Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.6

2008 vintage. Yeah, some wackoid(s) gave this 100 points. Whatevs. Arrived at 70-72 degrees. Zero chill. Immediately plunged into an ice bath. Used a Durand to open but the über-dry cork just laughed at it and decided to pixelate into small, broken safety glass-styled fragments. Not the sign I was looking for. Here comes the funnel + screen + decanter to save the day. That screen needs a raise come review time. Put the decanter atop the ice bath with a protective serviette between and gave it another 5-6 mins in the chill. Color not quite yellow Chartreuse but pretty close. Tasted at approx 58-59 degrees. Like a trip to the confectionery + bakery. Whoa! Medium/medium-heavy body and this was popping. Splashes and suggestions of fruits, bread products and baking spices without an overriding, final boss. Phenomenal. Can’t give it a Wilt but it did not suck and should drink as such for at least another half-decade. Have had plenty of Marcassin whites and reds and this was the best of the lot. Transcendent. For all that…? 9.6. Soviet…er…Russian judge mode deployed. 3.6.25. — 4 months ago

"Odedi"

9.1

Purple in color with a wide reddish rim.

Nose of red and black fruits with wood, earth, herbs, spices, tobacco leaf, dark coffee and peppercorn.

Full-bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with blueberries, black currants, cooked plums, oak, spices, chocolates, coffee, peppercorn, herbs and black tea.

Tangy finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a very tasty Bordeaux blend from Walla Walla Valley. Complex and nicely balanced. Rich and fruit forward, with a Bordeaux feel with a new world twist.

In your face kind of wine, and bold right now. Still young, but already enjoyable, even by itself. Needs a few years in the bottle to mature properly.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 to 15 years. Would be nice to revisit it in 5 years. Has good potential to become a 93+ point wine.

A good sipping wine that will also pair nicely with a big piece of steak.

A blend of 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 16% Petit Verdot, 11% Malbec and 8% Carmenere. Aged in (50% new) French Oak barrels for 20 months. Vegan.

15% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$85. — 7 months ago

GaryWEdwards

9.5

The fruit tumbled more as the decant wore on. Zero sediment upon decanting , this baby has legs for much longer haul. Beautiful balance and a gratifying long finish. I may come back in 5 years with a higher score. That's where this is headed. — 3 years ago

with Logan

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2011 vintage. Solid aging cork in great shape along with a good fill. Decanted and tasted immediately and over the course of 1.5 hours. Threw zero sed. Light-medium body. Earthy, rhubarb, sous bois nose. Same in flavor profile with an additional, pleasant trace of dirtiness. Well-made and holding up very nicely but clearly on the subtle side of the ledger at this point. Any overt NSG fruitiness in the nursery is gonzo. Pretty but not in a youthful way. Aging very gracefully with another 5-7 years at this stage before changing addresses. 12.2.23. — 3 years ago

Gregory Fulchiero

9.2

Beautiful Syrah - zero carbonic - lovely spice and extraction. At 5-6 years this is aging gracefully. Blackberry, bramble, cracked pepper. — 3 years ago

Doug Powers

9.2

A tad less intense than the 1998, also dark cherry, a tad softer, probably needs another 5 or so years in the cellar. — 5 years ago

with Jim

Jeremy.Buss

9.1

Our third and final bottle from an order that unfortunately felt the effects of extreme cold weather back In February. This was a bit more what I expected a 5+ vintage to be. . . Light, more ethereal, balanced flavors, and soft tannins. I still like the art on this bottle and would have this again. Just recommend not receiving a shipment with sub zero temperatures. — 5 years ago

Shay A

9.7

WNH virtual Insignia Tasting. Vintages featured were ‘95, ‘96, ‘00, ‘01, ‘02, ‘09, ‘13 and ‘14.

This was the Wine Spectator wine of the year and received a 100 point score from Wine Advocate (for those interested in accolades and scores).

Knowing the pedigree here, I knew to expect some fireworks and tried to prepare accordingly. I gave this 24hrs upright after pulling from the cellar, and then decanted about 90mins, before consuming from the decanter over the course of the evening. The cork came out perfectly via the Durand and had absolutely zero seepage up the cork. My glass of choice was the new Glasvin Expression. Really like their glasses.

