Jay Kline

9.4

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2012 Terrace Select pours a deep garnet color with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of black currants, blackberries, tobacco, Poblano pepper, mixed flowers, dried herbs, fine warm spices and dry, gravelly earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and the texture is divine. At the very early stages of its window, this is already exceptional. Wonderfully complex and delineated. Drink now through 2047. — 12 days 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. — 8 months ago

Jonathan Wall

9.1

Started a bit sharp but opened nicely. Elegant with an edge. — 3 years ago

Alison Miller

9.0

Medium tannins, ripe blackberries and nice acidity — 5 years ago

Keaton Kail

9.3

Bright reflective ruby. Purple/pink flowers, pomegranate and grenadine, cigar smoke. — 6 years ago

Garry Siskos

9.3

OMG delicious! It was suggested this would be great for Thanksgiving dinner. I'll definitely buy a few bottles. — 7 years ago

Tom Garland

9.3

Double decant (decent sediment) and pour. Color is a red/purple with hints of brown on the edge. On the nose: black fruit, cherry, chocolate, spices. Taste: dark cherry, plum, blueberry, spice, sweet tannins with a velvet mouth feel. — 8 years ago

with Brenda

Tom Garland

9.5

Diamond Creek Vineyards
Decades of Rarities event...........
1993, 2003, 2013 library vintages along with the newly released 2023 vintage. With winemaker Graham Wehmeier.

All from 3Liter:
1993 gravelly meadow
1993 red rock terrace
1993 volcanic hill
2003 gravelly  meadow
2003 red rock terrace
2003 volcanic hill
2013 gravelly meadow
2013 red rock terrace
2013 volcanic hill
2023 gravelly meadow
2023 red rock terrace
2023 volcanic hill

@Diamond Creek Vineyards,  Napa — 11 days ago

with Brenda

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. — 7 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Second wine of this estate located on the southern edge of Saint-Julien, blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, deep Ruby with purple edges, aromas of ripe black and blue fruits, adding notes of cedar and earth. On the palate flavors of blackberry and ripe blueberry fruit with tobacco, oak and spice. Fine grippy tannins, medium+ finish ending with fruit, spice and wet earthy notes. Should continue to improve over next 5-6 years. — 3 years ago

Jake Hajer

9.3

Aging Perfectly. Could use another 5 yr. coconut, blackberry, smooth tannins. — 5 years ago

Mike Beltran

9.2

The Cos was decanted two hours earlier and that helped lift the aromatics. Slight brown on the edge but plenty of classic Bordeaux fruit. Good cork . Shows very well and was a nice addition to dinner. Still has life and vitality.👍👍 — 6 years ago

Heath Bradby

9.3

Really lively but fantastic. — 6 years ago

Joseph Dodge

9.0

Happy 21st Anniversary bottle at the lovely Ranch House in Ojai, CA. Could use another year or 2 in the bottle . A little tannic still, notes if cherries, pomegranate and dill. Great mouth feel and even finish — 7 years ago

with Diana

Doug Powers

9.1

Lovely dark fruits, rich without being heavy, nice balance, good length, very fine Aussie Shiraz! — a month ago

with Jim

Jeffery Heavner

9.0

Not one to drink a lot of white wine but this is a very well balanced wine . Good fruit, acids, minerality , and a bit of cream on the finish. Definitely a great white wine — 4 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.5

Just love this wine, new label! Nice blend of grapes from the Bierzo Valley, biodynamic. Deep Ruby with loads of Berry fruits aromas adding some sweet floral spice and flinty notes. On the palate flavors of cherry, raspberry, and strawberry with a juicy mineral edge. Well balanced and integrated with fine chalky tannins, lively acidity and a long finish ending with fruit and spicy notes. Tremendous value for such a complex wine. — 2 years ago

Nathan Renfro

9.3

Medium ruby. Tannins softened with just a bite on the edge, grippy yet soft. Black and red fruit, nicely balanced. Earthy. Medium to full bodied. Medium finish. Nice mouthfeel. — 3 years ago

Andrew

8.9

Crisp, apples — 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