Ray Vanderhoff

9.4

Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (70%), Merlot (24%), Petite Verdot (3%) and Cabernet Franc (3%). Dark ruby/purple color. Aromas of plush black fruit, violets, graphite, leather, cedar and wet gravel. Jammy raspberry and blackberry fruit flavors with additional notes of plums, black currants, mocha, coffee, tobacco and baking spices. Beautiful hints of smoke and dusty earth on the long and precise finish. Rich and concentrated with great intensity. Medium-plus body and some noticeable tannins. Still a bit tight, but heading to a very good place. Thank you so much for the wonderful gift, Kasey and Pete! — 4 months ago

Doug Powers

9.3

Medium-dark-red color, very little browning at rim, this shows a little of the “overripe” notes I’ve found in 1990 Bordeaux (and CdPs), nice concentration and depth, long finish, the ripeness carries into the finish and detracts just a little. — 7 months ago

with Jim

Jay Kline

9.3

Double decanted two nights before service. The 2013 Insignia pours a deep garnet color with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears and some signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing but still quite youthful with notes of tart and ripe dark fruit: dense brambles, purple flowers, tobacco, vanilla and 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+. At 11 years of age, this remains tightly coiled and needs more time to open up and tell more of its story. All that being said, this is very good now…but to my palate, better after 2027 and through 2043. — 8 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.5

Deep Ruby with aromas of dark fruits, floral spice and cedar notes, blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon. On the palate flavors of blackberry, plum and black cherry with cacao, tobacco, licorice and spice. Fine grainy tight tannins, well balanced on long finish, ending with fruit, cedar and earthy mineral character. Very nice, will age well but wait a few more years to really enjoy! — 2 years ago

Pauli Loukola

9.0

Dark fruit, very good — 4 years ago

Shay A

9.3

A few fun 4th Friday wines from tonight.

A bigger and more rich style of GL than I’m accustomed to, but in a good way. This powerhouse vintage is evident in this wine with so much concentration and complexity. Classical Bordeaux traits of herbs de Provence, leather, cedar and graphite. The core here is deep and dark with ripe black fruits, currant, potpourri and a finish showing sweet tannins. This will cruise for a while, but it’s very good now. — 6 years ago

with Dan

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Mostly Petite Sirah with small amounts of Syrah, Grenache and other mixed Rhône varieties, aged 14 months in American oak, 19% new, very dark Ruby-purple with aromas of ripe dark fruits and an array of spices from cigar box to full spice cake. On the palate flavors of black cherry preserves and blackberry jam, layering in some licorice, leather, tobacco and black pepper spice. Savory grippy tannins, long finish ending with fruit, spice, oak and earthy character. A powerhouse! Decant first! — 4 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.5

Pretty deep , narrow ruby rim. Quite rich , almost exotic nose , dark cassis , dark plum, rich spiced blackberry, touch of cocoa , vanilla, smoke. On the palate this is quite rich but also very elegant with balanced refreshing acidity . Cassis , mineral , grafite , dark cherry. Ripe but very present tannins . Long and refined finish . After a while becoming more mineral and quite serious . Needs time , better in 5-10 years and last well a further 10-15 . This is a very successful showing and though obviously very young is enjoyable and involving to drink at the moment. — 7 months ago

Alexander Bastian Nielsen

9.2

Beautiful “entry level”-wine from SLWC - however it’s very very young. Decanted for 4 hours and really opened up but shouldn’t be opened until 2026 earliest. Cassis, bramble, dark cherries, dusty tannins, mocha, mint and spices! Very bold and yummy — 8 months ago

Adam Gäfvert

9.4

This was decanted in a cool wine cellar close to 12 h before we enjoyed it. It is very aromatic and inviting. Layered with dark fruits, pencil lead, five spice, nutmeg, preserves, orange peel, menthol and more. Great posture. Only 13,5 abv. — a year ago

Jody Wycech

9.3

Enjoyed this wine. Very dry, lots of dark berries. Would love to have again. — 3 years ago

with Ethan, Peter and 1 other

Lawrence Bernstein

9.1

Tasted 3/20. Very deep. Very dark. Sweet beautiful dark wine. 91 — 5 years ago

Conrad Green

9.2

Dark fruit. Hints of green pepper, blood and Smokey red fruit. Intense and very pure on the palate. Dark fruit, great texture and persistence. Lovely mouthfeel. — 6 years ago

with Paul and Ara

Daniel Ciolek

9.1

Very nice approachable Rioja purchased at Madrid airport duty free. Great value. Lovely nose, palate is well balanced with many layers of dark fruit, spice, and soft tannins. Very pleasant and sure to be a crowd pleaser. — 5 months ago

Alexandre Czesnat

9.1

Dark fruit, Oak aromas, chocolate, tobacco, smoke, leather, well balanced, rich, very aromatic — 6 months ago

Nathan Renfro

9.4

@"Odedi" comments below are spot on. Gave this bottle 2 hours decant and it was drinking very well. Very approachable, a lighter Napa cab, very well balanced with just ripe dark fruit, medium plush tannins, med acidity. Drinking very well. Really enjoyable. Can’t wait to watch this evolve with many more years left. — 7 months ago

John Malcolm

9.5

An outstanding wine that is drinking very well now. Powerful, but smooth and refined. Blackberries, cassis, dark chocolate, truffles, and cedar. Long, satisfying finish. — 9 months ago

David Kline

9.4

Lovely nose of slow cooked beef and heirloom pork, red and black roses, brown bread stuffing, fine tabak, vanilla-in-bread, dusty black cherry, dried black currant and espresso powder. Black olive rounds the palate in a textural wave that intensifies to charred grape gravy, very sharp forest berry, lavender, holly, pine nettle, and sage. Younger offering here but fully integrated and freshly offering dark bark and dark castings with lively fruit and floral punctuation.


#chateaupontetcanet #2014 #bordeaux #pauillac #grandcruclasséen1855 #appellationpauillaccontrôlée #misenbouteilleauchateau #leftbank — 3 years ago

Josh Morgenthau

9.2

Blackberry jam nose with some leather, tar and leaf litter. Color is quite opaque and garnet with just a little bricking. Lots of dark ripe fruit and preserved fruit on the palate. Full body, quite rich, powdery, and tannins still quite prominent. Very satisfying. Just entering its prime- may be better in 5-10. — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Beautiful Ruby red with an elegant bouquet of sweet berry fruits, subtle spice with earthy tones, a traditional Rioja. On the palate, the wine was silky smooth with layers of flavors, berry/cherry, tobacco, smoky cedar, dark fruit, vanilla spice, very well balanced with fine tannins and a clean structure ending with a nice lingering finish. Delicious! — 7 years ago