Paul J

9.4

Needs more age and was served too cold. Still great, but not as good as it should be. — 24 days ago

with Brooke

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. — 11 days ago

Kyle Katterjohn

9.4

Doing an Alaskan cruise@w Regent I get 2 bottles a day and have really enjoued@it@ Will@repeat — 2 months ago

Rebecca Graham

9.0

Basic good Sauvignon blanc. Bargain at Costco for $6.99 — 6 months ago

Tooty Frooty

9.3

Yummy! (Lufta gärna!)
Edit: till o med godare dagen efter. #caves — 6 months ago

Chris Palmer

9.4

Was in the Chairman’s Select collection at our PA state store for $19.99. Delightful. — 8 months ago

Kamall

8.9

Still packing a tannic punch, fruit is very much in the background. A little disjointed at this point? Will wait a while on my other bottles. This was my favorite vintage at first taste. — 2 years ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.1

Another solid vintage of this 100% Cabernet Franc Rose’. Medium pink color. Aromas and flavors of strawberry, watermelon, cranberry, pink flowers, as well as a touch of citrus and spice. Long finish, crisp acidity and slightly creamy texture. Bone dry, fresh and clean. Well crafted and consistent vintage after vintage. Great starter wine, John P! — a month ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.0

Another solid vintage of this FLX Dry Riesling. Light gold color. Aromas of orchard fruit, honeysuckle, citrus and wet stones. Flavors of green apples and pears, lemon/lime, white peach and a consistent note of wet slate. Long and crisp mineral laden finish with mouth watering acidity. Light bodied, refreshing and bone dry. Very well balanced and totally food friendly. — 2 months ago

Scot Walker

9.2

Dark fruit in the nose with dark plums, blackberry and crème de cassis in the palate. Paired well with both Gouda and a spicy ham. — 2 months ago

Peter Montoleone

9.4

Drinking really well right now! — 5 months ago

Tommy

8.9

Plumb and allspice. What a good finish! — 6 months ago

John Howard

Harvest production at Hirsch and Cobb Wineries

9.1

Nice vintage of this. — 7 months ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.4

Ricky mora — 10 months ago

AC Fiedler

9.2

Crisp and not overly dry or fruity. Very tasty and reasonable — 4 years ago

Vasanth Balakrishnan

9.1

Writing tasting impressions from memory as it has been many months but wow this was a complex, layered yet lean #marlborough #sauvignonblanc. — 4 months ago

Boris Mathiszik

8.9

New vintage. Solid SLO Pinot. Good value. — a month ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

There are a number of things I can say about Leoville Barton. For me, it is a storied property and experience.

To this point, I have had quite a few 2000 Bordeaux’s, none of them ready as this one. Given what I know about Anthony & his legacy, most of his good vintages were made for your children. So, color me surprised.

While this 2000 is drinking well, it is far from its precipice. There is another 20 yrs plus of road here.

Sofia and I have had the pleasure of dining at the same table with Anthony Barton and his wife in the early teens of 2000. He was a salt of the earth gentleman. His wife, lovely. At dinner that night, he told us a story I will not forget. A story prompted by a question from my wife. He and his wife drove from France to Switzerland. They were stopped at the border and asked to get out of the car as they had a case of wine with them. At that time and maybe still now, you can’t take wine over the border into Switzerland. The border guard called the powers to be and recanted the story of them trying to bring wine into Switzerland. He told them their name. The person on the other end of the phone said, who? They said, Anthony Barton. The reply, was let him through. That’s respect!!!

His daughter Lilian has taken the helm. She is also salt of the earth and a great Bordeaux Ambassador. May Anthony RIP.

This 2000 is classic Bordeaux in every way.

The nose shows steeped & candied fruits that are; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, poached strawberries, black cherries, purple & blue fruit hues (classic Barton). Graphite, dry tobacco, dry leather, dry limestone bits, dark Asian spices, dry herbs, dry river stone, dark, rich, forest floor, anise to black licorice, mid colas, fresh, candied to withering florals that are; dark, red, blue and violets.

The palate shows, M+ rounded, fine grain tannins. The nose mirrors the palate in many ways. Steeped, candied, ripe, juicy fruits that are; brambly blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, poached strawberries, black cherries, raspberries, purple & blue fruit hues. Leoville Barton shows purple & blue fruits more than most other left bank producers. Graphite, dry tobacco, cedar, dry leather, dry limestone bits, dry top soils, saline, caramel, mocha powder, German chocolate cake, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanillin, dark Asian spices w/ some heat, dry herbs, touch of black pepper, grilled meats, dry river stone, dark, rich, forest floor, anise to black licorice, black tarriness, mid colas, fresh, candied to withering florals that are; dark, red, blue and framed in liquid violets, acidity is grand, well balanced/structured, highly toned, elegant & smartly polished finish that lasts minutes and settles on earth & dark spice.

Decanted 90 minutes and enjoyed over nearly three hours.

Appreciated the 12.5% ABV. Many would say that is not possible in the modern wine era. Anthony says otherwise w/ his 2000.

95-96. — a month ago

GaryWEdwards

9.7

Who am I argue with 100 point rating from Dunnuck and Wine Advocate? And it is a youthful beauty. I typically find the great vintage of ‘09 approachable earlier than ‘05, also a great Bordeaux year. This is perfectly enjoyable right now but I’ll SAVE at least 6 of these because this baby is a distant runner with lots of legs left. Wow! — 6 months ago

David K

9.1

Fresh citrus, orange minerality — 10 months ago