Napa 2023: the quieter version; 2/6/2023-2/11/2023 (Napa/Sonoma California): Wow was this young. Dark and intense. Black fruits. Some secondary coming in but I’d never have guessed this was ‘85 if we were blind. Suprisingly didn’t seem to have the same evolution as the Heitz in the glass but was always there and strong and structured. Can go for awhile.
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Cork Vault Bottle Share 9.1.22 (Charlotte, NC): Popped and slo-ox for 2 hours before sampling. Others checked in prior and those who waited were rewarded. Red garnet in color the age is showing. Soft, chalky aromas of wilted rose petals on the nose. Gentle on the mouthfeel – rustic red raspberries still shine up front with secondary notes winning the day. A delicate wine with plenty of life on the night but probably drinking better in isolation rather than in a line-up of varied young/old grapes of varying geography. A delightful wine to be consumed soon before it crosses over too much further, Blend: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and 15% Cabernet Franc.
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This was absolutely fantastic! Drinking beautifully now and at the height of its powers. Robert Parker once described it as “glorious,” and it certainly lives up to the assessment
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Red and fall colors at the rim. Clear with modest sediment at end of pour. Decanted for 1 hour and had balance youthful approach. Berries and res fruits in balance weight. A pre-Parker non-fruitbomb beauty.
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Color was good and a live. It took three hours to open up. I have tasting some similar aged Bordeaux (not the big 5) and it will go toe to toe. Wines in Napa in 1985 where made in a different style. Even JP has changed. 12.5%. Nothing is in your face so need to focus to appreciate just how good this wine is 35 years later. It has aged much better than most of us. Aroma and taste are more to non-fruit. Name it and you can imagine it is there. Finest is pleasant no standout flavors. You like it for the tannins and acidity being in balance. It is not getting better. Perfect storage since purchase as in 55 degrees and similar humidity.
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Wine Group Tasting of Old Cabernet Sauvignon vintages. (Yan's China Bistro, Walnut Creek, Ca.): Wine Group Tasting of Old Cabernet Sauvignon vintages. Nose of red cherry, touch of plum, pepper, and mushroom, same on the palate, big body, showed very well and earned a 96 for about forty-five minutes than rapidly faded, maybe a storage issue, similar comments from other tasters tonight, lovely, rich fruit, tasty, and a long. long finish. My Score #3 of 5.
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Gorgeous wine. Light and elegant yet with plenty of depth. Beautiful mature Bordeaux flavors with plenty of structure left to give it some backbone. Impossible to put down
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Wine and Food night. Opened '85 Backus, Eisele, and Insignia for comparison.
All were excellent. Good balance of earth and fruit. All still had some nice cherry flavors with a bit of ashtray and tobacco. Star anise, medium dark fruit. Generally well rounded and elegant. These have all plateaued and should hold on for another decade or so before falling off.
Insignia is purely California. This was wonderful and more forward than the Eisele, but a little less so than the Backus. The Merlot really mellows the flavors here and makes this nicely accessible. My least favorite of the lot, but still stellar.
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Achim's Magnum Tasting 2016 (Berens am Kai 1 star Restaurant): From magnum very elegant and reluctant. It was the reserve bottle for a corked GL 1982. Drank blindly and I thought it was Bordeaux, nice cassis and cherry notes but a pleasant acidity, many years ahead 95-96
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Saturday hangout (Chicago, IL): (60% CS, 25% M, 15% CF.) Well, this isn't old Heitz, but it sure is eucalyptusy. The palate is very largely scaled, with a lot of fruit and big structure. This comes off as ripe, but with great balancing acidity. Surprisingly, this veers towards the umami side of things, which is something I don't tend to find much in Napa. At 30-odd years, this seems to be at a great point.
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The wine looks crimson colored. The legs are medium. There is light sediment in the bottle. It smells like black currant (cassis), blackberry, dust, clove, nutmeg, fig and vanilla. The body is light/medium. The wine has smooth texture. The wine finishes short. The wine has low acidity.
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Wow. Very minty, bay laurel, wild, almost fennel, so complex and undeniably California. Unfortunately the palate is drying out and seems flaccid in comparison to the Lynch Bages alongside it. Fully mature and should be drunk.
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When 20+ years old, most wines that were highly rated upon release do not live up to their young ratings. This one does and, at 30, is gorgeous. In fact, Parker's 95 rating about 2 years ago is probably low. Upon decanting, this wine showed brawny and big, with lots of tight fruit a lovely eucalyptus nose. An hour later it smoothed out and became a perfectly balanced, intense and rich cab. Really quite exceptional. While wonderful now, it should drink well for at least a few more years. Stored at 55 degrees, humidity controlled, since release.
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Beautiful old school Cali Cab. Captivating bouquet with mint, florals, cassis. Fully resolved, silky palate that just lacks a little structure and nuance. Wonderful.
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Red-garnet color, medium; much muddy red-purple sediment. Powerful nose, lovely and young-ish of mints, bay leaf, gum tree leaf, red cherry, cola, a hint of Bourbon whiskey and oak spice. On arrival, medium-low tannin and balanced acidity, very smooth. In the mouth, olives and cherry in front of the herbs and oak. Finishes fat, long. Our group of six drained the whole thing in 90 minutes in fear it would shut down, but it was getting stronger with air. From magnum bottle #1 of one.