My first sip after opening had me looking at my wife saying “this is 18yrs old and is insanely youthful”. When hearing from my friends about their mid/late ‘90s, and for the ‘01, those offerings had basically zero merlot. The ‘00 had a similar amount to this (14%), and I think that component really elevated this to a more “elegant” style. The oak here comes across as a mix of French and American (though it’s all French)...the oak has such a distinct sweet note to it that I associate with American oak on Cali wines, yet isn’t full on coconut. Aromatically, it’s a beautiful display of cherry tobacco, black cherry cordial, violets, and elevated heady notes of black cherry pie. On the palate, there is creme de cassis, espresso, cocoa powder and mellowed red fruit before a finish that has surprisingly grippy tannin. This drinks like a bigger style left bank Bordeaux with how wonderfully integrated it is. Zero chance I’d call this 18yr old Napa cab if tasting blind. This easily has 5+yrs in this drinking window, and another 5-10 in the next evolution journey before really starting to slide. If opening now, decant 1-2hrs. One of the best expressions of aged Napa cab I’ve had this year. — 6 years ago

Phil Kessling

9.0

Brut Zero Rosé from Tarlant. Grower Champagne with an even split of Pn and Chard; 5% Meunier too. Zero dosage. Terrific bottle of Grower Champagne. Each glass got better and better. Great fruit and great acidity.l — 5 months ago

"Odedi"

9.2

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Fruity nose with black fruits, cedar, tobacco and chocolate notes.

Full-bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and very fruity on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, spices, cedar, vanilla, leather, earth, chocolates, tobacco, coffee, cola, licorice and bitter herbs.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and cherries.

This 12 year old Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley is drinking deliciously now. Rich and extracted, and 'In your face' kind of wine.

Fruit forward and good right out of the bottle, but would have been even better after a couple of hours of airtime, but it finished way too quickly.

Showing nice complexity with a soft mouthfeel.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 7 years.

A great sipping wine that will pair nicely with a big piece of steak.

A blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot and 2% Merlot. 924 cases produced.

14.6% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$150. — 5 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

2013 vintage. Nice fill. Excellent cork. No Durand needed. Decanted with some sed and tasted multiple times over the course of two hours. Origin story medium-heavy body now a light-medium body but with zero loss of color intensity. Primary flavors completely evacuated with secondary and tertiary flavors rushing in to fill the nature-abhorred vacuum. Initially, pretty bretty and likely too much for many...especially those not enamored with/used to such. Black olives, garrigue and cracked black pepper throughout mitigated the sweaty saddle and in serious leather (apologies to Frank Zappa) tendencies in the first hour. Overt, bretty notes dissipated after 45 minutes, This particular wine and vintage at the zenith/absolute top of its' particular bell curve and tastes like it can hover there another 5-6 years without drop-off or apology. 10.28.25. — 8 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2018 vintage. Oodles of structure and tight as nails currently. Hopefully, you’ve got plenty of time to wait this one out because it’s in zero rush to dance with you. 4.19.23. — 3 years ago

JKT

9.0

First try of an interesting Corsican wine from K. Lynch. 35% Niellucciu, 30% Grenache, 15% Sciaccarellu, 15% Syrah, 5% Mourvèdre, anything else left? Practically screams fun from nose through palate to finish, red fruited and lively at seven years in bottle. Great with Evan’s ribs. — 3 years ago

Josh Morgenthau

9.3

Green fruit esthers, quince, pear, chalky minerals, on the nose. Lots of pretty green and yellow fruit on the open knit palate, with pleasant bit of contrasting bitterness and sweetness on the finish, and enough acid to carry the bubbles. This is great, planning to hold a few bottles for 5-10 years.
Incidentally, handily beat the Lassaigne side by side, at a third the price. — 5 years ago

"Odedi"

9.2

It’s time for my #FridayCabernetfix. Here is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa.

Inky in color with a very short reddish rim.

Gorgeous nose of wildflowers, black plums, cedar, cooked cherries, chocolates, dark coffee, earth, licorice, blackberries, vanilla, light graphite and black pepper.

Full-bodied and elegant, with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, leather, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco, light coke, earth, coffee and peppercorn.

Medium finish with fine grained tannins and cherries.

This is a great Cabernet Sauvignon from Atlas Peak in Napa Valley. Nicely balanced with nice complexity. Already drinking very nicely with a great mouthfeel.

Needs time to open up and after two and a half hours in a decanter, it just blossomed and surprised me. Changed completely, so be patient with it.

Good by itself as a sipping wine, and good with food too.

A Good quality wine, and still young with lots of potential to become a 95+ point wine. Would be nice to revisit it in 5 years. Will age nicely in the next 15 years.

I paired it with a Charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.

A very small production of only seven barrels.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$75. — 5 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2000 vintage. Great fill and cork. Opened with a Durand and decanted. A little sed but manageable. tasted 40 minutes and 1.5 hours after opening. Medium body. 14% ABV on the label and not questioning it since this effort was throwing nearly zero heat. All secondary and tertiary impressions at this point and they were unified and present. Some dark fruit still but emphasis capably drawn towards the black olive, durty earth, finish. Really knitted together currently. Maybe another 5-spot in this guise? Maybe another decade? Hard to tell but showing beautifully now. 01.28.26. — 5 months ago

Shay A

9.4

Unique offering from Marie Courtin. Aged in amphora 11 months. Zero dosage.

