Color is still very intact with little rim variation. The nose had dried dark fruit, dried flowers, leather and dusty earth. On the palate the tannins have completely integrated leaving a touch of sweet fruit and similar notes as the nose. Tasting more like aged Bordeaux than Napa cab at this point. I do not think it will improve at this point. Goes to show what a quality producer can do in an off vintage. Thanks Eric!
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Nearly 4 years since my last bottle. This needed about 45 min in the glass to open up and held up great throughout the night. At this point, it’s hard to tell it’s new world. This is in its prime and should drink well for a decade.
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I opened this wine with some trepidation, fearing it would be passed it's peak. I shouldn't have been concerned. Aerated and decanted for two hours, this wine is an intense crimson, with long lightly stained legs. The nose reveals scent of cherries and other dark fruits, honeysuckle and wildflowers. On the tongue cherries burst forth with exuberance, followed by plums, vanilla and BlackBerry chocolate truffles. Mouthfeel is full and syrupy, with finely integrated silky tannins and very balanced acidity. Finish is long, persisting up to 30+ seconds. My overall impression is that we taste in this vintage the technique and terrior that have made insignia a winner year after year. Given prior reviews, I feel this wine has just now begun peaking and probably will continue to drink well for another five years. A delicious and sensual wine. 94 pts.
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Showing age at front of palatenwith a bitnof thinning but the middle through finish is spectacularly Insignia. Nose of older Bordeaux funk which blows off after 10 minutes as up front tannins soften once air gets to them. Really a wonderful wine at 21.
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The wine looks garnet colored. The legs are slow. There is heavy sediment in the bottle. It smells like prune, plum and vanilla.
The aromas pouring the first glass were rather pronounced. I was surprised at the vanilla. Likely from the oak barrel aging.
First sips were very good. Definitely a cab, but a wide range of flavors, more than I'm typically expecting. Was this because of its age? Hints of plum, subtle hints of black pepper, the vanilla aroma also carried through in the flavor. I sipped the glass over a couple of hours. It didn't really change much in character over that time.
Definitely a worthy bottle, that isn't as far past its peak as the 2005-2015 CT aging range suggests.
NB: The cork began to pull apart while opening. Be sure to put the screw all the way in to the cork before pulling.
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In my cellar since release. Decanted at 5pm and tasted over 5 hours. 77% Cab, 18% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 1% Cab Franc, 1% Malbec. 13.9% ABV. Medium to dark saturated garnet color, just shy of opaque. Seems ripe but not overly so. Nose screams aged new oak with vanilla and sweet pipe tobacco. Nose shows black fruit and violets as well. Palate is silky smooth with good acidity, mostly integrated tannins. Palate has blackberry, cassis and blueberry fruit along with the earthy tobacco and vanilla. Finish is moderately long. Totally enjoyable but not a “Wow” wine. Nice with grilled bison rib-eye steaks. Probably in a good spot to drink from 750ml over the next several years if stored well but well into its drinking window at this point. Probably a good bit more time in larger formats.
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Rich and Porty but dry with grippy green astringency on the finish. This is likely quite a nice effort given the vintage and its age. Worked quite well with some hard cheese but much less so on its own.
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Just realized that I drank my last one last week. Very sad as this is not past its prime in any way. Drinking with the classic J Phelps style. Big legs and fantastic finish. Still more left here.
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W mac&cheese on my b-day. I think this is over the hill. There was no oomph left. Good color, ok nose but just never came to life. Really too bad as my experience with other vintages was good. Try one of the other ones soon. The mac&cheese was phenomenal. I love simple dinners!!
For me opening anything pre 2006 can be a craps shoot. This did not disappoint. PNP and the dark fruit is still very strong on the nose. Taste was the same way but with a nice hint of herbs to it. I have 1 more bottle that I'm hoping will have the same results. I'm thinking this could still go another year or two, but definitely in a great place now.
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Opened, poured, drank accompanied by lamb chops and foie gras. This time no tannins up front but got chalkier over time. Began a bit Kermit green which developed over time to rich bright and dark fruit. Plenty of life left.
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Dark burgundy, full bodied. Dark plums, cigar box, soft leather WOW! Silky smooth. Liquid richness. Structure is there, and everything is at its peak. Drink up now. What a wonderful wine.
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Napa with friends; 8/15/2019-8/18/2019 (Napa, CA): This one was a bit of a disappointment for me, thought it would be more interesting but found this a bit one dimensional - dark fruited and earth but kind of flat without much of a finish. Perhaps the bottle was dead but just not great.
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Drank at annual birthday dinner with perhaps best prime rib ever. May have scored higher if I'd paid closer attention, but this was very enjoyable throughout dinner. Decanted around an hour or more before pouring, but never an off note.
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Decanted. Tannins fell away quickly. Lavender, chocolate cookie and braised meat dominate the palate. Good unctuous feel w a medium Bordeaux finish. Yummy yummy.
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30 min decant- even better then one year ago. Medium plus bodied, great fruit and balance. Certainly in prime and will improve if you prefer more Bordeaux’esque wine. Will be enjoyable for another 15 years. Great value.
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Mag Dinner Pampas Steakhouse: From 3L; very dark fruit, plum, cooked blackberry, slight eucalyptus, smoked meat, some earth; really solid aged Insignia, while this vintage didn't have the stuffing of great years this was quite enjoyable especially with the steak.
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Decanted at Varka restaurant, this was ready to go from the start. Opulent nose of red fruit and leather, on the palate it was mature, medium bodied, classy and dry. Beautiful with my arctic char and steamed asparagus.
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Decanted for 1h. Wow! Opulent red fruit and cedar nose, on the palate delicious milk chocolate, cherries, and a hint of an acid finish. Supremely well integrated, like silk. Smooth and classy. Tonight with ribeye, asparagus, and Spanish rice.
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Decanted for 2h at 1862 restaurant. This was a relatively quiet, understated CA cab. The nose was closed, cherry cordial. On the palate, cherries, minerals, oak and tannins for a med-long finish. Paired well with short ribs and wagyu sirloin.
This wine came in second place, head to head against 2000 Troplong Mondot, which had a bigger, more expressive nose. Similar palate intensity. In retrospect it was perhaps an unfair comparison, since 2000 was a good year for Bdx and less of a stellar showing in Napa... Both wines, however, were stored in similar (controlled) circumstances, from the same vintage, and similar price point.
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Drinking amazingly well right now - in a perfect drinking window and probably has at least another 3-5 good years left with proper cellaring but do not see further improvement / a further upside to continued cellaring and would thus encourage starting to drink up holdings. The price point is so high that even with that score this wine is not a particularly good QPR wine. Short ~ 30 minute decant and ideally would have decanted at least another 30 minutes. Paired perfectly with a smoked elk roast. Deep reddish - purple, medium - full bodied, soft mouth feel, very complex, well balanced and soft but long and lingering aftertaste. Muted nose of plum, blueberry, licorice and a hint of mint with primary flavors of very well balanced oak, fruit and cassis up front with a more complex mid - late palate earthy mushrooms, smoke and a hint of vanilla. Highly recommend this wine despite the formidable price point.
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Drinking beautifully. Layers of plum, boysenberry and eucalyptus on the nose. Dark, ripe fruits and balanced acidity. Long finish that adds an element of licorice at the end. This wine was delicious and in peak form.
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Surprisingly fresh with fruit still on the nose. We let this decant for about an hour, but only had enough for one glass as it was shared around the table. Ripe cherry and cigar. Great wine
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Coravin a big glass and let it sit for 1/2 hr. Initial nose of spice, some jam, big berry, wood. Taste was a bit light on the palate. Another 1/2 hour the wine built up some depth and character and had a good finish. Next try in a year or 2. Ancho marinated skirt steak, mushrooms and potato's.
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Difficult wine, specially the first day, a whiff of VA, that disappeared quickly, cocoa, and sweetness in the bouquet, a 'cool' taste, but ending in the aftertaste with too much sweetness. The second day there was much more balance, with the sweetness far more integrated; the wine was more mellowed, but still a tad too sweet for my taste; other tasters were more enthusiastic. First time I've tasted this wine thanks to my friend Loek.
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Needed a good hour to hour and a half decanted to let the fruit come out. Was exactly what we expected. Drank just in time. Subtle fruits and long finish. Drank well the whole time.
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Has all of the components of a great wine, but in the end it just doesn't taste good enough for a big score. In fact, nose and initial flavor are great, but somehow the finish is off. It's not a skunky, flawed or over the hill flavor, just not what we want.
U Club selection - dense and meaty, dark berrys, a bit if evergreen, some earth and mineral. Definitely consistent with other reviews, the wine is matured and ready.
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Deep crimson appearance, with an intoxicating bouquet that stops you in your tracks. Ripe, mature blackberry, cherry, cassis, and chocolate aromas are laced with back notes of fresh thyme, tarragon, new leather, and wintergreen. The palate is rich, decadent, and unctuously seductive, unfurling waves of layers, textures, and flavors that feature a core of black fruit, sultry spices, sweet tannin, and an underlying element of umami. This has glorious length, balance, and intensity. Gains tremendous traction on the long, medicinal finish. A beautiful, beautiful wine.