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Crumbly cork. Mature nose of ripe blackberry fruit with lots of tobacco and cedar character and some vanilla/caramel, exactly what you would expect. Still plenty of fruit, tannins are soft and buttery and mostly resolved, good fruit in the midpalate that shows the mellowness of age, some integrated caramel from the oak, not drying out but also not especially long. Can't see this getting better, and probably already on the downside. A very nice older CA blend without quite hitting any fireworks.
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HDH auction tasting at Tru (Chicago, IL): Loads of green pepper and leather on the nose here. A bit dusty and funky; this is a classic cabernet. There's also perhaps a slight hint of barnyard animal character. The palate is very refined and light on its feet; no heaviness detectable anywhere. An incredibly pretty (if a bit funky) bottle of Napa cab. Light tannins; it seems that everything has already loosened up. Showing very well right now; this is a pleasure to drink right now.
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Video Music Night at Bill's (Vancouver, BC): On the nose, this was very different than the previous two BVs. Loads of mint on the nose with cool cabernet fruit and hints of chocolate. Well balanced on the palate with resolved tannins and nice acidity and length. Drink now but no rush. Excellent.
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An '85 as good as any '85 -- short of I'm not sure what...Obviously provenance is the key and I have had a case in my cellar from release from the winery. It was WONDERFUL! Still delicate fruit on the nose, with hints of blackberries, cassis and cedar. Harmony all the way around. LOVED this wine...
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Monday California Tasting: My first encounter with this wine and unfortunately a bottle that had likely a minor flaw (old barrel / cork). The power and complexity of the wine was there, so was the fruit and the berries. But this bottle just seemed off so a rating would not do justice. Hope I get the opportunity to retaste one day as the wine showed great potential...
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„One Wine - Three Vintages“-Blind Tasting. Flight 10: Joseph Phelps Insignia. We tasted 1985, 1994 and 2005. One of my two favourite flights of the night (together with the flight of Château Pape Cléments). The 1985 Insignia drank very young. It was the lightest in colour, but had the most expressive nose of the flight, with mint, eucalyptus, chocolate and After Eight. On the medium- to full-bodied palate the 1985 offered lots of mint and After Eight and some bell pepper, paired with impeccable balance and very good length. Potentially the most balanced wine of the tasting. Great Cabernet! (93) The first bottle of 1994 was corked, but we had a back-up. The 1994 was my least favourite wine of this superb flight. It had the least expressive nose of the flight, only showing some mint and some eucalyptus. The oak still was quite present on the palate and the wine seemed very high in alcohol. It did, however, have tremendous length. To the wine’s defense I must admit that we poured straight from bottle and the wine slowly opened-up in the glass. Things might hence look quite different after a solid decant. (scoring reserved) The 2005 was the darkest wine of the flight. It offered black currant, mint, eucalyptus, After Eight and coffee on the nose, and black currant, mint and chocolate on the palate. The wine was balanced and had tremendous length. I liked it. Like the 1985 a great expression of Cabernet! (93) The discussion about the hefty price of Joseph Phelps Insignia put aside, there is no doubt about the extraordinary quality and ageworthiness of Insignia. The 1985 drank very young and the 1994 even seemed to have further upside potential. I am also still taken aback by the aromatic and stylistic consistency of the wines over a period of twenty years.
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Tasted blind among some heavy hitter reds. rated in top third of its flight My blind notes: Nose - started out with dirty, dark tones but morphed over time to a very distinct and pleasant smoky element. Thought this was old world wine. Mouth - Thin, old, minimal fruit but with character and structure. Finish - medium.
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Needs time to open up. Excellent balance and refinement especially on the finish. Great nose of dried fruit, leather and old wood. Very earthy and delicious. It got better with every glass
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This wine was the surprise of the night! It had aged so gracefuly. Truen, most of the fruit was gone, but there was still great balance and a silkiness on the palate that stayed on the tongue for at least a couple of minutes with every sip. Glad I still have a few bottles left!
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Wine of the night. Along side a 95 Pontet Canet randomly. What a nice surprise. I was was worried I was to sip the sour, flat distant mode that older CA cabs succumb to. Insignia showed brilliantly. Balance, fruit, soft (but almost gone) tannins. Crystalline dark fruit. In short, what you hope to find. The color and nose was still of a 10 year old. The youthfulness made me wonder if that Rudy clown dropped this in the cellar but it has been in my possession for over a decade. Ending prime drinking window as after an hour or so, it started to flatten a bit. Probably as good as it will get but I would love to try another in 5 years.
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There was plenty of the life in the wine with rich red cherry and some drizzled chocolate profile. The wine had lots of promise on entry but fell apart in the mid palate and essentially had little finish. There was a cedar and oakiness that was harsh upon opened and while it mellowed somewhat, it was definitely a distraction. The 1985 vintage made me fall is love with wine so for me this was a great walk down memory lane even if the bottle came up a little short.
