Tasted blind. Deep purple color. Looks very young, compared to the 45 Margaux next to it. Almost opaque. Notes of black fruit, cracked walnuts, sweet fruit, raspberry and some cedar desk. Super rich in the mouth. Seems young and is firm, but tannins are softened and the mouthfeel is velvet touch. Long finish. It peacocks all night. The walnuts thing leads my guess to Latour, but can this be the 45? Is it a 61 or 82? Could be... I go with it being a 59 given how young it seems. Just an amazing bottle of wine, open for ~9 hours by the time we left, it seemed to effortlessly power along. Thanks Stan! — 2 years ago
My kind of wine, a lot of meats and dark fruit. Mainly wood and meats in it. I can't have enough of this amazing wine though it can wait for a bit longer for a better opening. — 9 years ago
2004—part of a Vieux Telegraphe vertical. Excellent, with layers of good dark fruit and hints of leather and smoke, plus a nice earthiness overall. A lesson for me on the effect of bottle age. (And also how pro ratings can be off the mark—this was wonderful!) Drinking nicely now... — 9 years ago
A fav that I can find at most west coast whole foods — 10 years ago
Proof positive that a star producer can deliver in variable vintages. This is an easy contender for the most satisfying Bordeaux experience I've had. Stress eliminator par excellence. — 11 years ago
It’s so so. Don’t love the after taste—something I’ve noticed with cheap cava. — 10 months ago
Wow … Aromatic Lime, almond, hint of clove, green tea and cardamom in a vegetal and mineral SymphonY !! … Wow ! — 2 years ago
Smooth finish, love this addition from Mondavi. Can taste the hint of bourbon — 7 years ago
Outstanding! There is the perfect moment for a bottle to be opened and tonight was it. It was the wine equivalent of a album that you can listen to from start to finish. — 8 years ago
I was disappointed with my last Caymus Special Selection vintage, but this beauty brought me back to a bottle that won Wine Spectator's #1 Wine of the Year ... Twice!! Incredible fruit and balance. This can be cellared and enjoyed for years to come. Cheers!! — 9 years ago
A little tight because of its age and format(1.5L) Everything is amazingly integrated and can age for many, many,, many years — 10 years ago
My first bottle of the ‘16. This is drinking really well right now, and I can’t wait to see it in 10 years. Fruit is ripe, tannins are tight but approachable. Black and red fruit. Acidity still strong but also approachable. Overall well structured and integrated. Just gonna get better with time, but like I said, it can be pnp, but with patience it’ll be fantastic. I agree with WS 95 rating. — 10 months ago
Now I see how this wine can be so divisive. LOTS of brett at first, more band-aid than barnyard. Takes a while to get past it and then lots of exotic spices show up. But after 40 minutes in the glass still nothing primary. It’s got the funk I can appreciate in some good left bank Bordeaux but also feels somewhat single-threaded. — 3 years ago
Dark purple plum skin color from center to the rim’s edge where some scarlet also appears. Opaque. Great fruit forward nose that grabs your attention. Notes of blackberries, ripe plums, violets, tobacco, forest floor and some crushed walnuts. Rich and silky in the mouth. Great balance and texture. Tannins perfectly integrated. Long finish. If a Cal Cab can be seductive, this is it. Still youthful but in a great zone tonight. — 6 years ago
Awesome stuff. Biscuit dough, baked apple, a bit of oak influence, beautiful effervescence and great acid. 2005 vintage, but can only imagine how it will be in 20 years.. — 7 years ago
What can you say about an aged Shafer Hillside Select. 🍷. Excellent. — 7 years ago
Spectacular! Mind blowing. One of my top 10 of all time. On every serious wine lover’s bucket list, and here we had a nigh perfect bottle. While aromatically a little recalcitrant, you still got some of the Margaux violets and potpourri on the nose, hints of clove, all trying to shake off their doldrums. But on the palate, it was timelessly ravishing. The finesse, richness, balance and smoothness, with an underlying, almost flabbergasting mixture of complexity and delicacy, was just astonishing. The finish is marvelously sweet and intense, with chocolate and cassis and utterly seamless tannins. This is a miracle of wine making and an exaltation of vintage and terroir besides. Wow! And bravo! We can only pray for an encore of such a wine. — 8 years ago
4/28/15 grand finale at j and j. The 90 is what you thought it was and what I remember. And what you can never forget. The ultimate reminder of why one loves wine. — 9 years ago
Not a typical cab. Easy for a beginning can drinker. Bit pricey, but good. — 10 years ago
Skip Smyser
Huge red fruit, soft tannins. An absolute baby with at least 20 years to evolve. Long lingering aftertaste on the mid pallet. Minerality and tannins will continue to become a bigger part of the taste profile. I won't try again for a few years. Huge upside. You can and should purchase while still available. A great addition to the wine cellar. Now that Phelps has sold it will be interesting to see what they do with Insignia.🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 9 months ago