Tom Garland

9.5

1/2 hour decant(decent fine sediment). A striking dark ruby red with bricking. On the nose: Captivating notes of dark fruit, forest floor, worn leather, mushroom, cigar, smoked meat, some bandaid(brett). Taste: silky, classic, elegant wine with dried red berries, currants, tobacco, saline, minerals and a cedar graphite long dry finish. YUM! What a thrill to drink tonight! — 9 days ago

with Brenda

Rick Phillips

9.8

Decanted for 4 hours and was floral with hints of spice. Smoothed out over the evening to lush flavors of plum, cherry, blackberry and blueberries. Finished with lite taste of tobacco and old leather. — 2 months ago

with Letha

Tom Garland

9.4

Decant and pour.  On the nose:  dark fruit, pencil shavings, green bell pepper, leather, mushrooms.   Taste:  a brooding, still austere, structured wine with dark fruit, cassis, smoked earth, cigar, minerals, crushed stone.  Some pronounced tannins want you to give it more time for a better score in the future.

At Cote, Last Vegas — 3 months ago

with Brenda and

Tom Garland

9.3

Decant for sediment and pour(decent chunky/fine sediment). A striking dark ruby red color. On the nose: jumping from the glass are port drenched cherries, pencil shavings, tobacco, toffee, balsamic, and cinnamon. Taste: silky, balanced, still fresh wine with currants, little dried cherry, tobacco, earth, dried herbs, and a spicy saline graphite satisfying finish. YUM! In the home stretch, drink. — 7 months ago

with Brenda

Luca D’Ambrosio

9.9

Hate to be a typical wine drinker, but there was a smooth and velvety taste with a continuous bite at the end. Completely coats the tongue with flavor from start to finish. — 8 months ago

Shervin Rafie

9.4

Luna - 9.4
Shervin - 9.2
Haven’t posted on here in a long time :( We haven’t been drinking much wine (or any alcohol rly) but this bottle put us right back into it! Super light, dry, fresh and (Luna thinks has floral taste). Great wine! — a year ago

Norma Munoz

9.8

Deliciously dry. Sprinkly on the tongue. Good finish. I can taste the oak. I can smell the dirt these grapes came from. Love! — 4 years ago

with Roy

Tom Garland

9.3

Decant for sediment(decent chunky sediment). A remarkable still dark ruby red color. On the nose: Seductive notes of stewed plum, worn leather, soy sauce, pencil lead, mint. Taste: velvety, creamy, savory, layered, polished wine with dried dark cherry/plum, dark chocolate, tar, graphite, and a peppery-smokey earth dry long finish. YUM! Great showing and what you need in an aged Insignia. — 15 days ago

with Brenda

Tom Garland

9.7

Double decant and pour(decent sediment).  A remarkable still murky dark garnet with bricking.  On the nose:  Intoxicating perfumed notes of dark fruit, worn leather, smoked meat, touch of barnyard, tobacco leaf, mushrooms, mint.  Taste:  silky, fresh, regal, powerful wine with sweet red fruit, meaty, dried herbs, tobacco, mineral, and a earthy orange rind lingering finish with a slight tannic kick.  Amazing!!! YUM! — 2 months ago

Steven Larsen

9.3

it’s interesting because this bottle was not properly kept for several years, the cork fell apart upon opening, but this 1983 vintage ,was still delightfully good ! in spite of the improperly kept history, as a Sauturne. It has a nice delightful, sweet and aromatic taste that was quite pleasant to drink. It was open today, March 22, 2026. — 5 months ago

Irina Georgieva

9.7

Amazing taste, great Chardonnay, very similar to Chablis style. Long aftertaste, ver well balanced wine! — 7 months ago

M. Christopher Roebuck

9.2

Finally talked this dude into drinking.

I don't know, maybe I'm getting old but aged Riojas are starting to taste/feel weighty to me. It's very good. Muddled fruits, resolved tannins, nice and round, leather notes. But somewhat boring. Probably my mood.

92+ points — 9 months ago

Patrick Dolan

8.9

Nose of honeysuckle and white peach. Well balanced with taste hints of pineapple. Slightly acidic in finish. Very nice sipper. — 3 years ago

Wulf Losee

9.1

I revisited this wine in July of 2022, and I am upping my rating to 9.1. I don’t know if it’s just a biochemical difference in my taste buds from day to day, or whether the wine is miraculously transforming itself within the bottle while I’m not paying attention to it. All of my previous descriptions still hold, except at the tannic structure has become fuller. And that holds everything together. My new opinion of this wine is that it’s very elegant, indeed.


My old review: 2019 opened February 2022. Disappointing but drinkable. Mint and nettles on the nose. Unripe strawberries on the front of the palate. It has a weak — almost watery — tannic structure that fails to balance the sour high notes that crowd in on mid pallet. And the pucker factor intensifies as it transitions to the finish, but it dissipates quickly leaving just a hint of lingering flint and menthol. Better than a fourth growth Bordeaux in an off year, but that’s not saying much. — 4 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Been a bit since my last but still do not think much of the style of their Cabernet. Especially, given its price point.

2022 Napa Cabernet’s more than less boil down to when did you harvest, before or after the 10 days of intense heat during the harvest window.

2026 Taste of Oakvile — 2 months ago

Tom Garland

9.3

From magnum

1 hour decant(decent chunky/fine sediment). A gorgeous dark purplish ruby red color. On the nose: Alluring perfumed notes of red fruit, black olives, forest floor, tobacco leaf, nutmeg. Taste: velvety, elegant wine with cherry/red plum, cedar, spice, loamy soil, and a long minerally dark chocolate espresso finish. YUM! — 3 months ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.3

vintage 2006 | Needs a few hours to open, very classic with laurel, tobacco, eucalyptus in smell, even chocolate. Balanced taste. Paired with a wagyu burger and zuchinni. Many years to go. — 4 months ago

Tom Garland

9.3

2 hour decant. A marvelous medium garnet color (decent fine sediment). On the nose: dark berries, cassis, forest floor, sandalwood, pencil shavings, chocolate, and cigar box. Taste: layered, balanced, still young wine with dark cherry/plum, cedar, dark chocolate, charcoal, and a lingering tobacco/leather finish. YUM! No hurry, a long distance Las Cases. — 8 months ago

with Brenda

Tom Garland

9.2

2 hour decant(little fine sediment). A splendid dark magenta with some bricking. On the nose: subdued but enticing notes of blackberry, cassis, cigar wrapper, clove, pine, maybe a touch of brett. Taste: silky, still youthful at 20 wine with blackberry, red fruit, graphite, spice, and a medium smokey licorice tar finish. YUM..good but expecting more for the year..will wait a few years for next attempt. — 10 months ago

with Brenda

Steve Marsh

9.0

Very easy going. Medium body, very fruity with a bit of blackcurrant cordial taste, however has a punch you would expect from 13.5%. Improves in complexity as you swill around the mouth. — 5 years ago