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The wine exhibited its clear ruby color as it was poured and in the glass displayed slight bricking around the edges. What a great nose and flavors. Mature but not over the hill.
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What a great affirmation of mature California wine! Yielding to maturity, but still in balance, and still focused and in tact. The tertiary aromas of cedar and leather are seductive. And the silky mid palate gives soft flavors of fruit. A real treat.
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Some American Cabs at Roger's (Roger's House): What a great treat to be able to try a 25 year old Insignia. This was the wine of the night. It was mature, but could still show a move or two. The aromatics were the highlight, with a beautiful funky nose, with notes of earth, mushrooms, red fruits. The palate was still showing decent fruit, well balanced, and on the elegant end, with the fruits veering toward red. Not over the hill, but the enjoyment of this bottle depends on how you like the wines. It actually reminded me of an '85 BV Latour I had a couple years back. Whether that's due to my limited experience of aged wine or real similarities is tough to tell. I have found my sweet spot to be 10-15 years, so I might be a harsher critic of this, but it was undeniably a great wine, and showed really well.
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Color is ruby and garnet, with some lightening at glass edge. Offered immediate, complex aromas of mint, juniper, cranberry, Dr Pepper and cherry, with some cherry and herbs echoed in the palate. Soft tannin initially, gradually getting firmer over two hours. A lovely wine to smell and taste throughout a three hour dinner with grilled pork chops, cherry/port reduction sauce, sour red cabbage, and porchini mushroom risotto. Bottle #12 of twelve,with one magnum remaining in cellar; no need to rush to consume, but it's probably not improving further either. A wonderfully balanced structure in this wine, consistent in every bottle since release.
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Complex, minty eucalyptus nose with hints of roasted poblano, old tobacco. Powerful nose with a serious green streak that belies the beauty and complexity beneath. Nice cassis, cedar, plum and good structure. Awesome. 93-94?
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Slight brown tinge to a 23 year old bottle of just totally remarkable character. This wine reaches all around the mouth, enticing the front of the tongue and the deeper reaches of the tongue and throat with gorgeous complexity. The cigar box-like nose is enhanced with creme de cassis and dark spices. The finish is long, voluptuous and mouth watering. The best bottle of wine that I've had in months, if not this year.
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Dark rich color. Clean nose, with deep notes of dried fruit. Good balance, still good fruit on the palate. Nice complexity and good finish. A wonderful old wine.
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Thirty Years of Phelps Insignia (1974 through 2004): Starts strongly, with an intense nose featuring rich dark fruit, mineral and oak. On the palate this gives dark fruit with a strong iron/mineral flavor profile. A bit compact and simple from attack to mid-palate, but finishes strongly.
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Wine #2 of the tasting/ tasted blind: Immediately apparent was the dark color and wild aromas coming out of the glass. I wrote "a little stinky" early on but it opened up. It had the classic Bordeaux cigar box aroma and flavors. I had this one pegged as a Bordeaux all the way. It was very good wine and clearly well-stored in its life. Ready to drink. A treat!!
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Wine Tasting with Rick Joyer (including a 100 pointer and other gems) (Asti Trattoria - Austin, TX): Wine #2 / tasted blind: Dark ruby color. Intoxicating nose of leather tobacco or cigar box, some mild spice and noticeable menthol and eucalyptus notes. On the palate, this wine delivered all the promise the nose offered. Still has amazing stamina, but is definitely ready to drink. Awesome wine.
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An outstanding bottle of wine. Fully mature, but with the power and color of youth. Very little bricking. Tobacco, Cigar wrapper, cedar, and plum. In its prime, but not showing any signs of fading.
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Phelps Insignia Vertical 15+ Years: Good herbs and spices on the nose that continue on to the palate. Bright red fruit nicely still primary as well with some earthy traces that come out on the long finish. Very balanced and elegant. I'd expect this still has plenty of life ahead, certainly 5 years, perhaps as much as 15.
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Tasting of five Cabernet Sauvignons, second place. Minty nose with dust of dark , rich fruit, more of the same on the palate, very fresh and very rich tasting, hints of chocolate on the palate, medium/long finish. Lovely wine, almost elegant impression on the aftertaste.
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Seattle Tasting Group does 22 years of Phelps Insignia (Bellevue, WA, USA): 60% Cab Sauv, 25% Merlot and 15% Cab Franc. The consensus was that this bottle was somewhat oxidized. I thought it was drinkable but somewhat off with vanilla and a slightly roasted character on the nose. The palate showed less purity than the other Insignia with a 'muddy' feel.
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Tasting 4 Joseph Phelps Insignia. Hint of mint, charcoal, bay leaf, on the nose, lovely nose, more of the same on the palate, very, rich taste, simple medium body, long, pleasant, finish and aftertaste. My #2.
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8 Cabernet Sauvignons tasted, third place, group first place. Nice, rich, meaty nose of intense berry fruit, more of the same on the palate, touch of sweat sox, lovely to drink tonight, medium finish.
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1985 Cabernet Sauvignon vs 1985 Bordeaux (Lafayette, Ca.): Lovely Bordeaux nose of mushroom, cedar, olive oil and berry, lovely, rich cedar taste, at peak will last 20 years, nice lingering cedar taste on the long finish, needs 5 years to peak. My #3 of 7, Group #1 of 7.