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Dark brick in color, three hour decant Black cherry, woody hints, pipe tobacco, leather, chocolate Nutmeg/cloves, saltiness, blueberries, red licorice. Palate is like nose. This is a sophisticated wine with lots of depth. A great journey.
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Refined. Old world in structure. Not too complicated or with a lot aof depth. Very enjoyable and nearing its end. Time to drink the others through 2014.
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I enjoyed this wine, which seems to be at its peak. Minty nose, black cherry fruit, lively yet somehow lacking in any kind of really distinctive character. Very good but not exceptional.
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Excellent. Dark fruit, earthy leather and some cedar. Finish just kept going. Blew away the Staglin 1997. I think this wine will hold up for several more years but there is no point waiting.
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WCC 2000 Bordeaux Blind (Dorato's Resturant, Guilderland, NY): [Double decanted at 1pm.] More flamboyant and fruit-forward nose. Silky and soft in the mouth. Appealing but short compared to 2 (2000 du Tertre). This ringer didn't fool anyone. Lots of folks guessed it was from California. Tied for #3 Group WOTN.
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My goodness ... Cork fell apart on opening, but the wine was in great shape. Great fuit upon opening and smoothed out classically after a few hours in the decanter. Was a show stopper at dinner.
Not sure it will improve much with more cellaring - so drink up.
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this wine still has a lot of life to it. first tasted it right after opening and it was a hit, decanted it and had it over a two hour period and it just got better and better
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My last bottle! Still tasted lively and of chocolate covered cherries. Had along with the 2002 and 2009 offering and this was right there with the 2002. Really liked it. Finish was great--kept going and going
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I have never had a bottle of Insignia I didn't enjoy and this 2000 was lip smacking good. Lots of fruit with aromas of cherry pie and dark chocolate. Decanted for 2 hours and second day was just as tasty.
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What a tempting glass of wine. Some chocolate, sweet spices, sweet licorice, soft tannin and beautiful acidity. Very smooth, luxurious and complex. Completely ready now and no real hurry. Delicious wine.
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My last bottle of the 2000. Like saying goodbye to an old friend. I won't repeat my previous review. This one is a family favorite. Decanted for two hours.
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We love this wine! Deep, deep glass staining red in color. Packed with dark red fruit. Big nose and silk on the palate. A long pleasant finish that leaves you longing for more. Be sure to decant for at least an hour before drinking.
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Decanted and aired for one hour. Dark garnet in color. Big nose that screams Insignia. Nicely balanced and aged well. For my palate this wine is probably at its peak and will be sliding downhill from here. The back palate was very average and did not have the depth of other vintages.
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Beginning to turn to the other side. Starts out with lots of fruit and really comes on strong, then drops off massively. If you have it, drink it. Not very comes but very straight forward. Drank with food. After an hour of decanting, started to become tired.
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- Garnet color with fast forming legs. It's balanced with a medium/full body. Satin-Like texture with a long finish - Fabulous wine. Bright red fruit, cassis, slight tobacco, with an impression of sweetness as it hits the front of the tongue. Flavors immediately change to a mouth filling Bordeaux blend with ripe cherry and berry flavors. The long finish is preceded by flavors or each of the individual grapes that make up this wonderful wine. Almost no sediment at all but decanted for an hour, during which this wine opened to perfection. Still a young tasting wine.
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Absolutely amazing, with loads of black currants, cassis backed by caramel, molasses and hints of anise. This shows impeccable balance, focus and concentration. The fruit is delivered by round, polished and dusty tannins that explode on your palate leaving you with a mouthful of delicious juicy fruit. An exceptional wine from a tough vintage and it's drinking perfect right now. - July, 2012 (JD) - 95+ POINTS
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Its 12 years old and still tasting young and refreshing!! Dark fruit, think purple plums, blackberries, black cherries on the nose and palate with soft tannins and great balance. For one of the 'milestone' birthdays ... me, not the wine ... although 12 years seems like a lot for wine ... this was a wonderful present. Thanks!!
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Big nose of ripe dark fruit, cocoa and tobacco. The palate was thin initially, but really grew after 30 minutes. Showed best after 2hrs with a double decant. Very dark purple with almost no bricking. Typical insignia style with plenty of dark fruits and earthy chocolate notes. Soft tannins. Secondary notes are starting to show. Some detectable heat on the finish, but overall a nice wine for a 2000.
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A blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc and 1% Malbec. Last tried about 3 years ago, when I described it as “A funny wine.” My how time has helped it. Cassis, blackberry jam, sweet tobo, saddle leather, mint and a finish of lengthy vanilla. A soft, round, silky mouthfeel. The tannins are soft and round, but it may have some (little) cellar time ahead of it. Entering peak stage? I haven’t a clue. Heavy sediment. With grilled beef strip steaks and baked potato. Recommended leaning to Highly Recommended.
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Wasn't my favorite of the evening as perhaps it's palate was overshadowed by richer wines. This bottle was almost feminine and perhaps slightly corked as there was a mustiness to it that never completely blew off. A bit edgy on the finish as the tannins were grainy. Fruit was mature and there was tobacco.
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Popped & poured after 1995 Opus - could have let breath for a bit, but dark purple color with loads of plum & dark fruits - a hint of cocoa or chocolate; outstanding long finish - great wine!
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Decanted an hour prior to dinner. Deep garnet color, light meniscus. Aromas of lavender, violets, plum, old leather, anise and chocolate. Well-integrated, with flavors of blackberry liqueur, plums, chocolate and anise. Hints of cedar and leather as well. 91-92 pts; drink now.
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Oh yeah. It had been almost two years since I had tasted this, and it's definitely improved. Opened - not decanted - about twenty minutes before tasting, so it naturally evolved and opened over the course of the next ninety minutes or so. Big time currants on the nose and on the palate, along with assorted black fruits, cedar, and a hint of sage. Full bodied with extremely fine tannins. Excellent finish and an overall feel of elegance and sophistication. Terrific wine that should hold or even improve for a few more years.
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- Brick color with fast forming legs and aromas of blackberry. It's in total harmony and has flavours of cedar and black pepper with a full body. Bright texture with a medium finish - This wine is as reliable as ever. Although some loss of tannins, it remains extremely well balanced and fruit as lucious as can be. Was as enjoyable before dinner as it was with the rib steak. Wish I could have this wine every day. Definitely put this one in my top ten wines.
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Great fruit, nice dark color nose is a mix of cherry and cassis with chocolate and oak. Taste is bold but smooth some tannins remain but a very nice wine. Love Insignia
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Classic Insignia aroma and flavor profile, beautifully mellowed by time in bottle. Decanted for an hour and then enjoyed every sip. Still standing strong after 11 years and offering-up rich red fruits, layers of complexity, and a strong, lasting finish. Pleased to have a few more.
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Beautiful wine to celebrate 33 yr anniversary. Outstanding floral nose. Bold with long finish. Modest tannins suggest this still has time - good thing since I have 5 bottles left
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Decant for 45 mins. - dark purple color with black fruits and nice oak - opened up nicely; excellent finish - another great Insignia (went well with the delmonicos on the grill!)
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Fully mature excellent Napa cabernet sauvignon. Nose was a beautiful blend of ripe dark cherries, cocoa, and oak, with a touch of eucalyptus. Full mouth feel throughout. Palate is filled with perfectly blended ripe dark cherries, blackberries, cocoa, mature light tannin, and a hint of earth. Wonderful long finish that lingers with dark berries, tannin, and eucalyptus.
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Mellow with lots of cinnamon, sweetish round fruit. Friendly, soft with a bit of tar. Good complexity. Very nice, ready to drink now and for the next 5 years. B
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Opened up a 1.5ml for New Years eve. Decanted it for 90 minutes and it was huge. Heavy berries. I had it with lamb and it was amazing. Definitely at it peak right now. Very long finish and amazingly smooth.
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I was worried about this wine after reading some reviews stating this wine may be in decline. I want to say that there is still a couple of cellar years left! Great wine still with good finish. Not overly strong tannins. Odors of chocolate, cherries and leather are still distinctive. Gave it 45 minutes and was fantastic with Beef Wellington.
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Dark color with a nose of cassis, some oak, spices and espresso. Taste is balanced with no tannins and loads of fruit. Linger is a good minute. Excellent wine that can still age
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Gloriously aromatic, violets intermingled with tobacco and black cherries. On the palate, definitely a drop off in the fruit over the past year, although this wine probably suffered by being consumed alongside a much bigger, bolder Malbec.
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The nose is like a dinner plate with steak, butternut squash, and dark blackberries with stems intact all showing through. It delivers full and juicy fruit along with structure that builds slowly and dries fully. The fruit is lovely all the way across. It's big and still clean. A tasty bit of butterscotch appears later in the experience.
