Dark garnet to the edge with a bright nose of plum, black cherry, slight earth and oak. Very smooth, medium body, fruit forward yet still a touch dry with mild tannins and nice acidity. Maybe some strawberry in addition to plum and cherry flavors and a hint of spice. Really really a great Oregon Pinot! — 3 years ago
Classic Napa...delicious — 5 years ago
Las Alturas' Spanish for 'the heights', a fitting name, this vineyard located on one of the highest grape-growing benches in the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA. 4th gen Winemaker Joseph J. Wagner from a family with farming and winemaking roots in Napa since 1906. Met Joe several times. Deep Ruby (darkest Pinot I have come across, almost looks like a Cab). Rich berry flavors with cedar, spice and vanilla. Lingering ending with sweet oak notes. Consistent quality Nice! A Fav! — 5 years ago
Passover 2019 — 6 years ago
Awesome dry white wine, smooth finish w no bite aftertaste — 7 years ago
Started very nice with some pepperish notes. Dissipated in a half an hour. — 10 months ago
The 2022 Pinot Noir Justice Vineyard displays an intense and beguiling blend of currants, grilled herbs, crushed ashen stones and savory herbs. This is round and soothing with cooling acidity and a lifted feel throughout as ripe red berry fruits wash across the palate, giving way to a sensation of liquid stone. It leaves the cheeks puckered, tapering off with a lasting tension as silty tannins saturate. (Eric Guido, Vinous, August 2024)
— a year ago
Crisp, apples — 5 years ago
Very good. Raspberry flavors shine through. Clean finish. — 5 years ago
Had it with cheese and biscuits. Liked it. — 5 years ago
First time trying a wine from Israel. This was pretty nice—lots of autolytic notes and it was nice to try one that was vintage dated and with some bottle age. — 6 years ago
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
Nose: hint oak. Airy. Hint sea breeze. Lovely. White flowers.
Palate: lovely sweet oak. Sweet wood. Rich. Not over the top. — a year ago
Super well made Dry Creek Cabernet. Second best wine of the night. Great focus and intensity of fruit and oak. No real sign of age in the nose or color. Very aromatic and long finish. Slightly rough on the finish but it complimented the steak perfectly. Excellent juice 🍷🍷 — 4 years ago
Very good merlot. Low acidity, medium tannins. Very oaky with a sweet vanilla, dark fruits, but with a dark chocolate finish, maybe with a pepper. Still: one of my favorite labels. — 4 years ago
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. — 5 years ago
In my quest to compare old v new world kicking it off with olld world. I was worried this would be an oak bomb based on some previous vintages but there is restraint here. Golden vanilla and somehow green on the nose. The palate is bordering on rich but not. Cool climate fun that is balanced by baking spice and sass. I like this. If you want kosher for Passover (albeit not mevushal) this is for you. I’m neither of those things but finding it a pleasant Chard that flirts with oak just enough to keep enjoying. — 6 years ago
2014 vintage. Flowery notes. Crisp and balnaced. Has a personality of it's own. — 7 years ago
Meghan C
10/23/2024 - Purchased while visiting the winery in July 2024, enjoyed at home the night before leaving for a Cavalier weekend. — 8 months ago