Insignia Vertical @ Joe C: Deep ruby color. Nice aromas of black fruits, spice, and eucalyptus. A pleasant wine, but a disturbingly short finish. Again, over time, I felt this wine lost some of it's charm. Good.
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1985 Vintage (Lafayette, Ca.): Beautiful, rich, red color, touch of plum, lovely nose of riich mint and chocolate, tobacco on the palate, creamy, lots of acid, needs five years to peak, long finish, needs time.
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Tasting of 11 1985 Cabernet Sauvignons. Touch of cough drops on the nose, nice, pleasant wine, lovely taste of blackberry fruit, tasted slightly simple. My #8, Group #1.
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With MPL and BLR at S&F survey of '85 Cabs. Good red ruby color. Nose is minty, but also weedy, and strangely herbal. Real "off element." Smells like petroleum jelly. On the palate, there's fruit, good concentration and nice body . . . but the nose is too much of a distraction. I would not buy this one. 5-8-13-4: 80/100.
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At Singer & Foy survey of new "killer Cabs." Relatively light ruby, yet it coats the glass. Nose on this one is far different from the rest. Lots and lots of eucalyptus. Highly extracted fruit. I would sear this was a Heitz "Martha's." Flavor mimics the nose. Very drinkable now, light yet has power. Still, the eucalyptus is overpowering. I guessed this was the Insignia. 5-10-13-5: 83/100.
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With MPL, BLR and Diane at London Wine Bar. Medium-dark ruby. Very perfumed nose. Rich, ripe and deep. Excellent, complex, sweet. On the palate, it's tannic, but with good fruit. Sweet. 5-112-15-7: 88/100.
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10/15/2023 - Pitkin_CT Likes this wine: 96 Points
Drank with Frank and Ann Sanford
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2/10/2023 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Napa 2023: the quieter version; 2/6/2023-2/11/2023 (Napa/Sonoma California): Wow was this young. Dark and intense. Black fruits. Some secondary coming in but I’d never have guessed this was ‘85 if we were blind. Suprisingly didn’t seem to have the same evolution as the Heitz in the glass but was always there and strong and structured. Can go for awhile.
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9/1/2022 - kevinpatrick Likes this wine:
Cork Vault Bottle Share 9.1.22 (Charlotte, NC): Popped and slo-ox for 2 hours before sampling. Others checked in prior and those who waited were rewarded. Red garnet in color the age is showing. Soft, chalky aromas of wilted rose petals on the nose. Gentle on the mouthfeel – rustic red raspberries still shine up front with secondary notes winning the day. A delicate wine with plenty of life on the night but probably drinking better in isolation rather than in a line-up of varied young/old grapes of varying geography. A delightful wine to be consumed soon before it crosses over too much further, Blend: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and 15% Cabernet Franc.
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12/31/2021 - Pitkin_CT Likes this wine: 98 Points
This was absolutely fantastic! Drinking beautifully now and at the height of its powers. Robert Parker once described it as “glorious,” and it certainly lives up to the assessment
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5/22/2021 - RusisWine wrote: 94 Points
Red and fall colors at the rim. Clear with modest sediment at end of pour. Decanted for 1 hour and had balance youthful approach. Berries and res fruits in balance weight. A pre-Parker non-fruitbomb beauty.
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4/3/2021 - GraffCellar Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still showing pluck and verve
Ample fruit
Energizing acidity
Holding its own after 36 years
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11/22/2020 - Carl Thoma Likes this wine: 92 Points
Color was good and a live. It took three hours to open up. I have tasting some similar aged Bordeaux (not the big 5) and it will go toe to toe. Wines in Napa in 1985 where made in a different style. Even JP has changed. 12.5%. Nothing is in your face so need to focus to appreciate just how good this wine is 35 years later. It has aged much better than most of us.
Aroma and taste are more to non-fruit. Name it and you can imagine it is there. Finest is pleasant no standout flavors. You like it for the tannins and acidity being in balance. It is not getting better. Perfect storage since purchase as in 55 degrees and similar humidity.
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3/27/2019 - Hopsing63 wrote:
Waited too long :( No tannins left, very little flavor, low acid. GONE!
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2/20/2019 - Herb K wrote:
This is still a great bottle— perhaps on its last moments, (1-2 years), but still so pure.
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6/23/2018 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wine Group Tasting of Old Cabernet Sauvignon vintages. (Yan's China Bistro, Walnut Creek, Ca.): Wine Group Tasting of Old Cabernet Sauvignon vintages. Nose of red cherry, touch of plum, pepper, and mushroom, same on the palate, big body, showed very well and earned a 96 for about forty-five minutes than rapidly faded, maybe a storage issue, similar comments from other tasters tonight, lovely, rich fruit, tasty, and a long. long finish. My Score #3 of 5.