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Decanted for one hour. Stunning nose of black fruits, mint, cedar and spice. Dark purple plum in color. Delicious mature palate of cassis, blueberry, plum and a touch of earth and oak. No tannin. Should hold up well for several more years. Drunk side by side with 04 Montelena Estate which was a much bigger wine and still very tannic. Considering the off vintage for CA, the Phelps is a beauty and drank perfectly with veal medallions in fresh porcini mushroom sauce.
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Decanted 90 min. Loads of red fruit, cassis, and a good amount of wood....not so much typical oak, more of a rough wood, or maybe a bit of cedar. I don't feel that the wine is any sort of decline as some notes are indicating. This wine was drinking very well, definitely has some years left, as the tannins were still firm with a dry finish. From a QPR perspective this is not the best, but if you forget how much you paid for it, it's much more enjoyable!
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Dark color, spice and black sweet fruit on the nose. Very intense fruit with spice and tar on the palate. Sweet chewy tannins on the finish. Not a stellar year from Napa, this wine exceeded expectations, especially since it was purchased at a silent auction in the summer of 2003...provenance unknown.
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Decanted for about an hour. I have been a little worried about this because of reports that is is over the hump. Maybe, but I am not the least worried about the 2 that I have left in the cellar!. Wonderful candy and tobacco nose and palate of strong sweet mocha and black fruit. All of it summing up to a long finish to enjoy! Happy camper!
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I'm perhaps being a bit critical, due to the stellar lineup of the evening. I had one of these about 3 years ago and can say that the wine is definitely NOT going to improve with any more time (there was noticeably more intrigue in that previous bottle). The aromatics were nice, though muted; as was the fruit-component and although the acidity and tannins were arguably in balance, the total package was somewhat underwhelming. If you got any, drink it!
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Opened about 1/2 hour before tasting. Shy nose at first, along with muted flavors. Started opening up about an hour later, revealing a nice cabernet nose. Medium body, with mostly black cherries on the palate. Somewhat disappointing lack of complexity, but otherwise conveyed an impression of elegance and refinement. In spite of the vintage, this should hold for a few more years.
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When first opened, seemed to be aged wine. hmmmm. After it had been open for a few hrs, it got better. We drank side by side with a 1997 Pride Reserve Cab, and that wine was over the top, still young. Rather disappointing with the Insignia.
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Pop and pour at BLU Kitchen, Jackson Hole; not decanted. This wine is very impressive for the vintage, stands next to Shafer HSS for the best bottle of the vintage IMO. We found that this well-balanced wine began to fall apart after 90 mins opened, but the balance indicates that this wine could still be consumed over several years and that there's no need to drain your cellar if you still have some of this. Unfortunately, this was our last bottle.
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wonderful wine, decanted for 3 hours before drinking. This was a Magnum bottle. Nose was dark cassis with spice notes of licorice, coffee, some oak. Taste was balanced with some tannins but overall a stellar wine
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Spectacular stuff for a substandard year. Tannins totally integrated. Concentrated and dense. Plenty of sweet black cherry fruits. It would be fun to taste this head to head with some of the more heralded vintages as we really liked this tonight- WOTN.
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It is interesting. One strange benefit of a cellar is the habits I form down there occasionally teach me something. Today I learned sometimes the things that my habits teach me are wrong. Often, I reference CellarTracker before heading to the cellar, just as frequently I go to the cellar and simply pull a bottle.
When I pull bottles, I avoid California reds from the years 1996, 1998, 2000 and 2002. I gravitate toward the 2005, 2004, 2001 and recently 2007. I am biased toward young Cabs. And I really avoid 2000 and 2002. This 2000 Joseph Phelps tosses all that aside. Chalky, smooth and sophisticated sexy in a Dean Martin and Tom Jones manner. It starts soft and smooth but the finish lasts forever and by the time it is done there are knickers on the floor and everyone is dancing.
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Decanted for an hour. Went up against an '03 Justin Isosceles & an '03 Montelena Napa. I picked the Isosceles as WOTN, while one of my friends chose the Insignia, which was a bit heavy on the oak for me, while the Isosceles seemed more balanced. The '05 Insignia was the most hedonistic wine I've ever tasted, but it's unfair to compare the two vintages.
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FROM MAGNUM. Very dark garnet. Initialy closed, but opened up rather fast after being decanted, and reached its peak after 3 hours. Gorgeous and extremely complex nose with licorice, creme de cassis, cedar, spices and hints of earthy aromas. Full-bodied, ultra-soft and smooth with textbook velvety tannins, opulent fruit and moderate, yet adequate acidity. Very long finish. A beauty. At its peak now, will drink well for another 10 years. This is supposedly a poor Napa vintage, but this wine is great at this stage.
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I was surprised by this wine, and it shows that while 2000 Napa as a vintage is not well regarded, there were outliers. This had a large nose of bright dark fruit with some earth, cedar and leather notes. Very nice. On the palate this had great blackberry and kirsch flavors; this wine aslo had a noticable green, mostly green olive note that went well with the wine. While not my favorite example of Phelps' Insignia, this was quite enjoyable and the wood and tannins have come together in this bottle, and it is ready. 50+5+13+16+6
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Impressively structured and dense. Aromas of spice, blackberry and cedar. Dense dark fruit with a firm edge on the palate. Hard to believe this is a 2000.
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CT London Event (Hide Bar, Bermondsey, London): A very nice wine with lots of stuffing in it - I think this is absolutely bursting with potential. Nose was rich with toasty oak, black peppercorns, bramble and lots and lots of dark fruit. Clearly extracted palate, with mouth coating but very fine tannins adding a very strong sense of structure of rich plums and cassis flavours. Lovely balance in spite of the great fruit weight though. I was very impressed. Lots of fruit at the finish as well, which was long, very long in fact, and powerful to the very end. An excellent wine.
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A blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc and 1% Malbec. A funny wine. I’ve not tried the ‘00 for many years - probably at a futures tasting in ‘02, so I was not sure what to expect. It takes some time for the wine to open; maybe 30 minutes or so. The nose is cassis, blackberry jam, currants, leather, tobacco and a dusty quality that I refer to as dusty rose. The attack is big, as you expect from this wine, but, initially, it faded on the mid-palate to ...... nothing. The finish just disappeared before it arrived. A very soft, round mouthfeel on the attack that dries to dust. Eventually, the finish showed up, but was still short. By the time the finish joined the party, it added mocha to the mix and mint was in the mid-palate, but so was signs of dill. This is a wine the reminds me of an inexperienced lover. Another data point suggesting that Cali Cabs of late don’t age. An unexpectedly significant load of sediment. Standing future bottles up for several days will be necessary. With pan seared aged ribeyes in a mushroom sauce. Recommended with reservations.
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Excellent experience with a wine from a rare challenged vintage out of Napa. Toward dispatching the deficiencies of this wine quickly, it was obviously a wine of lesser vibrancy, depth and sophistication as compared to the award winning 2002 and other "peak year" vintages, the 2000 enjoyed this evening suffers only by comparison. As it was the only wine we opended this evening, it proved itself to be a stand out. Then again, if one were to consider it in comparison to most other cabernet heavy Napa offerings from the 2000 vintage, this wine is a star.
As for the wine itself, the body is supple with some truly lush carmel and eathy tones, yet on the whole remains light, effervescent and playful. I believe that the janus-like fusion of opposite impulses revealed themselves in such balance as an aspect of this wine's age. I expect we'll be finishing our remaining bottles over the next few months with all of the elated expectation of a child chasing visions of ice cream inspired by Good Humor's melody hypnotically infusing the dusky breezes of July. Ah yes, the wine. Pardon my carrying on, but I was - and remain - delightfully surprised as I had expected this wine from this vintage to have turned flabby and flat. This wine was anything but that.
In the end, my surprise and delight must find proportion, context, within which an attempt at objective measure can be rendered. Thus my rating of a 91 for this bottle. Subsequent samplings from this vintage may induce me to at a point, no more, to my judgment. Stay tuned as time will tell.
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Very nice bottle. It wasn't up to the 1999 Insignia that I was fortunate enough to enjoy last year (didn't quite have the same level of fruit), but great nonetheless. Silky smooth tannins.
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Next to the last bottle. Not nearly as interesting as earlier bottles. Berries and mocha flavors, a bit muted with a nice nose. The tannins have resolved to a nice, smooth finish. I think these need to be consumed as they are not going to improve. Still for the $50 pricetag these are a bargain today.
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Wonderfully complex with chocolate, red and black fruits, wood, leather and earth. This wine was everything I expected. It was especially wonderful to toast our new president with this bottle.
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My last bottle of an 'off year.' Still lots of fruit, and the finish holds well. For those who still have this vintage, it should last at least 5 more years.
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incredible. Had with the tasting menu at Heron's for Kathy's bday. Tightly wound to start but progressed beautifully through the night. Incredible well balanced. did not disappoint!
