From a 375. Deep orange-copper color; nose is moderately aromatic with orange peel, orange marmalade, caramel, butterscotch, burnt sugar; palate is full bodied, still significant sweetness for its age but with medium balancing acidity, candied orange, medium alcohol that is decently balanced and showing only a bit of heat at the end; finish is medium length with just a slight bitterness at the end, slight heat in the finish. Overall a good sweet wine that has aged nicely but is now at peak, though still with good fruit and without metallic notes that entry level sauternes can develop with age. It has good complexity on the nose but more depth of fruit complexity than waves of honey and floral like top sauternes. A value at @$20/half. 90 Day 2: Less complexity on the palate, shows more heat and alcohol than fruit now; fruit on the nose is simpler and more orange marmalade. Seems more new world today. Still enjoyable. 90
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Insignia Vertical @ Joe C: Golden color. Sweet honeyed tropical fruit and flowers on the nose and the palate. Wonderful lingering finish which stays with you forever. Great balancing act between the sweetness and the acidity. Excellent!
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6 Sauternes+Kalin vintages 1985 to 1990 (Lafayette, Ca.): Nose of sweet caramel, rich fruit, same on the palate, big body, very rich, very sweet, very fruity, unique but definitely not Sauternes, and a long, long finish. My #2 and Group #6
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Tasting of 8 Sauternes/Dessert Wines (Lafayette, Ca.): Rich, straw color in the glass, butterscotch and apples on the nose, nice, rich honey and lemon flavors on the palate, very rich, unctuous taste, lovely finish.
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6/28/2017 - aagrawal wrote: 90 Points
From a 375. Deep orange-copper color; nose is moderately aromatic with orange peel, orange marmalade, caramel, butterscotch, burnt sugar; palate is full bodied, still significant sweetness for its age but with medium balancing acidity, candied orange, medium alcohol that is decently balanced and showing only a bit of heat at the end; finish is medium length with just a slight bitterness at the end, slight heat in the finish. Overall a good sweet wine that has aged nicely but is now at peak, though still with good fruit and without metallic notes that entry level sauternes can develop with age. It has good complexity on the nose but more depth of fruit complexity than waves of honey and floral like top sauternes. A value at @$20/half. 90
Day 2: Less complexity on the palate, shows more heat and alcohol than fruit now; fruit on the nose is simpler and more orange marmalade. Seems more new world today. Still enjoyable. 90
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6/13/1998 - mdefreitas wrote: 93 Points
Insignia Vertical @ Joe C: Golden color. Sweet honeyed tropical fruit and flowers on the nose and the palate. Wonderful lingering finish which stays with you forever. Great balancing act between the sweetness and the acidity. Excellent!
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4/12/1995 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 93 Points
6 Sauternes+Kalin vintages 1985 to 1990 (Lafayette, Ca.): Nose of sweet caramel, rich fruit, same on the palate, big body, very rich, very sweet, very fruity, unique but definitely not Sauternes, and a long, long finish. My #2 and Group #6
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4/6/1994 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 93 Points
Tasting of 8 Sauternes/Dessert Wines (Lafayette, Ca.): Rich, straw color in the glass, butterscotch and apples on the nose, nice, rich honey and lemon flavors on the palate, very rich, unctuous taste, lovely finish.
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