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11/29/2017 - nywine68 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Gorgeous wine. Light and elegant yet with plenty of depth. Beautiful mature Bordeaux flavors with plenty of structure left to give it some backbone. Impossible to put down
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8/4/2017 - europat55 wrote: 92 Points
Nose: A-/A Palate: B++
My #3, Group's #5 (70 pts). Tasted Blind
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1/24/2017 - morpheusrising Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wine and Food night. Opened '85 Backus, Eisele, and Insignia for comparison.
All were excellent. Good balance of earth and fruit. All still had some nice cherry flavors with a bit of ashtray and tobacco. Star anise, medium dark fruit. Generally well rounded and elegant. These have all plateaued and should hold on for another decade or so before falling off.
Insignia is purely California. This was wonderful and more forward than the Eisele, but a little less so than the Backus. The Merlot really mellows the flavors here and makes this nicely accessible. My least favorite of the lot, but still stellar.
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12/15/2016 - aquacongas Likes this wine: 96 Points
Achim's Magnum Tasting 2016 (Berens am Kai 1 star Restaurant): From magnum
very elegant and reluctant. It was the reserve bottle for a corked GL 1982. Drank blindly and I thought it was Bordeaux, nice cassis and cherry notes but a pleasant acidity, many years ahead 95-96
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9/10/2016 - acyso wrote: 90 Points
Saturday hangout (Chicago, IL): (60% CS, 25% M, 15% CF.) Well, this isn't old Heitz, but it sure is eucalyptusy. The palate is very largely scaled, with a lot of fruit and big structure. This comes off as ripe, but with great balancing acidity. Surprisingly, this veers towards the umami side of things, which is something I don't tend to find much in Napa. At 30-odd years, this seems to be at a great point.
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12/17/2015 - nywine68 wrote:
A bit oxidized. Not overwhelming but definitely lingering in the background. Not nearly as good as other mid-80s Insignias
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11/27/2015 - rjrwinesnobs Likes this wine: 91 Points
The wine looks crimson colored. The legs are medium. There is light sediment in the bottle. It smells like black currant (cassis), blackberry, dust, clove, nutmeg, fig and vanilla. The body is light/medium. The wine has smooth texture. The wine finishes short. The wine has low acidity.
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7/24/2015 - andtheodor wrote:
Wow. Very minty, bay laurel, wild, almost fennel, so complex and undeniably California. Unfortunately the palate is drying out and seems flaccid in comparison to the Lynch Bages alongside it. Fully mature and should be drunk.
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7/21/2015 - Dennis Graves wrote: 96 Points
When 20+ years old, most wines that were highly rated upon release do not live up to their young ratings. This one does and, at 30, is gorgeous. In fact, Parker's 95 rating about 2 years ago is probably low. Upon decanting, this wine showed brawny and big, with lots of tight fruit a lovely eucalyptus nose. An hour later it smoothed out and became a perfectly balanced, intense and rich cab. Really quite exceptional. While wonderful now, it should drink well for at least a few more years. Stored at 55 degrees, humidity controlled, since release.
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7/21/2015 - blanquito wrote: 93 Points
Beautiful old school Cali Cab. Captivating bouquet with mint, florals, cassis. Fully resolved, silky palate that just lacks a little structure and nuance. Wonderful.
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2/27/2015 - Hodby wrote: 93 Points
Red-garnet color, medium; much muddy red-purple sediment. Powerful nose, lovely and young-ish of mints, bay leaf, gum tree leaf, red cherry, cola, a hint of Bourbon whiskey and oak spice. On arrival, medium-low tannin and balanced acidity, very smooth. In the mouth, olives and cherry in front of the herbs and oak. Finishes fat, long. Our group of six drained the whole thing in 90 minutes in fear it would shut down, but it was getting stronger with air. From magnum bottle #1 of one.
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2/21/2015 - coremill wrote: 90 Points
Crumbly cork. Mature nose of ripe blackberry fruit with lots of tobacco and cedar character and some vanilla/caramel, exactly what you would expect. Still plenty of fruit, tannins are soft and buttery and mostly resolved, good fruit in the midpalate that shows the mellowness of age, some integrated caramel from the oak, not drying out but also not especially long. Can't see this getting better, and probably already on the downside. A very nice older CA blend without quite hitting any fireworks.
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9/27/2014 - petitblanc wrote: 89 Points
Old Wine Offline; 9/26/2014-9/27/2014 (The Room Off the Patio at Ruth's Chris, and My House): Nice deep cherry color. Somewhat off-putting minty nose. More mint on the palate, with spice and fruit. Grows thin and hot through the finish. Losing structure, drink now.
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9/25/2014 - Herb K wrote:
This wine just keeps on giving.... It's fading a little, but still smooth, silky with lingering fruits -- plums, berries
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12/14/2013 - acyso wrote: 90 Points
HDH auction tasting at Tru (Chicago, IL): Loads of green pepper and leather on the nose here. A bit dusty and funky; this is a classic cabernet. There's also perhaps a slight hint of barnyard animal character. The palate is very refined and light on its feet; no heaviness detectable anywhere. An incredibly pretty (if a bit funky) bottle of Napa cab. Light tannins; it seems that everything has already loosened up. Showing very well right now; this is a pleasure to drink right now.