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Our last bottle of Insignia from 2000 was no disappointment. I previously had this wine about a month ago so the details are nearly the same this time around. The only thing I will reiterate is that the drinking window on this wine is wide open. No need to wait on it so enjoy it now while it is at its best.
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My second bottle of the 2000 was really excellent. Smooth, balanced, no aggressive tannins. I'm always amazed that, even as the blend changes each year, Insignia is always identifiably distinctive. I guess that is what terroir means...
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Brought to dinner at Langley's in Windsor, CA. While the restaurant most certainly underperformed, the wine did not. This is a very typical Insignia with excellent scents of creme de cassis, vanilla and a bit of ground coffee beans. Flavors are wonderfully smooth and well integrated with great fruit, depth and a lingering finish that has only a hint of tannins. For 2000, this wine is really quite exceptional. I would compare it to the 98 vintage. My only criticism, and this is not necessarily a bad thing, is that while other vintages of Insignia from a better growing season usually end up with the stuffing for putting a bit of age on them, this vintage is drinking very well now but probably will not last for more then another 5 years before it starts to peeter out on you.
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Decanted for 4 hours. Very dark, brooding, cherry with a bit of leather, mostly up front with a short an unexciting finish. Tanins a bit to sharp at the start but tempered with food. Okay, but not an attention getter.
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Nice cab, but I was expecting more from Insignia, even for 2000. Has all the components of a good cab, but needs to be decanted for about an hour. Can also benefit from a few more years in the bottle.
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No real signs of aging, except perhaps slightly muted fruit and a strong oak/structure component sticking out. Very good for a 2000. Not a long distance runner, however.
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Dark brooding red showing no signs of age. Great nose of cedar, chocolate , cherry, and a bit of tobacco leaf/cigar box. Very smooth on the palate. Great balance and structure. Tannins are there but mostly in the background. They become a little more pronounced after a couple of hours making me think that this should do quite well for at least 5- 7 more years. Went great with the steaks. Flavors are similar to the nose. 15+ second finish. Drinking very nicely now but I think will improve as more secondary aromas and flavors emerge.My first Insignia and was very pleased.
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this show very nicely. very nice nose of cassias, vanilla, black cherry. nice balance mouth, full bodied but soft. fruit forward with a little complexity and a nice finish. good showing in a toufh year
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Part of 2000 , 2001 , 2002 mini vertical . Shockingly good , out of the gate it was my favorite with a great nose and great dark fruit and smoke & leather . It was the first of the three to start to fall apart
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Modest but dark nose of chocolate, cassis, coffee grind and a hint of oak. Palate was incredibly silky with deep, expansive flavors. Tannins are nearly resolved. Finish is med to long. A very classy wine (relative to its region of origin).
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Was pleasantly surprised based on the vintage. Nose was a knockout combo of chocolate and cherries maybe some plum. Full blodied and plush. Not at all what I expected from this 2000. Flavors broaden out and linger with the smooth finish. Still has acidic backbone with receding tannins. Couple more years left but is drinking very nicely right now.
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This is at peak now. Without a decant, the nose is full of creamy chocolate and olive. The palate is silky and smooth with cassis, black olive, and pencil lead. The fruit is round and the finish long and balanced with fine tannins. This shows the pedigree of this wine.
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dark purple color. the nose on this wine is gorgeous, even after being opened for only three hours. vanilla leads the way, but there's also blackberries, currants, toast and a bit of mint. rich on the palate, but i was surprised by how approachable this was. very silky with round tannins and a gorgeous, plush mouthfeel. blackberry, currant, coffee, smoke and vanilla fountain soda. the fruit is lush and pure, like right from the farmer's market. and the oak accentuates it, it doesn't overpower it. this is a great effort that i imagine will be more expressive in a few years.
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Decanted 2 hrs. Beautiful cassis, coffee, hint of mint on nose. Somewhat muted fruit on palate, oak starting to dominate. Smooth tannins. I bought this in 2007 (for $70/bottle!) so not sure where this is in its evolution- I'm probably going to drink my other bottles within the next year or so.
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Drank while watching "Sideways", after a 90 minute decant. My score's a bit lower since I've been trying better wines and/or better vintages (in this case the latter). Still a great value, relatively speaking.
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Drank at Merisol with Becky and Alec. Same notes as previous bottles, smoke, chocolate cherries and cedar. Smooth wine with a nice finish. This is not the best Insignia but continues to be a solid choice for the price. Awesome nose.
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Thirty Years of Phelps Insignia (1974 through 2004): The nose is a very similar to the 1998 featuring black fruit, oak and vanilla. Clumsy. The taste simple with dark fruit tons of oak. A little hot on the finish. I'm not optimistic for the future of this one either.
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Sharp blueberry and coffee fragrances that light the senses. Layers of flavours starting with bright berries, then licourish, then leathers, then sweet fruit. Fantastic wine.
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Drank from a mag. Very good balance with great dark fruit, coffee and some mocha. Drank with a 2000 Monte Bello, could not differentiate between the two.
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Plum & Blueberry on nose and flavor profile. Very enjoyable. Will continue to improve for another 5 years. Well made wine with perfectly integrated tannins. Would decant for 1 hour if you have the time. Enjoyable!
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Decanted for an hour. Color darkening around the edges. I wish I tried this upon release to see how it has evolved. Great aromatics on this, offering black fruits, cassis, mint, chocolate and just a touch of spicy oak. This filled out with some air, initially missing a mid-palate - this firmed up nicely and gained a seamless structure with about 1-2 hours in the decanter. Silky, long finish. I enjoyed this more than a 2002 Insignia out of 375, perhaps due to bottle age?
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I was able to get my hands on three more bottles. This time I paired it with assorted breads & crackers, with goat cheese spread & three kinds of purple olives. Just a fantastic wine.
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have had 3 of these in the last 3-4 months and have loved it every time. rich layers of flavor / aroma in a balance of tanin and acidity that makes for great drinking.
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The Phelps had perhaps the brightest sweetest cherry fruit of any of these wines and exhibited a nice cedery oak that blended in as well. This was a good bottle, but as with past experiences with Insignia it was good, but stuck to a very classic formula for CA cab.
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This is a wonderful bottle of wine. I agree that it drinks better than the 99. It's fuller richer and shows more fruit. It is the only 2000 vintage cab from Cali that I have really enjoyed and the price I was able to get it at was reasonable. I will have to try one of the premium vintages of this wine to really get better understanding of just how good this can be. It certainly shines in the off years.
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Rainwater At Ketner; what a great bottle of wine - for my taste (not the best around) better than the 99. This wine can age for a few more years but is delicious now. I will try to get more.
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My WOTN. We tasted this along side a '99 Silverado & a '94 Napa Silver Oak. It lights up your mouth with notes of chocolate, liquorice & black fruit, and a lingering finish. I decanted for about 30 minutes before it started opeing up, it's really drinking well right now. I wish I had more than one bottle left.
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Tried another bottle as our New Year's bottle was corked. Opened and decanted for 2 hours prior to dinner.A bit slow to open and a bit tannic to start, really started to sing with a ribeye off the grill. Muted nose of lead pencil and black fruit. Smooth tannins, tastes of dark cherries, graphite and anise. Continues to be a solid wine.
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Opened but not decanted, and allowed to sit for 90 mins. A nicely-balanced wine, especially for the vintage, but lacking the depth or nuances of a typical Insignia or top flight calicab. After this had been open 3 hrs the finish became even more brief; I'll plan to drink my remaining bottles over the next 3+ years.
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Not decanted. Berries and wood on the nose, deep purple color, full flavors of berries and dry licorice, medium finish with noticeable tannins. Very, very nice!
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Decanted for three hours, poured back into the bottle for one hour. Consumed with grilled steaks, sweet corn, fresh tomatoes, etc. I was very pleased given the bad things I had heard about this vintage. Pleasant, medium nose with fruit and floral scents. Very nice, fresh palate with cassis, red fruit, some licorice. Tannins resolved, fully integrated. I think this is drinking well right now and probably won't greatly improve. I have a general preference for Old World style wines, but this makes a strong case for New World style.
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Decanted for one hour and served with a sizzling ribeye at Ruth Chris. Awesome wine with chocolate, tobacco , plum notes with a fairly long finish. Outstanding wine with red meat!!
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Solid wine, especially given the context of the vintage. Good color - purple and red. Hints of cedar and red fruit on the nose. On the palate plenty of red fruit - strawberries and raspberries - and finely integrated tannins. Full-bodied. Medium-length finish.
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Gorgeous wine. Opened up to sweet vanilla, berry, vanilla oak, and sweet mocha. The Insignia is almost never bad, and for a mediocre year, this is an extraordinary wine.
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Cab Lovers of NYC Insignia Vertical (Zoe): This is a nice wine. A good job for a bad vintage, but it's really nothing to write home about. Smooth on the entry it fades a little on the finish. Good fruit, but not much of it. Crushed mint. Solid if unspectacular.
