A nice 2007 Rhone and an over-oaked Insignia

Tasted Monday, August 24, 2009 by Charlie Carnes with 400 views

Flight 1 (2 Notes)

  • 2007 Château de Saint Cosme Gigondas Hominis Fides 95 Points

    France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Gigondas

    Very dark purple to black wine. Smells like spent cartridges, spices, black fruits, and black fruit splattered on chalky rocks. The nose is dark and brooding, mineral, chalky, then after a few minutes some red aromas appear{ which is really expected this year after all of the other Southern Rhone wines I have tried}. Also a little scorched earth[slight heat?] Any brief thought of heat is dispelled after the first taste. In the mouth the wine starts like it smells. very dark fruits, serious, black fruit with chalky white stones and minerals. After a while it "leans" toward red, but still dominated by dark fruit. For all of its darkness and seriousness, the wine has its eyebrows raised and is smiling and happy. It is quite nimble for its largeness. The entrance is a little tannic, but the finish is like a river flowing into a lake. It just expands and sweetness comes through for a long balanced finish and a great aftertaste. This 2007 needs a little more time.

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  • 2003 Joseph Phelps Insignia 88 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    What's a poor boy to do? My aversion to grainy toasty oak and over-ripeness has gotten much worse. Is the trend for Insignia? I remember older bottles{ 1994-1997} as usually having a little match-stick and dark fruits and sometimes a little scorched earth, but I remember loving them for their pure fruit, long finishes and wonderful balance. Never do I remember this heavy handed oakiness. The 2007 St Cosme Hominis Fides that I had together with this wine blew it away.

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Closing

I am having a classic case of I wish I knew then what I know now. I have drastically changed my buying habits in the last few years, for, alas, I have lost interest in about forty percent of my cellar. It seems my palate has become more sensitive to heavy-handed oak, or overripeness.

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