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11/12/2013 - godx wrote: 90 Points
Video Music Night at Bill's (Vancouver, BC): On the nose, this was very different than the previous two BVs. Loads of mint on the nose with cool cabernet fruit and hints of chocolate. Well balanced on the palate with resolved tannins and nice acidity and length. Drink now but no rush. Excellent.
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9/7/2013 - Herb K wrote:
An '85 as good as any '85 -- short of I'm not sure what...Obviously provenance is the key and I have had a case in my cellar from release from the winery. It was WONDERFUL! Still delicate fruit on the nose, with hints of blackberries, cassis and cedar. Harmony all the way around. LOVED this wine...
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8/16/2013 - lesz wrote: 92 Points
Starting to fade. Licorice ,tannins all resolved. Still enjoyable but drink up. My last bottle.
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6/25/2013 - Wine_lvr wrote: flawed
Monday California Tasting: My first encounter with this wine and unfortunately a bottle that had likely a minor flaw (old barrel / cork). The power and complexity of the wine was there, so was the fruit and the berries. But this bottle just seemed off so a rating would not do justice. Hope I get the opportunity to retaste one day as the wine showed great potential...
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5/6/2013 - PSPatrick wrote: 93 Points
„One Wine - Three Vintages“-Blind Tasting. Flight 10: Joseph Phelps Insignia. We tasted 1985, 1994 and 2005. One of my two favourite flights of the night (together with the flight of Château Pape Cléments). The 1985 Insignia drank very young. It was the lightest in colour, but had the most expressive nose of the flight, with mint, eucalyptus, chocolate and After Eight. On the medium- to full-bodied palate the 1985 offered lots of mint and After Eight and some bell pepper, paired with impeccable balance and very good length. Potentially the most balanced wine of the tasting. Great Cabernet! (93) The first bottle of 1994 was corked, but we had a back-up. The 1994 was my least favourite wine of this superb flight. It had the least expressive nose of the flight, only showing some mint and some eucalyptus. The oak still was quite present on the palate and the wine seemed very high in alcohol. It did, however, have tremendous length. To the wine’s defense I must admit that we poured straight from bottle and the wine slowly opened-up in the glass. Things might hence look quite different after a solid decant. (scoring reserved) The 2005 was the darkest wine of the flight. It offered black currant, mint, eucalyptus, After Eight and coffee on the nose, and black currant, mint and chocolate on the palate. The wine was balanced and had tremendous length. I liked it. Like the 1985 a great expression of Cabernet! (93) The discussion about the hefty price of Joseph Phelps Insignia put aside, there is no doubt about the extraordinary quality and ageworthiness of Insignia. The 1985 drank very young and the 1994 even seemed to have further upside potential. I am also still taken aback by the aromatic and stylistic consistency of the wines over a period of twenty years.
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3/1/2013 - jinks Likes this wine: 91 Points
Tasted blind among some heavy hitter reds.
rated in top third of its flight
My blind notes:
Nose - started out with dirty, dark tones but morphed over time to a very distinct and pleasant smoky element. Thought this was old world wine.
Mouth - Thin, old, minimal fruit but with character and structure.
Finish - medium.
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11/26/2012 - Cardinalscientific wrote: 93 Points
Needs time to open up. Excellent balance and refinement especially on the finish. Great nose of dried fruit, leather and old wood. Very earthy and delicious. It got better with every glass
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10/6/2012 - lesz wrote: 92 Points
Probably not going to get any better
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6/18/2012 - Herb K wrote:
This wine was the surprise of the night! It had aged so gracefuly. Truen, most of the fruit was gone, but there was still great balance and a silkiness on the palate that stayed on the tongue for at least a couple of minutes with every sip. Glad I still have a few bottles left!
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3/10/2012 - ledwards wrote: 95 Points
Wine of the night. Along side a 95 Pontet Canet randomly. What a nice surprise. I was was worried I was to sip the sour, flat distant mode that older CA cabs succumb to. Insignia showed brilliantly. Balance, fruit, soft (but almost gone) tannins. Crystalline dark fruit. In short, what you hope to find. The color and nose was still of a 10 year old. The youthfulness made me wonder if that Rudy clown dropped this in the cellar but it has been in my possession for over a decade. Ending prime drinking window as after an hour or so, it started to flatten a bit. Probably as good as it will get but I would love to try another in 5 years.
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12/22/2011 - rdsboca wrote: 87 Points
There was plenty of the life in the wine with rich red cherry and some drizzled chocolate profile. The wine had lots of promise on entry but fell apart in the mid palate and essentially had little finish. There was a cedar and oakiness that was harsh upon opened and while it mellowed somewhat, it was definitely a distraction. The 1985 vintage made me fall is love with wine so for me this was a great walk down memory lane even if the bottle came up a little short.
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11/8/2011 - treaganjr wrote: 92 Points
The wine exhibited its clear ruby color as it was poured and in the glass displayed slight bricking around the edges. What a great nose and flavors. Mature but not over the hill.
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10/22/2011 - THA wrote: 96 Points
Extraordinary. Still on the plateau of sweet, balanced maturity. This is what it's all about.