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Dark purple body and bright red around the edges. Flowers and sweet berries on the nose. Exceptional balance and mouthfeel. Burnt bittersweet chocolate, red ripe fruit. Can't go wrong with this one.
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Not decanted. Fruit and wood on the nose, dark color, deep flavors of cedar and dried fruit, soft tannins, medium finish. Highly enjoyable. There is not doubt this is an Insignia, but it is not as concentrated as 2001 and 2002, and thus suffers ONLY in comparison.
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Bought a case on a deal - surprised at the lackluster reviews on this. The smoothness and evolving flavors were exceptional. One of the best in my cellar. Going back for another case.
--guy
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Berries and oak on the nose. Deep red-purple color. Concentrated taste of dark fruit, but not as impressive as the 2001 or 2002. 10 sec finish. Overall very tasty.
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Right out of the bottle this had a lot of vegatable characteristics, with bell pepper and grass leaving a real bad taste. Did not decant at first out of anxiety over the relative "thinness" of the wine, I let this breathe uncorked for an hour, then gave it 45 mins in the decanter. Improved considerably, and another hour later it was an excellent wine. Good fruit and tannic integration, with some spices, light oak and vanilla. Still has a fairly short finish, but drinking very well with proper time and handling.
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A solid matched with peppercorn tenderloin. Excellent ripe fruits, nicely oaked, still dry tannins on t he finnish. More worthy than many of the comments on t his wine. A solid value at PA pricing.
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[4953] No decanting, drack over 2 hours. Inky. Nose of smoke, cherries, mint. Medium bodied not a huge wine by Insignia standards. On the palate, chocolate, mint, smoke, cassis, cherry licorice. Bordeaux in style. Pleasantly surprised by how good it was. Better than the Ladera. Though it was lacking somewhat in structure; so drink now.
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Phelps Insignia Vertical 15+ Years: Vertical tasting. Really great aromatics display lots of dark fruit and a wonderful perfumed, floral character. Big blackberry fruit follows through on the palate,still good structure, particularly given the vintage reputation. Finish shows the fruit nicely with some nice interesting earthy touches.
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Tasted double blind with my tasting group. Deep ruby with nice aromatics of cassis, chocolate and a marked note of licorice. Full to medium bodied with nice texture, fine tannin and a fruity finish. This is a surprisingly good wine from the forgetable 2000 California vintage. I correctly guessed an elegant California cab, but missed the vintage.
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Inky black. Medium nose of very dark fruit and smoke. First impression of flavor is that it does have an element of the typical Insignia profile. Very tannic. No, make that *very* tannic, and harsh tannin at that. It really overpowers the fruit. The flavor is of a really dark brooding nature, and very smoky and spicy. Relatively short finish. 87 pts.
Day 2...
Okay, a gremlin came and swapped my bottle out over night.
Seriously, this seems like a very different wine today.
It's still pretty tannic, but now I'm getting a nose of sweet cherries and roses, and it seems like a fairly smooth drinker now. All of the smokiness is gone. The finish seems a bit longer, but still not long by any means.
Not a stellar Insignia, but still pretty nice.
91 pts
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Classic cassis, black cherry, darker fruits with some vanilla and green traces. Nicely balanced sweetness. Medium-bodied with coarser tannins reflective of the vintage. ***/5
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Dark ruby/black colour. Aromas of black licorice, smoke, blackcurrant, charred wood, and graphite. Full-bodied, tannins integrating nicely, showing oak, licorice, and blackcurrant notes on the palate. Moderate-length finish, 30-35s, with plum and blackcurrant.
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We loved this wine! Full and complex, what a great (mostly) Cab should be. Drank in the hospital room after the birth of our 3rd child, as a celebration. Sure made the hospital food taste better!
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Sampled all of Phelps wines as presented to our group by Phelps representative. This wine stole the show, full bodied, dark cherry, subtle hint of licorice, cedar and cassis nose, so well integrated and balanced. Hard to believe this is considered an off vintage. Complimented our sirloin tips perfectly.
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Tasted at the WIML off-line at Speakeasy Supper Club. Bright purple color. Minty, red raspberry, and vanilla flavors and aromas. Very bright and vibrant on the attack. A bit more candied than most Insignias, a trait that seems consistent with the vintage. Enjoyable now. Drink over the next three years to catch its playful fruit profile. It does not seem to have the skeletal structure or substance to age and improve into the next decade.
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Wow - this is a big wine. Admittedly this was from two double-mags (at a company Christmas party), so it's probably aged almost not at all. Dark color, heady nose of sage, cedar, dark berries, hints of pencil. In the mouth this wine played it a bit close to the vest at first, but after an hour of decanting and another 45 minutes in the glass it started to loosen its grip on intense raspberry and currant, bits of leather and licorice, and some other dark, roasted, extracted flavors (think red wine sauce reduction).
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Others liked this wine more than I did. The nose was boring with caramel and loads of oak. The palate is very tannic and short. There isn't enough fruit to match. This may not get much better.
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Seattle Tasting Group does 22 years of Phelps Insignia (Bellevue, WA, USA): This is somewhat herbal with some caramel. The wood really lays on top of this wine right now. It does have very nice cassis with lovely structure, but the finish is somewhat astringent. This is not integrated like the 1999 or the 2001.
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This is pretty dang nice for a 2000 CA wine. Loads of engrossing baked blueberries, vanilla, plums and caramel in the nose. The finish vibrates with ripe acidity and tannins, but is certainly drinkable to those unwilling to deny their gratification. Red currants, plum and graphite.
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Tasted at the Parsec Cup #7 event in Frisco, CO on 5/3/03. Free The Grapes brought this wine to me as my two bottle share of the Insignia from the Phelps Preferred Club, membership which we share. I believe the club price is $90.
This wine was tasted by all double blind. It was opened, but not decanted, while waiting for dinner to be prepared and served.
Very dark, almost inky black color. One of the tasters mentioned tar on the nose (I disagreed with that). I detected vanilla, oak and dark fruits. On the palate, licorice, vanilla and dark fruits. Creamy oak, with no midpalate hollowness. The finish showed more vanilla and oak, but not overwhelmingly so. Long finish.
For a wine this young, with no decanting, this wine was outstanding. Every taster agreed that it was outstanding. Still, I wondered what it might become with more air time, and/or age.
I will say that as much as I enjoyed the 98 Insignia, I believe this wine is a step up from that vintage. However, at a price of $90, I will not likely add to the lone remaining bottle.
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12/25/2023 - Htsnider417 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Color is still very intact with little rim variation. The nose had dried dark fruit, dried flowers, leather and dusty earth. On the palate the tannins have completely integrated leaving a touch of sweet fruit and similar notes as the nose. Tasting more like aged Bordeaux than Napa cab at this point. I do not think it will improve at this point. Goes to show what a quality producer can do in an off vintage. Thanks Eric!
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5/18/2023 - up4wine wrote: 94 Points
An extremely well integrated package with oak and vanilla in proper perspective.
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3/8/2023 - cristalmania0813 wrote: 84 Points
부드러운 연유....
보르도와는 조금 다른 잘익은 레드 와인
부담스럽진 않았지만 그래도 전체적인 뉘앙스가 연우로 밖에 안느껴진 내 미각과 후각의 잘멋
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12/23/2022 - Bolzano2022 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Fresh, complex, medium plus body, beautiful nose of black fruits, leather, tobacco, chocolate. Not much sweetness.
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6/13/2022 - N.Bonaparte wrote: 92 Points
Nearly 4 years since my last bottle. This needed about 45 min in the glass to open up and held up great throughout the night. At this point, it’s hard to tell it’s new world. This is in its prime and should drink well for a decade.
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12/25/2021 - Rhodyrex Likes this wine: 95 Points
Still good in large format.
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12/25/2021 - Rhodyrex Likes this wine: 94 Points
96 - Lydia
85 - Jude
94.5 - Mike
0 - Michele
92 - Chrissy
94 - Jim
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11/25/2021 - Psychescalpel Likes this wine: 94 Points
I opened this wine with some trepidation, fearing it would be passed it's peak. I shouldn't have been concerned. Aerated and decanted for two hours, this wine is an intense crimson, with long lightly stained legs. The nose reveals scent of cherries and other dark fruits, honeysuckle and wildflowers. On the tongue cherries burst forth with exuberance, followed by plums, vanilla and BlackBerry chocolate truffles. Mouthfeel is full and syrupy, with finely integrated silky tannins and very balanced acidity. Finish is long, persisting up to 30+ seconds. My overall impression is that we taste in this vintage the technique and terrior that have made insignia a winner year after year. Given prior reviews, I feel this wine has just now begun peaking and probably will continue to drink well for another five years. A delicious and sensual wine. 94 pts.
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11/4/2021 - AlexHop Likes this wine: 94 Points
Gorgeous exceeds expectations for the vintage. Well balanced, expressive, perfect age. Not as complex as some of the top vintages but great.
