Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

The Joseph Phelps Party. This is the 17 Insignia.

The nose shows; brooding, black currants, dark tarriness, heavy expresso roast grounds, heavily extracted; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum with skin, raspberries, cherries and strawberries faintly on the glass edges. Smoked meats, deep baking spices; clove, nutmeg, light cinnamon and just a touch of vanilla, dark turned earth, some dry top soil and fresh dark florals bouquet dominated with violets and lavender.

The body is round & full. The fruits are ripe, candied & juicy. It’s a brooding Insignia that will need lots of cellar time. The body is thick, round and heavy. Dark tarry, meaty tannins. Dark currants and well extracted; blackberries, black raspberries & black plum. Raspberries, cherries, and strawberries bring up the rear. Smoked meats, anise, tough leather, big pipe tobacco, woody, deep baking spices; clove, nutmeg, light cinnamon and just a touch of vanilla, dark turned earth, some dry top soil, dry to moist clay, graphite and fresh dark florals bouquet dominated with violets and lavender. The acidity is round and big. The full finish is brooding, well textured with great balance and persists endlessly. — 6 years ago

Jesus Figueroa

9.0

Smooth and delicate after taste woody And tanic feeling. — 7 years ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.2

Second of the blind tasting for Father's Day weekend.

Deep garnet red with bricking on the edges. A touch of tomatoes on the nose with some herbs. Gained some complexity with time in the glass, notes of dark cocoa, a touch savory, woody, gunpowder, dark fruits and graphite. Medium tannins (6/10) and medium plus bodied. Dark fruits on the palate with some nice sweet spices, graphite and a touch of heat. Long finish. Drink till 2021.

Nicely opened up with a couple hours in the glass, and still packing a punch on day two. Excellent inaugural vintage for the Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon from Witchery Wines. — 8 years ago

with Sean and India

Tsuyoshi Enoki

Sake Specialist Hasegawa Sake Shop Tokyo

9.2

Unclear deep orange or rose color
First scents: Raisins, barrel, vanilla, woody nuance
Second note: yeast, Autumn leafs, mushrooms, Tartuffe, peach, plum, cabbage, onion.
Muscat, ripen red fruits, rum, iron, fire works, kidney beans, coriander.
Light and smooth sweet and vivid acid, mushrooms and vanilla, hint of bitterness. Juicy ripen fruity after.
— 8 years ago

Trevor Donoghue

8.9

Deep red fruit, beautifully woody, silk, med plus tannin — 9 years ago

Hannes Huefken

9.0

Had to aerate for 10 minutes only for the woody stinkiness to disappear.
Brownish ruby red.
Prunes, raisins, maybe overripe strawberries on the nose, next to cognac, black pepper.
On the palate, it's pretty intense: Rather watery than viscous, sweet on attack and finish, low tannin, distinct licorice on mid-palate, acidity neither firm nor flabby.
Medium-short finish, but the mild tannin lingers for quite a while.
Might be time to drink up, for this is pretty ripe already. I wouldn't want this to disintegrate more. Fun to drink. I'm happy to notice that, while I like this mature thing, I really also want to drink younger reds with a more velvety texture and firmer tannin and taste profiles.
50+5+11+17+7=90 — 9 years ago

with Immo Philipp

James Gourley

8.9

My first Portuguese wine. Interesting profile. On opening it was brambly berries, menthol and a spice bomb on the finish. After being open for a few hours it settled down. The tannins are still present but everything seemed more integrated. The woody/spiciness also still lingers, just not as prominent. — 9 years ago

with Robyn

Alberto Chinali

9.3

Lovely Rioja, with layers of fruity, spicy and woody aromas that just make you want to sniff at your glass again and again. Balanced with a very long finish — 10 years ago

Matt Lang

9.7

Beautiful wine!! Fresh, apple and clean on the nose. The taste is fresh and woody and a lovely smokey linger. I'm a huge fan — 10 years ago

Rod Waterton

9.5

Another great wine at the NOOK — 11 years ago

Mike Daniel

9.4

beautiful!! Excellent bouquet just captivates. Rich fruit on the dark side and robust tannins, even at 15 years. Impeccable balance carries all the way through a significant finish, moving from woody oak/sandalwood and blueberries to ripe blackberry and granite toward the end. A powerful Helena classic profile, but glycerol and balance that’s exceptional. A new favorite. However, I suspect it can’t go much longer, as a small pour the second night kept over for comparison lost all structure and much flavor (but kept the beautiful aroma!) — 6 years ago

tim heyman

9.1

very gd not too woody flavorful with oysters — 7 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