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8/26/2011 - THA wrote: 93 Points
What a great affirmation of mature California wine! Yielding to maturity, but still in balance, and still focused and in tact. The tertiary aromas of cedar and leather are seductive. And the silky mid palate gives soft flavors of fruit. A real treat.
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3/5/2011 - hutch wrote: 93 Points
Some American Cabs at Roger's (Roger's House): What a great treat to be able to try a 25 year old Insignia. This was the wine of the night. It was mature, but could still show a move or two. The aromatics were the highlight, with a beautiful funky nose, with notes of earth, mushrooms, red fruits. The palate was still showing decent fruit, well balanced, and on the elegant end, with the fruits veering toward red. Not over the hill, but the enjoyment of this bottle depends on how you like the wines. It actually reminded me of an '85 BV Latour I had a couple years back. Whether that's due to my limited experience of aged wine or real similarities is tough to tell. I have found my sweet spot to be 10-15 years, so I might be a harsher critic of this, but it was undeniably a great wine, and showed really well.
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12/29/2010 - Lord Rayas wrote: 94 Points
Taste off between Alex and PC (Classified Exchange Square): Exotic nose of herbs, spices, smoke, black olives and green peppers. Great pairing with the Solaia 85. Both could be mistaken for a right bank Bordeaux.
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8/31/2010 - sajjy wrote: 92 Points
definitely at or past its peak,very elegant if not spectacular wine that was pleasent to drink after
decanting 3 hours
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6/6/2010 - Hodby wrote: 92 Points
Color is ruby and garnet, with some lightening at glass edge. Offered immediate, complex aromas of mint, juniper, cranberry, Dr Pepper and cherry, with some cherry and herbs echoed in the palate. Soft tannin initially, gradually getting firmer over two hours. A lovely wine to smell and taste throughout a three hour dinner with grilled pork chops, cherry/port reduction sauce, sour red cabbage, and porchini mushroom risotto. Bottle #12 of twelve,with one magnum remaining in cellar; no need to rush to consume, but it's probably not improving further either. A wonderfully balanced structure in this wine, consistent in every bottle since release.
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5/19/2010 - robmatic wrote: 95 Points
Minty and smoky, an awesome mature wine with perfect balance. Drinking very nicely but not going to get any better.
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5/19/2010 - andtheodor wrote: 93 Points
Complex, minty eucalyptus nose with hints of roasted poblano, old tobacco. Powerful nose with a serious green streak that belies the beauty and complexity beneath. Nice cassis, cedar, plum and good structure. Awesome. 93-94?
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3/20/2010 - psmith wrote:
Red and black fruits, some green and minty notes. Fine tannins. Heady. Still youthful. Cedar. Very nice.
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12/28/2008 - Coastman3 wrote: 98 Points
Slight brown tinge to a 23 year old bottle of just totally remarkable character. This wine reaches all around the mouth, enticing the front of the tongue and the deeper reaches of the tongue and throat with gorgeous complexity. The cigar box-like nose is enhanced with creme de cassis and dark spices. The finish is long, voluptuous and mouth watering. The best bottle of wine that I've had in months, if not this year.
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8/11/2008 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote:
French Bakery BYO MERITAGE Dinner 8/13/2008; 8/11/2008-8/13/2008 (French Bakery, Kane concourse, Bay Harbor Islands, Florida): 8/13 Ed's wine
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11/29/2007 - Kahalu'u Bob wrote: 93 Points
Dark rich color. Clean nose, with deep notes of dried fruit. Good balance, still good fruit on the palate. Nice complexity and good finish. A wonderful old wine.
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10/13/2007 - Dave Dalluge wrote: 89 Points
Thirty Years of Phelps Insignia (1974 through 2004): Starts strongly, with an intense nose featuring rich dark fruit, mineral and oak. On the palate this gives dark fruit with a strong iron/mineral flavor profile. A bit compact and simple from attack to mid-palate, but finishes strongly.
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10/13/2007 - Siggy wrote: 91 Points
Insignia Vertical Tasting 1974-2004 (WA Frost, St. Paul): Pencil lead, iron/mineral, earth, and blood. Beguilingly foxy. A little short on the finish. Very interesting.
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9/18/2006 - Winetex wrote: 93 Points
Wine #2 of the tasting/ tasted blind: Immediately apparent was the dark color and wild aromas coming out of the glass. I wrote "a little stinky" early on but it opened up. It had the classic Bordeaux cigar box aroma and flavors. I had this one pegged as a Bordeaux all the way. It was very good wine and clearly well-stored in its life. Ready to drink. A treat!!
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9/18/2006 - steffenpelz wrote: 95 Points
Wine Tasting with Rick Joyer (including a 100 pointer and other gems) (Asti Trattoria - Austin, TX): Wine #2 / tasted blind: Dark ruby color. Intoxicating nose of leather tobacco or cigar box, some mild spice and noticeable menthol and eucalyptus notes. On the palate, this wine delivered all the promise the nose offered. Still has amazing stamina, but is definitely ready to drink. Awesome wine.
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3/15/2006 - JimmyV wrote: 96 Points
An outstanding bottle of wine. Fully mature, but with the power and color of youth. Very little bricking. Tobacco, Cigar wrapper, cedar, and plum. In its prime, but not showing any signs of fading.