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6/2/2021 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 94 Points
Beautiful color, Bursting with flavor, good palate feel, lasting finish. Drink
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5/17/2021 - dpohlman wrote: flawed
Bad cork
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4/25/2021 - spectrumphoto Likes this wine: 94 Points
Showing age at front of palatenwith a bitnof thinning but the middle through finish is spectacularly Insignia.
Nose of older Bordeaux funk which blows off after 10 minutes as up front tannins soften once air gets to them. Really a wonderful wine at 21.
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2/8/2021 - JDB's Cellar Likes this wine: 91 Points
The wine looks garnet colored. The legs are slow. There is heavy sediment in the bottle. It smells like prune, plum and vanilla.
The aromas pouring the first glass were rather pronounced. I was surprised at the vanilla. Likely from the oak barrel aging.
First sips were very good. Definitely a cab, but a wide range of flavors, more than I'm typically expecting. Was this because of its age? Hints of plum, subtle hints of black pepper, the vanilla aroma also carried through in the flavor. I sipped the glass over a couple of hours. It didn't really change much in character over that time.
Definitely a worthy bottle, that isn't as far past its peak as the 2005-2015 CT aging range suggests.
NB: The cork began to pull apart while opening. Be sure to put the screw all the way in to the cork before pulling.
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9/19/2020 - oldwines Likes this wine: 93 Points
In my cellar since release. Decanted at 5pm and tasted over 5 hours. 77% Cab, 18% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 1% Cab Franc, 1% Malbec. 13.9% ABV. Medium to dark saturated garnet color, just shy of opaque. Seems ripe but not overly so. Nose screams aged new oak with vanilla and sweet pipe tobacco. Nose shows black fruit and violets as well. Palate is silky smooth with good acidity, mostly integrated tannins. Palate has blackberry, cassis and blueberry fruit along with the earthy tobacco and vanilla. Finish is moderately long. Totally enjoyable but not a “Wow” wine. Nice with grilled bison rib-eye steaks. Probably in a good spot to drink from 750ml over the next several years if stored well but well into its drinking window at this point. Probably a good bit more time in larger formats.
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8/25/2020 - gr8vino wrote: 94 Points
Voluptuous and ready,. If you have this vintage, drink up.
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8/9/2020 - Cruzin wrote: 90 Points
Rich and Porty but dry with grippy green astringency on the finish. This is likely quite a nice effort given the vintage and its age. Worked quite well with some hard cheese but much less so on its own.
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8/8/2020 - drinknick31 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Just realized that I drank my last one last week. Very sad as this is not past its prime in any way. Drinking with the classic J Phelps style. Big legs and fantastic finish. Still more left here.
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5/2/2020 - Markzittman Likes this wine: 83 Points
Liked it but want blown away
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4/26/2020 - HabsFan360 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still do
Drinking well. Fine integrated tannins lots of black fruit and long finish.
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4/1/2020 - MichielV wrote: 89 Points
W mac&cheese on my b-day. I think this is over the hill. There was no oomph left. Good color, ok nose but just never came to life. Really too bad as my experience with other vintages was good. Try one of the other ones soon.
The mac&cheese was phenomenal. I love simple dinners!!
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3/10/2020 - Rider88 Likes this wine: 96 Points
For me opening anything pre 2006 can be a craps shoot. This did not disappoint. PNP and the dark fruit is still very strong on the nose. Taste was the same way but with a nice hint of herbs to it. I have 1 more bottle that I'm hoping will have the same results. I'm thinking this could still go another year or two, but definitely in a great place now.
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1/17/2020 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 93 Points
deep dark color, blackberry, smooth, mellow, delicious. good window to drink.
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1/12/2020 - beej Likes this wine:
Opened, poured, drank accompanied by lamb chops and foie gras.
This time no tannins up front but got chalkier over time.
Began a bit Kermit green which developed over time to rich bright and dark fruit.
Plenty of life left.
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9/27/2019 - Genghis88 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Epic lunch at Papi's Seafood and Oyster Bar
Thanks Andrew.
Dark burgundy, full bodied.
Dark plums, cigar box, soft leather
WOW! Silky smooth. Liquid richness. Structure is there, and everything is at its peak. Drink up now. What a wonderful wine.
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9/13/2019 - WineWright Likes this wine: 96 Points
Subtle nose with delicious fruit and a powerful finish. Just a beautifully made and aged wine. Posted new photo.
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8/15/2019 - retired_and_roving wrote:
Napa with friends; 8/15/2019-8/18/2019 (Napa, CA): This one was a bit of a disappointment for me, thought it would be more interesting but found this a bit one dimensional - dark fruited and earth but kind of flat without much of a finish. Perhaps the bottle was dead but just not great.
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5/13/2019 - Choop wrote:
Time to drink. Flat
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2/24/2019 - levinml wrote: 94 Points
Drank at annual birthday dinner with perhaps best prime rib ever. May have scored higher if I'd paid closer attention, but this was very enjoyable throughout dinner. Decanted around an hour or more before pouring, but never an off note.
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2/10/2019 - Tarpon222 wrote: 93 Points
Last bottle and enjoyed on a beautiful Sarasota night with filet. Everything was right about this wine. Cannot imagine it gets any better
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11/10/2018 - Loriblum3 wrote:
Unbelievable
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10/27/2018 - herbtcat wrote:
Sadly, well past it's optimal time. I'll need to get the 2001 opened soon.
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10/20/2018 - BernieMSY wrote: 92 Points
Nicely balanced.. Roast meat.
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10/13/2018 - BillPopeWine wrote:
Very good still, decant for 10+ minutes
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9/2/2018 - beej Likes this wine:
Decanted.
Tannins fell away quickly.
Lavender, chocolate cookie and braised meat dominate the palate.
Good unctuous feel w a medium Bordeaux finish.
Yummy yummy.
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7/22/2018 - N.Bonaparte wrote: 93 Points
30 min decant- even better then one year ago. Medium plus bodied, great fruit and balance. Certainly in prime and will improve if you prefer more Bordeaux’esque wine. Will be enjoyable for another 15 years. Great value.
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6/10/2018 - Rezy13 Likes this wine:
Mag Dinner Pampas Steakhouse: From 3L; very dark fruit, plum, cooked blackberry, slight eucalyptus, smoked meat, some earth; really solid aged Insignia, while this vintage didn't have the stuffing of great years this was quite enjoyable especially with the steak.
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4/14/2018 - Tambo835 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Hints of berry, chocolate and refine tannins
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1/25/2018 - skurtz Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted at Varka restaurant, this was ready to go from the start. Opulent nose of red fruit and leather, on the palate it was mature, medium bodied, classy and dry. Beautiful with my arctic char and steamed asparagus.
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12/25/2017 - Abanker Likes this wine:
still drinking well
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7/23/2017 - Mccrossanc wrote:
Still drinking well after decanting for an hour
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7/21/2017 - N.Bonaparte wrote: 93 Points
Needs about 90 min to open up. Full bodied, good balance, Bordeaux spice box. Probably in prime but will continue to hold for 10 plus years easily.
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5/31/2017 - Fftjr Likes this wine: 95 Points
Delicious. Nice fruit, raspberry and cherry, very balanced tannins. Perfect on the palate. Plenty of time left.
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5/20/2017 - skurtz Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted for 1h. Wow! Opulent red fruit and cedar nose, on the palate delicious milk chocolate, cherries, and a hint of an acid finish. Supremely well integrated, like silk. Smooth and classy. Tonight with ribeye, asparagus, and Spanish rice.
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3/12/2017 - Fftjr Likes this wine: 95 Points
Excellent. Balanced fruit and tannins! Drinking well, has plenty of life left!
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12/30/2016 - AlexHop Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very round and smooth. Beautiful flavors and long finish.
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11/3/2016 - l.blackwood@icloud.com wrote: flawed
Corked
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9/22/2016 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark color, brooding flavors, lovely on the palate and drank well with steak.
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8/29/2016 - jlgnml wrote: 88 Points
Finished the btl and off putting. Not sure Coravin helped. A bit disappointed.
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8/8/2016 - skurtz Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted for 2h at 1862 restaurant. This was a relatively quiet, understated CA cab. The nose was closed, cherry cordial. On the palate, cherries, minerals, oak and tannins for a med-long finish. Paired well with short ribs and wagyu sirloin.
This wine came in second place, head to head against 2000 Troplong Mondot, which had a bigger, more expressive nose. Similar palate intensity. In retrospect it was perhaps an unfair comparison, since 2000 was a good year for Bdx and less of a stellar showing in Napa... Both wines, however, were stored in similar (controlled) circumstances, from the same vintage, and similar price point.
