

9.2

Total delight to drink almost velvet like texture - just a bit of brown on the edge but not tired. Have six more and will share them. — 7 years ago

Chris England

9.5

😍 @ £31 this Musar is top & I’ve reviewed a few times 👍 personally i find it the best of many vintages I’ve had & not as funky as others 😉

🏵 495 points

🍇 Cab S, Cinsault & Carignan

🍷 Garnet cherry w/ brick edge

👃 Smokey oaky spiced leather infused cherry choc gateaux, red potpourri, prune compote, red berry jam, barnyard, mushroom risotto & herbs - gorgeous in a Zalto Burg 😎

👄 Med balanced body of earthy smooth red cherry in mocha, date & prune sauce w/ strawberry & redcurrant tones

🎯 Med+ earthy red berry/cherry gateaux💥 — 8 years ago

Chris England

9.4

Everyone knows I’m a fan of LRA but I’ve not had the 98 for a long time!

As I just found some @ £68 I had to try & it’s lovely for the money with lots of life left 👍

🍸 Perfect in Zalto Burgundy 😎

🍷 Garnet ruby w/ brick edge

👃 Smoked dark balsamic oak in spiced black cherry w/ vanilla cocoa cream, herbs, smoke, leather, coconut & caramel

👄 Med creamy smooth body of dark cherry bathed in balsamic & vanilla cocoa w/ red berry tones

🎯 Long chocky cherry w/ touch tart balsamic thick linger — 8 years ago