Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

I recently had a conversation with a few Joseph Phelps Ambassador’s at Pebble Beach Food & Wine in April. I said, I had every vintage of Insignia back to 2006 in storage. They said, “you should really drink up the 2006.” So, I coravined an 06 last weekend, a taste. I agreed then. But tonight not the case, it shows it still has a fair amount of life. Another 5-8 yrs and perhaps plus.

My Ribcap, a definition of Medium Rare Plus.

The nose reveals floral; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, poached strawberries, dark cherries and blue fruit notes. Melted dark chocolate, mocha, caramel, softly layered baking spices, very underrated graphite, steeped tea, mid berry cola, red licorice, limestone powder, dry top soil, dry twig, red, dark candied to slightly withering florals w/ liquid violet cola.

The palate shows well resolved, rounded, velvety M+ tannins. Nicely ripe fruits that are floral; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, poached strawberries, dark cherries and blue fruit notes. Melted dark chocolate, mocha, caramel river, softly layered baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick & vanillin, warm caramel, dark Asian spices with palate burrowing heat, dry tobacco/ leather, cedar, grilled meats, very underrated graphite, sweet tarriness, black licorice, steeped tea, mid berry cola, red licorice, limestone powder, dry top soil, dry twig, red, dark candied to slightly withering florals w/ liquid violet cola, candied to withering; dark, red, blue florals wrapped in liquid violets, epic rainfall acidity, well balanced-structured-toned, elegant finish that lasts minutes and falls on earth & heated spice.

95-96 peaking. — 9 days ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

This was youthful with rich cherry, red berry fruits, earth, baking spices, mineral & floral tones — 2 months ago

Ming L

9.0

Aromas of kirsch, dried cherry, old wood, leather, and warm spice lead into a broad, supple palate. The fruit is ripe and generous, with earthy undertones and hints of black olive and dried herbs. Structure comes more from fine tannins than visible acidity, giving a smooth, gently weighted flow rather than lift. The finish is savory and persistent, marked by a candied touch.

A nice traditional CdP, but it does not show the fruit purity and freshness that’s one of the hallmark of the great 16’ vintage. — 3 months ago

Michael Dierberg

9.4

Great wine. Will improve but not a bad time to open. Aromatics started with a distinctive smoky or reductive note that I couldn’t quite place but dissipated and morphed. Good structure. — 4 months ago

with JiaMin

Ryan Douglas Wells

9.0

Almost effervescent with acidity, bright, with tart cherries, the funk and slight brine of olives, and a pleasant mid-mouth weight. — 4 months ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2024 “Les Monts Damés” pours a straw color with medium viscosity. On the nose, the wine is developing with white flowers, grapefruit, star fruit, alfalfa, and cream cheese stuffed poblano pepper. There’s also this Double Bubble thing going on. Wild stuff. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. In a world of increasing ambiguity, I love that this is immediately identifiable as Sancerre. Drink now through 2034+. — 6 months ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.8

Beautiful, whip-smart Northern Rhône Syrah with blackberry, violets, granite and, after air, a gorgeous olive note running through both the nose and palate. The texture is sleek and refined, with excellent freshness, fine tannins and a long, elegant finish. Not quite as complete or tightly composed as the monumental 2019, but still an exceptional Gonon and a brilliant expression of the vintage. — 22 days ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2019 vintage. Last tasted 10.30.24 (9.3). Popped for the staff as part of the usual Saturday Slurp. Previous visit was ridiculously delicious but undisciplined. All over the map and that was much of the charm...that rusticity and authenticity...but at Woodstock with 500K in attendance and the LSD-spiked punchbowl that ambushed The Who still found them nailing their set. Kinda similar to that. Yeah. So tonight's viz finds this bad boy relatively behaved with frontal palate richness and savory chocolate note along with a plushiness that was previously hinted at but unfulfilled. Gaminess gonzo for the most part as this seems to have settled into middle-age. Say it ain't so! Was crazy excellent in the punk rock era. Still excellent in the arena rock era. We'll see what happens in the crooner/standards era. 6.27.26. — a month ago