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5/30/2016 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine: 95 Points
Drinking amazingly well right now - in a perfect drinking window and probably has at least another 3-5 good years left with proper cellaring but do not see further improvement / a further upside to continued cellaring and would thus encourage starting to drink up holdings. The price point is so high that even with that score this wine is not a particularly good QPR wine. Short ~ 30 minute decant and ideally would have decanted at least another 30 minutes. Paired perfectly with a smoked elk roast. Deep reddish - purple, medium - full bodied, soft mouth feel, very complex, well balanced and soft but long and lingering aftertaste. Muted nose of plum, blueberry, licorice and a hint of mint with primary flavors of very well balanced oak, fruit and cassis up front with a more complex mid - late palate earthy mushrooms, smoke and a hint of vanilla. Highly recommend this wine despite the formidable price point.
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5/15/2016 - Old Joe wrote: 94 Points
This wine is at its peak. Full bodied complex structure.
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5/8/2016 - Paradigm Media Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drinking beautifully. Layers of plum, boysenberry and eucalyptus on the nose. Dark, ripe fruits and balanced acidity. Long finish that adds an element of licorice at the end. This wine was delicious and in peak form.
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4/19/2016 - Paradigm Media Likes this wine: 94 Points
Surprisingly fresh with fruit still on the nose. We let this decant for about an hour, but only had enough for one glass as it was shared around the table. Ripe cherry and cigar. Great wine
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4/17/2016 - Tarpon222 wrote: 93 Points
Aging so gracefully. Wonderful.
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3/7/2016 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 93 Points
Coravin a big glass and let it sit for 1/2 hr. Initial nose of spice, some jam, big berry, wood. Taste was a bit light on the palate. Another 1/2 hour the wine built up some depth and character and had a good finish. Next try in a year or 2. Ancho marinated skirt steak, mushrooms and potato's.
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1/17/2016 - FransS wrote: 91 Points
Difficult wine, specially the first day, a whiff of VA, that disappeared quickly, cocoa, and sweetness in the bouquet, a 'cool' taste, but ending in the aftertaste with too much sweetness. The second day there was much more balance, with the sweetness far more integrated; the wine was more mellowed, but still a tad too sweet for my taste; other tasters were more enthusiastic. First time I've tasted this wine thanks to my friend Loek.
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12/25/2015 - mcole23 wrote: 92 Points
Needed a good hour to hour and a half decanted to let the fruit come out. Was exactly what we expected. Drank just in time. Subtle fruits and long finish. Drank well the whole time.
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11/6/2015 - gr8vino Likes this wine: 93 Points
This has always been one of my favorite wines. This bottle did not disappoint. Enjoyed with bone-in ribeye carved tableside
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10/18/2015 - steve9800 wrote:
- Brick color and aromas of blackberry.
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3/21/2015 - levinml wrote: 91 Points
Has all of the components of a great wine, but in the end it just doesn't taste good enough for a big score. In fact, nose and initial flavor are great, but somehow the finish is off. It's not a skunky, flawed or over the hill flavor, just not what we want.
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12/20/2014 - bwiggans Likes this wine: 93 Points
Loved it - very smooth. Went great with a grilled rib eye and with no food at all!!
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12/2/2014 - T.E.D. wrote: 92 Points
U Club selection - dense and meaty, dark berrys, a bit if evergreen, some earth and mineral. Definitely consistent with other reviews, the wine is matured and ready.
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11/25/2014 - Baron Slick wrote: 95 Points
Deep crimson appearance, with an intoxicating bouquet that stops you in your tracks. Ripe, mature blackberry, cherry, cassis, and chocolate aromas are laced with back notes of fresh thyme, tarragon, new leather, and wintergreen. The palate is rich, decadent, and unctuously seductive, unfurling waves of layers, textures, and flavors that feature a core of black fruit, sultry spices, sweet tannin, and an underlying element of umami. This has glorious length, balance, and intensity. Gains tremendous traction on the long, medicinal finish. A beautiful, beautiful wine.
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10/18/2014 - Genghis88 Likes this wine: 92 Points
CAD Thanksgiving @ Chez Carmichel's with the Gang
Dark brick in color, three hour decant
Black cherry, woody hints, pipe tobacco, leather, chocolate
Nutmeg/cloves, saltiness, blueberries, red licorice. Palate is like nose.
This is a sophisticated wine with lots of depth. A great journey.
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10/11/2014 - ctmilner Likes this wine: 93 Points
still wonderful. Lovely spice and black fruits.
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9/20/2014 - RDAwine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Really expected more but still very nice not going to do much more very integrated at this time qpr terrible but name showy
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9/16/2014 - ocfriday wrote: 94 Points
Unbelievable - the best of the case so far. Opened it 30 minutes before - decanted and drank. That is the key, does not need long decanting.
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8/21/2014 - Old Joe Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still outstanding
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5/27/2014 - Jump29 wrote: 90 Points
Decanted and let breathe for about an hour. Smooth but perhaps too smooth due to maturity.
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5/17/2014 - mcole23 wrote: 94 Points
This was outstanding. The 2007 Cabs are drinking really well now, especially Oakville Cabs. Decanted for 3 hours.
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4/21/2014 - ctmilner Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still drinking very well. Wonderful spice on the nose. Spice and black fruit on the pallet. Opened and decanted about 1.5 hours before drinking.
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2/9/2014 - ocfriday Likes this wine: 92 Points
Refined. Old world in structure. Not too complicated or with a lot aof depth. Very enjoyable and nearing its end. Time to drink the others through 2014.
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2/2/2014 - KPB wrote: 90 Points
I enjoyed this wine, which seems to be at its peak. Minty nose, black cherry fruit, lively yet somehow lacking in any kind of really distinctive character. Very good but not exceptional.
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12/24/2013 - JS1056 wrote: 93 Points
Excellent. Dark fruit, earthy leather and some cedar. Finish just kept going. Blew away the Staglin 1997. I think this wine will hold up for several more years but there is no point waiting.
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11/30/2013 - ocfriday Likes this wine: 92 Points
Old world mellow nose of licorice, espresso and currants. Medium to full body, lush mid-palate, and a sweet finish with no edges.
Drinking very nice and did not have the issues I had with the cork falling apart on my earlier bottle.
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10/27/2013 - levinml wrote: 92 Points
Perfectly excellent weeknight wine. Nice flavor, balance and length. Great value at $20/btl.
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10/3/2013 - kenv Likes this wine: 92 Points
WCC 2000 Bordeaux Blind (Dorato's Resturant, Guilderland, NY): [Double decanted at 1pm.] More flamboyant and fruit-forward nose. Silky and soft in the mouth. Appealing but short compared to 2 (2000 du Tertre). This ringer didn't fool anyone. Lots of folks guessed it was from California. Tied for #3 Group WOTN.
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10/1/2013 - ocfriday Likes this wine: 93 Points
My goodness ... Cork fell apart on opening, but the wine was in great shape. Great fuit upon opening and smoothed out classically after a few hours in the decanter. Was a show stopper at dinner.
Not sure it will improve much with more cellaring - so drink up.
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7/7/2013 - Old Joe Likes this wine: 93 Points
this wine still has a lot of life to it. first tasted it right after opening and it was a hit, decanted it and had it over a two hour period and it just got better and better
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6/28/2013 - joet626 Likes this wine: 92 Points
My last bottle! Still tasted lively and of chocolate covered cherries. Had along with the 2002 and 2009 offering and this was right there with the 2002. Really liked it. Finish was great--kept going and going
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2/28/2013 - ajcords wrote: 95 Points
I have never had a bottle of Insignia I didn't enjoy and this 2000 was lip smacking good. Lots of fruit with aromas of cherry pie and dark chocolate. Decanted for 2 hours and second day was just as tasty.
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1/4/2013 - Zweder Likes this wine: 94 Points
What a tempting glass of wine. Some chocolate, sweet spices, sweet licorice, soft tannin and beautiful acidity. Very smooth, luxurious and complex. Completely ready now and no real hurry. Delicious wine.
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12/25/2012 - Humblewineguy wrote: 94 Points
My last bottle of the 2000. Like saying goodbye to an old friend. I won't repeat my previous review. This one is a family favorite. Decanted for two hours.
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11/23/2012 - Humblewineguy wrote: 94 Points
We love this wine! Deep, deep glass staining red in color. Packed with dark red fruit. Big nose and silk on the palate. A long pleasant finish that leaves you longing for more. Be sure to decant for at least an hour before drinking.
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11/10/2012 - jbouchy wrote: 91 Points
Decanted and aired for one hour. Dark garnet in color. Big nose that screams Insignia. Nicely balanced and aged well. For my palate this wine is probably at its peak and will be sliding downhill from here. The back palate was very average and did not have the depth of other vintages.
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11/3/2012 - AllRed wrote: 90 Points
Cellar Diminishment Party (M/M thelostverse): Leather and black fruit qualities. Nice fruit on the palate. Medium finish. No reason to hold this any longer.
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8/25/2012 - Bcw1989 wrote: 89 Points
Beginning to turn to the other side. Starts out with lots of fruit and really comes on strong, then drops off massively. If you have it, drink it. Not very comes but very straight forward. Drank with food. After an hour of decanting, started to become tired.