The fruit for this Pinot comes from two of the coolest, most coastal parts of this appellation, linked by the influence of the Pacific’s cool marine air, which delays ripening. Bright Ruby with berry fruit, citrus and warm spice. On the palate, raspberry and cherry, tangy, with cedar notes and earthy tones. Bright acidity, soft expressive tannins, lingering finish ending with woody spice. Very nice, has room to age. — 8 years ago

Kevin Wood

9.1

Subtle flavor with Woody flavoring — 8 years ago

Mathew McNamara

9.0

Soupy, ripe, woody. Didn't look it's age. — 9 years ago

Ron R

9.3

Another excellent SB, served at close to ambient temp, which funnily enough assist with creating the aromatics.

The nose was so delicate and inviting (as was its appearance in the glass). I detected lemon and a hint of lime. Not sure if this wine sees oak, but I did detect woody overtones. I loved the expression on the palette. Hints of pineapple, honey and brioche mingle. It finishes with a zippy texture which is a wonderful final chapter. — 9 years ago

with David and Anne-marie

Cynthia Langstaff

9.0

Nose: more fruity than 2013 BF pinots tasted today woody overtones have softened. Taste: fruit is subordinate to astringent tannins. Not unpleasant but lacks some of the earthy complexity I like best. — 9 years ago

with Nicole, David and 1 other

Donna Bailey

9.2

Perfect blend with woody, sweet and heavenly cherry. — 10 years ago

Maggie Nation

9.3

Woody and complex, has a lot of alcohol on the nose, but the spiciness and complex favors balance it out. Great by itself or paired with food. — 10 years ago

Alex Barty

Winemaker Blood Moon Wines, Senior Retail Assistant Blackhearts & Sparrows Wine Purveyors, Cellarhand Stonier Wines

9.2

Delicious and sense Nebb. Cherry cola, earthy/woody spice...great wine that evolved nicely — 11 years ago

Andre Sosa, Dr Orange

9.2

In an event! Taste didn't realized since I got the bottle. Woody and fruits. — 6 years ago

Martin Sher

9.3

Elegant amaro with woody orange backed with spice. Finish leaves with a hint of orange pith bitterness. Lighter side of the amaro spectrum. — 7 years ago

Andrew Lohse

9.4

Woody, intense, hard-hitting. — 7 years ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.4

Deep mix of garnet and ruby red. Layered nose with a slightly woody attack and red cherries. Undertones coated in damp leaves, gravel and even some softer dark fruits like plums. Moderate plus tannins (7.5/10) and balanced. Great acidity with a silky texture. Layered with tons of red mountain berries, dark gravel and a touch perfumey. Big full bodied wine with a lingering finish. Drink till 2036. — 8 years ago

with India

Bjørn M

9.4

Woody, cherry, deep, aftertaste that never ends. — 9 years ago

Frank Kuo

9.4

Color of burgundy with haze. Nose of nice barrel fragrance, round alcohol, raisin, ripe plum, dried figs, and a bit salty note. Taste of velvet, round structure, with smoky,woody, tobacco leaf, and herby note. Low tannins, subtle sweetness like dried fruit, and well polished light acidity mix well to produce a feeling of medium strength wine with good complexity. Very easy to drink and enjoy. Aftertaste is a bit missing with a bit of bittersweet zest and spice. All edges are polished off, and enjoy it at her peak now. Having 2nd bottle 3 months later. Again very enjoyable! — 9 years ago

James Gourley

9.1

Nose is better than the palate on this wine. Lots of nuanced woody, chocolaty and spicy secondary aromas. However, the palate starts strong but ends rather abruptly. Maybe it needs to lay down a bit longer. — 9 years ago

with Robyn

Eric Hwang

9.0

Tasting of 1999 2nd growths. Brick red with brown edges. Initial faint musty aroma suggested TCA, but it eventually dissipated, so probably not. Unfortunately, once I smell cork taint, that's all I smell in the glass. Woody, with faint red fruit flavors and good acidity. Still firm tannic finish. — 9 years ago

Devin Bray

9.2

Considerably less fruity than the 2007, and less woody too - I think I might actually like it better this way, as it brings all of the pleasant herb and mineral notes to the foreground. Very tasty indeed. — 10 years ago

Leigh Noir

9.9

Delicious. All over mouth feel! Woody, acidic, mouthful of berry love. — 10 years ago

with Kyle