Seth Masterson

9.2

This is a Syrah that is ready to go less than 2 years in the bottle!
Sam is a master at extraction and this wine shows it- maintaining an undeniable freshness while holding a strong stance in the weight and body department like it's been hitting the gym. Incredible presence and character and crunch! The balance of acid, tannin and fruit is a waltz, no actually more of a symphony of harmonics.

@Dave listening to @TheLotRadio — 23 days ago

Leo Gentile

9.4

Delicious fruity zin that’s holding up beautifully. A bit of oxidation although no pronounced off aroma or palette. Remarkable how this rich ripe wine has consistently delivered fruit and supple tannins after 10+ years. Tribute to Mr. Scherrer. — 3 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Facing a natural terrace above the river Miño, located in the town of As Neves, within the wine region of Condado do Tea, bordering Portugal. Pale yellow with pronounced fruit and floral aromas. On the palate white flesh fruit flavors, citrus and herb notes with lively acidity and nice balance of minerality. Crisp on the finish ending with lemon zest notes. Nice! — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Been awhile since I pulled out an Insigna.

The 03 Pichon Lalande is the better wine and steak pairing. However, Napa Cabernet is the choice to finish steak and enjoy on its own after. You never want to do Napa before Bordeaux IMHO. It’s much harder to adjust from sweeter to something more earthy.

Enjoyed the 05 as my score reflects. I don’t remember it being as sweet as it was in previous tastings. Still quite good. It just tipped my sweet scale a little too much.

The body is, rich, lush & round. It’s achieved good evolution after 13 years in bottle and will continue to improve over the next 6-8 years and last another 15 years. As I mentioned, the fruit was ripe & sweet. Blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, plums, hints of blueberries and strawberries haunting the backend. Rich, dark earth, Rutherford dusty tannins and dry soils, purple cola, touch of fresh tobacco & graphite, light baking spices of; cinnamon, dash of clove, nutmeg and vanillin, anise to black licorice, saddle-wood, used leather, dry stems, some dry, crushed rocks/limestone with red, dark, purple and blue florals. The acidity round and nicely executed. The finish was similar wire to wire. It’s, lush, rich, elegant, touch too sweet, polished, well balanced & knitted with a soft, persistent, dark spice on the long set. Very enjoyable second bottle.

Photos of; Joseph Phelps Winery & sloping estate vines, inside lounge are with views of the back side, tasting terrace and front lobby/salon area upon entering past check in. — 6 years ago

with Christina and James

David Shaw

8.9

Revisiting vintage, last bottle, Oregon-based winemaker, wine from his “offseason” making wines in New Zealand — 6 years ago

Alec Jeffery

9.1

Very interesting wine, aged well, — 7 years ago

KA

9.6

Barry’s Prime Las Vegas — 19 hours ago

Robert Torretti

9.1

Nice, cool-climate California Pinot Noir. Good red and dark fruits on the palate. I served it a bit too cold, but as it warmed up, the earthiness that this wine is known for came through. I don’t love California Pinot, but Rhys almost always impresses me. — 5 months ago

Kristen McCabe

9.0

Smells like pickled tomatoes, sweet and sour and a little smoky. — 6 years ago

Arden Barnett

9.1

Just a good wine. Grandfather collected Rafanelli from the mid 90’s till Mississippi cracked down on shipping wine to the state in 2010. Brought a couple bottles back for him from Texas. While I attribute the 1998 Terrace Select Cab as the wine that really got me into wine, I overall still lean towards their Zin’s. — 6 years ago

Dimes

9.0

Was pleasantly surprised since Washington wines tend to be a little more earthier and excellent soil than I like — 6 years ago

Andy Hall

9.6

This is a seriously good wine. Great nose, great structure and terrific balance from the front palette to the backend. Drinks like a 1990’s Cali cab. Just a baby, it has many years to age! — 7 years ago

Tree Kilpatrick

9.0

Lovely color. Smells like rocks and wet foilage. Flavors are excellent and complex. Rocks and juicy berries. This is great stuff. — a month ago

Scott E. Becker

9.3

[Tasted on February 1, 2026 at Tom and Kathy’s house with Tom and Kathy]

Cherry and strawberry fruit, with black tea, spice and rose petals. — 5 months ago

Andrew

8.9

Crisp, apples — 5 years ago

Tree Kilpatrick

9.0

WA Cab Franc. Might be my first. Smells strange and lovely. Wet earth, aka mud, and dark fruits. Hints of smoke and meats. Even smoked meats. Flavors are robust and extracted. Very full. Nice deepness to the fruit and smoke flavors. This is New World Bordeaux type wine at its best. — 6 years ago

Hannah Fyson

9.1

Very nice, 2017 — 6 years ago

October Cleveland

9.0

Don’t know how this one escaped my attention for so long, but I get why it’s so well loved. Ridiculous QPR. At the risk of both revealing my ignorance and offending everyone, I reckon this is the drink Stanley Dry White cask (a seminal drop in my existence, and fellow Australian cheapo icon) aspires to be. Whistle-clean citrusy drinker with intensity right round the edges. Cellaring a few of these from now on. — 6 years ago

Marion

9.3

Fruity and fresh, well balanced!
Great value — 7 years ago