Andrew Cullimore

9.3

5th wine . medium deep ruby , touch more garnet . Slightly wider rim . Quite cool and mineral again , more grafite with some cool cassis , blackberry. On the palate this is slightly lighter in body , leaner perhaps but very elegant , fresh and quite saline, tobacco , grafite and herbal tinges on the finish . Reasonable saline length. Fine lightly grippy tannins , good acidity . This is showing quite well though would perhaps benefit from a few more years . Better in 3-5 years and drink well a further 7- 10 . The next day this actually shows a little better , elegant and refined, nothing showy , very Lafite , so I’m glad I guessed this correctly ! Overall this was a very interesting tasting , there is nothing showy or remarkable about the 2006 1st growths , they are quite classic and also showing quite a lot of structure still , with good freshness though they perhaps lack a little stuffing and intensity . They were quite even quality wise, with the high points being the Mouton (though the Lafite improved the following day to upgrade its score and draw level ) and the low point being a relatively disappointing Margaux . The vintage will continue to improve over the next 5 perhaps 10 years in general , though they may always just lack a little density and excitement . — 5 months ago

John Van Trijp

9.9

A potential perfect score in future. Still dark forrest fruit — 2 years ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; consumed over a three hour period. No formal notes. The 2015 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco pours a deeper garnet color with a translucent core. Medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. No signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is currently bursting with red and dark fruits: blackberries, Luxardo cherry, pomegranate, green herbs, red flowers, green herbs, and tar. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. The notes on the nose are confirmed. The finish is long and savory. Really compelling stuff in the context of the night. I think the 2015’s are drinking so well right now. Unfortunately, this is my last bottle of the “classico” but I’ll be on the hunt for more if I can score at a good price. Drink now if you’re going to allow for some evolution in the glass or enjoy through 2035. — 3 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

Scorewine

Wine writer http://www.israelwines.co.il

8.9

Lovely classic Bordeaux from Margaux (Ch Malescot St Exupery) a Grand Cru from the underrated 2004 vintage, lovely balanced and at its peak. Nothing great or amazing yet a very solid and elegant Bordeaux with notes of coffee, black current, prunes, earth, tobacco, tar and dry herbs. Medium to full body, with nice well integrated tannins and fine acidity. Pleasant finish. The wine is at its peak and I would not wait much more. My score 89, drink to 2020 — 7 years ago

Scorewine

Wine writer http://www.israelwines.co.il

9.2

Visiting again this splendid Paulliac from the 2011 vintage. 2011 vintage was labeled as mediocre in Bordeaux and this lovely wine showed that it is actually a classic vintage with some great wines, so trust the chateau not only the vintage. The nose is tempting with notes if coffee, earth, oak, cassis, black fruits and hints of chocolate, the body is full with round tannins, acidity is splendid and finish is long. My score 92, drink to 2026, perhaps longer — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.8

I have posted a number of older vintage Jones Family Cabernets. Many 20 yrs and older. Three to four 97’s…none better than this one. I give few wines a score above 96. This is different. It is so close to perfect. Some might give it a 100. I struggle to give a wine a perfect 100. I have only done it 4 times in an estimated 25k wines tasted or bottles I’ve enjoyed. One was a port made before 1886 and tasted in Oporto at Taylor Fladgate’s tasting room in 2015, it was their Scion. Only sold there and at the time 5k at bottle. You end up there purchase the Scion taste regardless of the current cost. They put on a tasting show for you. I am half tempted here to give out a 100 but will refrain.

I am not sure what to add to that but will attempt to do so.

The nose is a beautiful, perfectly evolved Napa Cabernet. Nothing overpowers any of its singular components. I think the word I am looking for is harmony. Lush, plush, ruby dark currants/cassis. The best, mid, subtle/gentle/soft, dark spice box I certainly can remember, lush blackberries, both plums, dark, not quite liqueur cherries, a mix of subtle purple fruits, poached to baked strawberries, some light hints of raspberries, dark sweet tarriness, melted dark chocolate, anise to black licorice, steep fruit tea leaning into black tea, sweet/soft leather, moist tobacco, sandalwood, dark, rich forest floor, sweet graphite, hints of dry twig, a flutter note of eucalyptus, dry, withering & slightly candied florals that are; dark, red & blue & framed in light lavender with more pronounced liquid violets.

The palate wire to wire is even & stupidly, gloriously, grand. It mirrors the nose very closely. Lush, plush, ruby dark currants/cassis. The best mid, subtle/gentle/soft, dark spice box w/ some light palate heat, best I certainly can remember, lush blackberries, both plums, dark, kirsch not quite liqueur cherries, a mix of subtle purple fruits, poached to baked strawberries, some light hints of raspberries, dark sweet tarriness, melted dark chocolate, anise to black licorice, steep fruit tea leaning into black tea, beautifully layered baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick & vanillin, caramel, sweet/soft leather, moist tobacco w/ a hint is ash, sandalwood, dark, rich forest floor, dry, crushed rock powder, dry top soil, crushed limestone powder, sweet graphite, hints of dry twig, a fluttering note of eucalyptus, dry, withering & slightly candied florals that are; dark, red & blue framed in light lavender with more pronounced liquid violets, perfect, rainfall acidity, extremely well balanced, even & subtle tension-structure that stands up on the long set, refined elegance with a finish that goes on and on and eventually lands on spice & beautiful, refined earthiness.

