April 6, 2023 - BYOK with Olivier Krug at Next (Chicago, IL): Mostly Eisele fruit. Phenomenal old-school Napa, the way God intended the wines to be. Definitely very fruit forward and unmistakably Californian with its sunny disposition. Distinct herbal notes as well, this is fully mature with fully resolved, silky tannins. This is drinking exactly as I would expect a top-notch bottle of Napa cabernet to drink now.
November 16, 2021 - I found this a little oxidative with sweet, fruitcakey notes and Christmas spices, porty and peppery. Others felt this was correct, if overripe, but if so I would be hard pressed to find a number higher than 85 to attach.
November 12, 2021 - Nose: Blackberry, cedar, redwood, plum skin and cherry. There is a furniture policy and roasted herb element I like here too. Palate: Enters with slightly sharp acidity, but equally rip dark fruit and ceqdar. Lots of loam and pl to enjoy. Finish: Nice plum and berry. Touch of eucalyptus and sandalwood.
Classic old school napa. You could taste the redwood elements here.
June 26, 2020 - This was amazing. Evolved, blueberries, chocolate, tabacco, with a long silky finish.
September 25, 2019 - Incredibly elegant lifted aromatics touch of cinnamon. Elegant palate.
September 19, 2019 - Dinner at Nico Osteria: Phenomenal wine. There's a sunny ripeness and richness to the fruit that sets it apart from all the Bordeaux poured right before, but it's also carrying the same restraint and finesse as the best of the clarets on the table. Lots of rich red and black fruit, mature woodsy and earthy notes, and a really intense green/eucalyptus note that would have had me guessing old Heitz Martha's Vineyard had this been poured blind. The tannin here feels fully resolved and the texture is just amazing. A stunning bottle that was among my favorites of the night.
September 19, 2019 - Dinner at Nico Osteria (Chicago, IL): I've made some pretty snarky remarks about the modern incarnations of Insignia (because they suck really bad), but man, these old ones are some of the best that Napa has to offer. The nose has a bit of a sharpie marker thing alongside a really lovely green eucalyptus tone and fruit that is still very youthful. It's an inky wine, with opulence that no Bordeaux can hope to match, but it's also very restrained and well-executed. There are no sharp edges at this point -- it is a silky and fully resolved bottle of Napa cabernet, from the golden age.
November 1, 2016 - As good as cab and any wine gets. Agree with comments that insignia has gotten overripe but this one amd most I’ve had prior to 2000 are beautiful examples of how great Napa Cab can be.
January 24, 2016 - Deep, dark garnet in color with only slight clearing at the edges. Fragrant, forward & attractive nose of mature & complex nose of fruit aromas of dark cherries, plums & cassis with overtones of cedar, tobacco, leather, some floral notes of violets, earthy, dusty, minty, herbs, dark cocoa, some spices & minerals. Full bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced, silky smooth textured, mature & complex ripe dark fruits of cherries, plums & cassis with earthiness, minty, dark cocoa, herbs, spices and minerals. Long lingering smooth finish. Drinks quite well at present and although it may be at its peak of development, it appears to have the structure and ripe fruit flavors to continue holding at its current plateau of maturity although any further development with additional aging is highly unlikely. A wonderful example of a well-aged & mature Napa Cabernet at 40 years of age & still going strong. [A blend of 94% Eisele Vineyard Cabernet & 6% Oakville Merlot; Alc. @ 13.8%]
August 3, 2013 - This is some wine! 94% Eisele cabernet, 6% merlot. Very aromatic nose of sweet currants and mocha. Big, tannic wine, has has an elegance to it as well. Ripe cabernet fruit dominates the palate, with some leather and earthy notes. Tannic and a slight musty taste on the back end, but the mouth watering finish goes on and on. Amazing wine, at 37 years old, that will last many more years.