Joe Fischer

8.9

Ruby with aromas of dark cherry, blackberry, licorice, and tobacco. Very cherry on the bud with a long smooth finish. — 2 months ago

Jake Hajer

9.2

Clean fruit. Mixed peppercorn. Tasty old world Syrah. — 4 months ago

Mackenzie Svee

9.7

Shows white peach, bitter almond, dried flowers, slate, and umami savor, with a long, detailed finish — 4 months ago

Emma Swain

9.4

Just delicious- lovely balance — 6 months ago

Sam Friedland

8.9

Was fine, but nothing to write home about!✍️ — 6 months ago

Tom Garland

9.4

1hour decant(some chunky/fine sediment). A striking still dark magenta color with little bricking. On the nose: Inviting notes of sweet red/blue fruit, smoked meat, floral, worn leather, nutmeg, wet forest floor. Taste: velvety, smooth, elegant, savory mature wine with dried cherries, cocoa, leather, scorched earth, and a minerally mocha long lingering finish. YUM!! — 7 months ago

with Brenda

Alvaro Bustillos

9.0

Geras en santi — 2 days ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.0

Ugrch @ metropolina amarillo tx — 2 days ago

Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

9.3

Forever favorite — 2 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

A 1/4 century in bottle…mmmm. I have had every 90’s vintage of Phelps Napa, except a 90 I think. Many of those multiple times at 15 yrs plus. This 99 is as good as any of the ones I’ve had. 98, not a great vintage but the 98 consistent with the rest and 99 better than many would expect.

Siting it, it has a dark core with little or no brickish edges. The fruit still very lively.

The nose shows; slightly candied to ripe & some slightly plummy fruits; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, both plums, baked strawberries, pomegranate & raspberries. Cinnamon stick, nutmeg, clove, vanilla, anise to black licorice, sweet tarriness, dry tobacco, used leather, dry stems, dry crushed rocks with dry top soil, graphite, cocoa powder, dark cola, steeped berry tea, moist clay, dark & red bright florals framed I liquid violets with a touch of lavender.

This is still around its peak. M-M+ velvety, round tannins. It’s round w/ elegance defined. Nothing that bits back. Palate confirms the nose. Slightly candied to ripe fruits; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, both plums, baked strawberries, pomegranate & raspberries. Cinnamon stick, nutmeg, clove, vanilla, anise to black licorice, sweet tarriness, dry tobacco, used leather, dry stems, dry crushed rocks with dry top soil, limestone, dark Asian spices with some palate heat, dry herbs w/ a sage lead, graphite, used charcoal ash, cocoa powder, caramel, dark cola, steeped berry tea, moist clay, dark & red bright florals framed in liquid violets with a touch of lavender, very round, beautiful acidity, well; made, knitted, structured, tensioned w/ excellent length and elegance-balanced finish that lasts minutes & lands on moist clays and ripe, evolved fruit.

Perfect w/ the Prime Ribcap. — 2 months ago

Willem Booij

9.7

Soms heb je zo’n glas waar alles samenkomt.

Pascal Cotat, Sancerre Le Grande Côte 2015.
En wát een wijn is dit weer zeg, zo blij met mijn geduld 😃

Alles waar je op hoopt bij rijping, gebeurt hier. De spanning is er nog, maar nu verweven met rijp fruit, een bijna wasachtige textuur en die zilt-minerale diepgang die maar blijft doorgaan. Dit is geen frisse, strakke Sauvignon Blanc, dit is gelaagd, complex en serieus indrukwekkend.

Het mooiste?
Dit bevestigt precies waarom geduld loont. Deze wijn hééft tijd nodig. En als je ‘m dat geeft, krijg je iets terug dat echt buitencategorie is.

Ik zeg het niet snel, maar: dit is echt mijn wijn. En dat terwijl ik normaal geen uitgesproken liefhebber ben van deze druif.

Maar dit… dit is gewoon geniaal. 🍷

#sancerre #loirewines #pascalcotat — 4 months ago

Jonathan Warren

9.6

Unreal. Still so young but drinking beautiful. — 7 months ago