What a bottle! 98 that leans into 99. I paid somewhere between $80-$90 on the secondary market for this bottle. — 9 months ago

Tom Garland

9.3

+2 hour decant(little fine/cloudy sediment). A brooding dark magenta color. On the nose: very aromatic notes..lots of blackberry, floral, pencil lead, wet forest floor, sweet oak. Taste: blackberry, cassis, bitter chocolate, herbs, pepper and a gravelly/new leather long finish with some still there kickin tannins. YUM! Gonna give my next bottle a few more years for a better score. — 3 years ago

with Brenda

Josh Morgenthau

9.3

Raspberry coulis, blackberry juice, mushroom, violet, minerals and barnyard. Tart, explosive purple fruit, some feral, bramble notes on the structured palate, and a succession of furry, prickly tannins. Finish is smoky and bitter. Really massive and opaque, in its own way, hard to evaluate even on day 2. Expect this could gain .2 or more in score as elements resolve. — 4 years ago

Timothy Lynch

8.9

Solidly good....and that’s as far as I can take it. (It’s not gathering character going forward so perhaps drinking earlier may have produced a higher score...that’s my guess.) — 6 years ago

Clive McNish

9.2

This is great, really dark and powerful with a wide range of flavours on the palate and a nice rich nose. Plenty of dark fruit, plum, vanilla, coffee and candied spice. Long smokey and fragrant finish with smooth tannins. Very enjoyable merlot, would definitely have this again. If there was a 9.25 that would be my score. — 6 years ago

Scorewine

Wine writer http://www.israelwines.co.il

9.3

Delicious 😋 simply fantastic. This Bordeaux from Saint Julien is balanced, elegant and spectacular at the age of 18, the nose is enchanting with notes of coffee, leather, tobacco, oak, cedar, cassis, earthy touch, graphite, chocolate, blackcurrant and pepper. The body is full, rich, multilayered, elegant with smooth tannins and lovely acidity. The finish is delicious and elegant. The wine is simply at its prime! My score 93, drink to 2022 but I wouldn’t wait. — 7 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.9

2022 vintage. 100% Sémillon. What can I say. Intense, layered, powerful, yet incredibly elegant. A fabulous Suduiraut with extraordinary precision and purity. The 190g/l residual sugar is perfectly balanced by the acidity, it doesn't feel heavy at all. Incredible length. My score might turn out to be conservative... Kudos to Pierre Montégut and team! — a year ago

John Malcolm

9.3

Rated this wine a 9.0 in 2021. Opened a magnum last night and let it breathe for several hours. Noticeably improved, so I am upping the score. — 2 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2020 vintage. Last tasted 3.16.24 (9.2). Medium-heavy body. Nice richness, dill and fruit up front along the dial. Took approx an hour but the tannins finally started rolling in. Tannic handshake upped the score from a 9.2 to a 9.3. 7.7.24. — 2 years ago

romo

9.3

Reluctant score. I like this a lot. Technically astute and flirty. — 4 years ago

Tom Garland

9.4

2 hour decant(little fine sediment). A beguiling inky purplish magenta color. On the nose: beautiful notes of red berries, charred embers, truffles, sweet spice, oak. Taste: smooth, dry, full body wine with black cherry/raspberry, mocha, cedar, spice, graphite and a long finish with no hint of the 14.5 alc. Got more in the cellar, wish I bought more...better score to come in a few more years. — 4 years ago

with Brenda

Tom Garland

9.1

1 hour decant (some cloudy sediment). A murky medium dark garnet color. On the nose: strawberry, funky forest floor, mushroom, cinnamon, and caramel. Taste: strawberry, spice, pencil lead, minerals...leading to a raspberry medium plus finish. A soft, creamy, medium to full body wine with tannins starting to integrate but not fully resolved yet...give this some more time...a better score should evolve over time!!

Patiently (not really) waiting for the 2013 chard and pinot release — 6 years ago

with Brenda

Shane Walker

10

Bolly in the sun. How could it score less than 10? 👍🏻🍾😄 — 7 years ago

with Michele

Scorewine

Wine writer http://www.israelwines.co.il

8.9

If you like your white burgundy crisp fresh and mineral this is your wine. Lovely minerality with crushed stones , citrus and lime. Medium body, crisp and fresh with an elegant finish. My score 89, drink to 2023 — 7 years ago