60 Chardonnay/ 35 Pinot Blanc/ 5 Arbane

Not sure I’ve had an amphora aged champagne before, but it’s hard to not sense a creaminess in the texture that I’m assuming was intentional. Intense cheesy-leesy aromatics with plenty of spiced ripe fruits (pear, white peach, lemon). Yeasty but restrained. Not as powerful as other Marie Courtin champagnes but plenty ripe, suave, and balanced. My mind kept wondering what a simple gram or two of dosage would do to this to lengthen the semi-short finish, but this was lovely. I need to seek another out.

To this wines’ credit, it was amongst 2008 and 2015 Cristal, 2000 Krug CdM, Prevost La Closerie, and other grower champagnes and more than held its own. — 7 months ago

Doug Powers

9.3

So, Barbara and Jim Richards (RIP) planted 5 acres back in 1991 (1990?) of Syrah on the northeast (downslope) corner of their Paloma vineyard on Spring Mountain in what visually looked like a “low spot” (partially shaded and also maybe an area that maybe occasionally got standing water back in the days when California got enough rain). The rest of the vineyard was of course Merlot and also some Cabernet Sauvignon used mostly for blending with their fantastic mountain Merlot. The vineyard is just east of Pride Mountain and across the road from what used to be (??) Schweiger Vineyards.

Anyway, Bob Foley, who was making the wines for Pride in those early days, was consulting for Barbara and Jim early on, but I have ZERO information as to what involvement he had with the Syrah, if I recall correctly, the first Syrah in 1995 was less than a barrel (12-15 cases), and was aged in a super OLD, neutral barrel. My Chicago friends, who knew the Richards, dragged me along to taste that fateful day. That 1995 Syrah, first wine they ever made from those young Syrah vines, was, frankly, eye-opening and FANTASTIC, as I told Jim Richards that day. After tasting the INCREDIBLE 1995 Syrah, which was so northern Rhône-like and so pure, I begged Jim to sell me a bottle or two, but he politely declined. Later that day, after tasting the rest of their great wines, as we were leaving, Jim GAVE me a 4-pack box of that 1995 Syrah, which he wouldn’t accept any $$$ for, and that 1995 Syrah still in my memory remains the GREATEST CA Syrah I’ve ever tasted!!

As you can probably tell, I adored Jim and Barbara Richards, amazing people and generous to a fault!! Amazing people!!! I don’t think I ever met their son, Sheldon, but from all accounts he is continuing the tradition of great Paloma wines, though that great Syrah vineyard was pulled out in the early 2000s — Sheldon, if you happen to see this post, I welcome any corrections if I got any details wrong!!

Oh, and this Syrah is pretty dang good as well!!! — 2 years ago

with Jim

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.7

Nice 👍🏼, definitely a 4 hour decant or 5-10 year hold $150. 00 on release but it has the stuffing of a $250.00 bottle, Parker 98 + review This is the second vintage from Seven Apart—a blend coming from Stag's Ridge vineyard, located up on Atlas Peak, and Base Camp vineyard, located seven miles down the mountain (hence the name). The winemaker here is Andy Erickson, formerly at Screaming Eagle and Harlan Estate and currently also consulting winemaker at Dalla Valle (among others). The upper vineyard (Stag's Ridge) is planted to mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, with small amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Seven miles down the road, where Soda Canyon Road meets the Silverado Trail, is the four-acre Base Camp vineyard, planted in the mid-1990s to Cabernet Sauvignon with some Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Base Camp was planted in 1994 and 1998. Opaque purple-black in color, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Expedition erupts from the glass with explosive scents of boysenberry preserves, blueberry pie and Black Forest cake, plus suggestions of molten chocolate, licorice, tar and violets, with a waft of sandalwood. The full-bodied palate is full-on rich and decadent, exuding layer upon layer of opulent black and blue fruit preserves with bags of exotic spice accents and a long, fragrant finish. Pure hedonism. It is tantalizingly delicious right now, but give it 3-4 years in bottle to blow off that puppy fat, and drink it over the next 25 years+. — 5 years ago

Jeremy Krantz

9.4

Absolutely delish and oh so smooth. Huge notes of cherry right off the bat and then washes away with some raspberry and cranberry. Low tannins and ultra clean finish. Delightful on all fronts and super interesting to see so many grapes in this blend (5 different grapes) — 5 years ago