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1/1/2006 - djblake1 wrote: 96 Points
An outstanding bottle of wine. Dark ruby color with load of red fruit (mainly cherries). Wish I had more.
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12/8/2005 - Burgundy Al wrote: 93 Points
Phelps Insignia Vertical 15+ Years: Good herbs and spices on the nose that continue on to the palate. Bright red fruit nicely still primary as well with some earthy traces that come out on the long finish. Very balanced and elegant. I'd expect this still has plenty of life ahead, certainly 5 years, perhaps as much as 15.
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12/17/2004 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 91 Points
Tasting of five Cabernet Sauvignons, second place. Minty nose with dust of dark , rich fruit, more of the same on the palate, very fresh and very rich tasting, hints of chocolate on the palate, medium/long finish. Lovely wine, almost elegant impression on the aftertaste.
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10/19/2004 - MRichman wrote:
David Wainwright's Cos Vertical, 1985 Horizontal (Le Cirque): Tannic fruit. Acidic. A little sharp. Not a lot to it. Too thin.
C+
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4/17/2004 - Jason wrote:
This wine is quite oxidized. What fruit is there is quite pruny.
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4/17/2004 - Eric wrote: 87 Points
Seattle Tasting Group does 22 years of Phelps Insignia (Bellevue, WA, USA): 60% Cab Sauv, 25% Merlot and 15% Cab Franc. The consensus was that this bottle was somewhat oxidized. I thought it was drinkable but somewhat off with vanilla and a slightly roasted character on the nose. The palate showed less purity than the other Insignia with a 'muddy' feel.
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5/3/2003 - Burgundy Al wrote: 92 Points
Wine tasting. Very good primary fruit remains strongly prominent. This has really evolved nicely with some good spice on the end.
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12/6/2001 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 95 Points
Tasting 4 Joseph Phelps Insignia. Hint of mint, charcoal, bay leaf, on the nose, lovely nose, more of the same on the palate, very, rich taste, simple medium body, long, pleasant, finish and aftertaste. My #2.
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1/27/2000 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 87 Points
1985 Vintage of Cabernet Sauvignon-10 Tasting Notes (Walnut Creek, Ca.): Menthol on the nose, rich, herbal mouthfeel on the palate, lovely, intense Cabernet on the palate, cranberry on the medium/long finish. My #8 of 10.
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5/20/1999 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 92 Points
8 Cabernet Sauvignons tasted, third place, group first place. Nice, rich, meaty nose of intense berry fruit, more of the same on the palate, touch of sweat sox, lovely to drink tonight, medium finish.
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5/8/1999 - mdefreitas wrote: 88 Points
Insignia Vertical @ Surf Village (Milford): Medium red, some lightening on the rim. Still holding fruit. Cassis, spice, herbs. Nice.
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11/5/1998 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 91 Points
1985 Cabernet Sauvignon vs 1985 Bordeaux (Lafayette, Ca.): Lovely Bordeaux nose of mushroom, cedar, olive oil and berry, lovely, rich cedar taste, at peak will last 20 years, nice lingering cedar taste on the long finish, needs 5 years to peak. My #3 of 7, Group #1 of 7.
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6/13/1998 - mdefreitas wrote: 84 Points
Insignia Vertical @ Joe C: Deep ruby color. Nice aromas of black fruits, spice, and eucalyptus. A pleasant wine, but a disturbingly short finish. Again, over time, I felt this wine lost some of it's charm. Good.
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11/9/1995 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 93 Points
1985 Vintage (Lafayette, Ca.): Beautiful, rich, red color, touch of plum, lovely nose of riich mint and chocolate, tobacco on the palate, creamy, lots of acid, needs five years to peak, long finish, needs time.
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5/24/1995 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 82 Points
Tasting of 11 1985 Cabernet Sauvignons. Touch of cough drops on the nose, nice, pleasant wine, lovely taste of blackberry fruit, tasted slightly simple. My #8, Group #1.
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4/12/1991 - MicklethePickle wrote: 80 Points
With MPL and BLR at S&F survey of '85 Cabs. Good red ruby color. Nose is minty, but also weedy, and strangely herbal. Real "off element." Smells like petroleum jelly. On the palate, there's fruit, good concentration and nice body . . . but the nose is too much of a distraction. I would not buy this one. 5-8-13-4: 80/100.
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6/22/1990 - MicklethePickle Likes this wine: 83 Points
At Singer & Foy survey of new "killer Cabs." Relatively light ruby, yet it coats the glass. Nose on this one is far different from the rest. Lots and lots of eucalyptus. Highly extracted fruit. I would sear this was a Heitz "Martha's." Flavor mimics the nose. Very drinkable now, light yet has power. Still, the eucalyptus is overpowering. I guessed this was the Insignia. 5-10-13-5: 83/100.
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2/28/1990 - MicklethePickle Likes this wine: 88 Points
With MPL, BLR and Diane at London Wine Bar. Medium-dark ruby. Very perfumed nose. Rich, ripe and deep. Excellent, complex, sweet. On the palate, it's tannic, but with good fruit. Sweet. 5-112-15-7: 88/100.
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