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7/31/2012 - JPPeterson wrote: 94 Points
- Garnet color with fast forming legs. It's balanced with a medium/full body. Satin-Like texture with a long finish - Fabulous wine. Bright red fruit, cassis, slight tobacco, with an impression of sweetness as it hits the front of the tongue. Flavors immediately change to a mouth filling Bordeaux blend with ripe cherry and berry flavors. The long finish is preceded by flavors or each of the individual grapes that make up this wonderful wine. Almost no sediment at all but decanted for an hour, during which this wine opened to perfection. Still a young tasting wine.
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7/25/2012 - Joyceky wrote: 95 Points
Amazingly rich yet friendly wine
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7/22/2012 - InternationalWineReport wrote: 95 Points
Absolutely amazing, with loads of black currants, cassis backed by caramel, molasses and hints of anise. This shows impeccable balance, focus and concentration. The fruit is delivered by round, polished and dusty tannins that explode on your palate leaving you with a mouthful of delicious juicy fruit. An exceptional wine from a tough vintage and it's drinking perfect right now. - July, 2012 (JD) - 95+ POINTS
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7/8/2012 - Winiac wrote: 89 Points
Dark ruby color. The wine is full of creme de cassis and blue berries on taste but the cidity is missing.
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6/27/2012 - Parnelli wrote: 95 Points
Its 12 years old and still tasting young and refreshing!! Dark fruit, think purple plums, blackberries, black cherries on the nose and palate with soft tannins and great balance. For one of the 'milestone' birthdays ... me, not the wine ... although 12 years seems like a lot for wine ... this was a wonderful present. Thanks!!
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5/28/2012 - DarinC wrote: 91 Points
Big nose of ripe dark fruit, cocoa and tobacco. The palate was thin initially, but really grew after 30 minutes. Showed best after 2hrs with a double decant. Very dark purple with almost no bricking. Typical insignia style with plenty of dark fruits and earthy chocolate notes. Soft tannins. Secondary notes are starting to show. Some detectable heat on the finish, but overall a nice wine for a 2000.
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5/17/2012 - timewithwine wrote:
A blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc and 1% Malbec. Last tried about 3 years ago, when I described it as “A funny wine.” My how time has helped it. Cassis, blackberry jam, sweet tobo, saddle leather, mint and a finish of lengthy vanilla. A soft, round, silky mouthfeel. The tannins are soft and round, but it may have some (little) cellar time ahead of it. Entering peak stage? I haven’t a clue. Heavy sediment. With grilled beef strip steaks and baked potato. Recommended leaning to Highly Recommended.
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5/14/2012 - Vin De Rocks wrote: 96 Points
excellent with pepper/ butterscotch balanced on approach through finish, needed 30 min to open. Superb
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5/13/2012 - iamandyc wrote: 90 Points
Wasn't my favorite of the evening as perhaps it's palate was overshadowed by richer wines. This bottle was almost feminine and perhaps slightly corked as there was a mustiness to it that never completely blew off. A bit edgy on the finish as the tannins were grainy. Fruit was mature and there was tobacco.
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3/31/2012 - Tarpon222 wrote: 94 Points
Fantastic!!! Still full of mature fruit. Polished. Wonderful nose. Enjoyed with Ed and Karen with a great rib dinner.
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2/25/2012 - Night Train wrote: 93 Points
Consistent with my notes a couple months ago. Currants, elegance, polish, you name it. About as good as it gets.
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2/25/2012 - vinohnd wrote: 92 Points
A juicy bottle of California happiness, Bordeaux style. Fantastic. Stood out amongst 30 stellar bottles.
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2/18/2012 - RonniePiemonte wrote: 89 Points
Deep dark color. Powerful nose. Large, rich palate of tobacco and dark fruit. Well balanced finish.
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2/4/2012 - nogohawk wrote: 94 Points
Popped & poured after 1995 Opus - could have let breath for a bit, but dark purple color with loads of plum & dark fruits - a hint of cocoa or chocolate; outstanding long finish - great wine!
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1/24/2012 - mreinhard74@gmail.com wrote: 94 Points
Fabulous.
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1/6/2012 - JJN wrote: 94 Points
Fabulous
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12/31/2011 - AllRed wrote: 91 Points
Decanted an hour prior to dinner. Deep garnet color, light meniscus. Aromas of lavender, violets, plum, old leather, anise and chocolate. Well-integrated, with flavors of blackberry liqueur, plums, chocolate and anise. Hints of cedar and leather as well. 91-92 pts; drink now.
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12/23/2011 - norsktorsk wrote: 93 Points
Ah!
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12/16/2011 - Night Train wrote: 94 Points
Oh yeah. It had been almost two years since I had tasted this, and it's definitely improved. Opened - not decanted - about twenty minutes before tasting, so it naturally evolved and opened over the course of the next ninety minutes or so. Big time currants on the nose and on the palate, along with assorted black fruits, cedar, and a hint of sage. Full bodied with extremely fine tannins. Excellent finish and an overall feel of elegance and sophistication. Terrific wine that should hold or even improve for a few more years.
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12/4/2011 - Mccrossanc wrote: 91 Points
Very Good!
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12/4/2011 - Mccrossanc wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for an hour needed a little more time opened up nicely by the end.
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11/24/2011 - seacoastguy027 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted for 2 hours, delicious with nice tannins and blacberry flavor. Wonderful wine.
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10/29/2011 - ckleiman wrote: 91 Points
Lost fruit, depth, and complexity. Nice balance and finish.
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8/13/2011 - Gntloryntl Likes this wine: 94 Points
Very smooth...The tannins were soft, with notes of dark chocolate and earthy undertones.
This same night - 2000, 2001 Insignia; 2003 BV GDL, 2005, 2006 Isosceles; Beringer PR
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7/31/2011 - Decant it wrote: 92 Points
- Brick color with fast forming legs and aromas of blackberry. It's in total harmony and has flavours of cedar and black pepper with a full body. Bright texture with a medium finish - This wine is as reliable as ever. Although some loss of tannins, it remains extremely well balanced and fruit as lucious as can be. Was as enjoyable before dinner as it was with the rib steak. Wish I could have this wine every day. Definitely put this one in my top ten wines.
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7/3/2011 - mcneil7 wrote: 94 Points
Great fruit, nice dark color nose is a mix of cherry and cassis with chocolate and oak. Taste is bold but smooth some tannins remain but a very nice wine. Love Insignia
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6/21/2011 - artisan wrote: 92 Points
Classic Insignia aroma and flavor profile, beautifully mellowed by time in bottle. Decanted for an hour and then enjoyed every sip. Still standing strong after 11 years and offering-up rich red fruits, layers of complexity, and a strong, lasting finish. Pleased to have a few more.
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6/10/2011 - Tarpon222 wrote:
Beautiful wine to celebrate 33 yr anniversary. Outstanding floral nose. Bold with long finish. Modest tannins suggest this still has time - good thing since I have 5 bottles left
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5/31/2011 - sgamiz wrote: 96 Points
At chinois at main : Again a TERRIFIC bottle - this is, for me, the best year foir insignia - I could drink this every day (if I were so lucky)
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5/8/2011 - emf Likes this wine:
Enjoyed on Mother's day, just got better and better. Lots of fruit in the front with beautiful soft tannins.
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2/28/2011 - maryjmess wrote: 92 Points
Textbook Napa Cab with bright fruit and good acidity and integrated oak. Opened up nicely and did not disappoint.
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1/22/2011 - marlons34 wrote: 91 Points
Great nose, complexity and classic old world taste.
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1/22/2011 - nogohawk wrote: 94 Points
Decant for 45 mins. - dark purple color with black fruits and nice oak - opened up nicely; excellent finish - another great Insignia (went well with the delmonicos on the grill!)
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1/19/2011 - wehouck wrote: 97 Points
Fully mature excellent Napa cabernet sauvignon. Nose was a beautiful blend of ripe dark cherries, cocoa, and oak, with a touch of eucalyptus. Full mouth feel throughout. Palate is filled with perfectly blended ripe dark cherries, blackberries, cocoa, mature light tannin, and a hint of earth. Wonderful long finish that lingers with dark berries, tannin, and eucalyptus.
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1/1/2011 - MRichman wrote:
Mellow with lots of cinnamon, sweetish round fruit. Friendly, soft with a bit of tar. Good complexity. Very nice, ready to drink now and for the next 5 years.
B
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1/1/2011 - Vpynn wrote: 94 Points
Opened up a 1.5ml for New Years eve. Decanted it for 90 minutes and it was huge. Heavy berries. I had it with lamb and it was amazing. Definitely at it peak right now. Very long finish and amazingly smooth.
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12/29/2010 - rbc1978 wrote: 92 Points
I was worried about this wine after reading some reviews stating this wine may be in decline. I want to say that there is still a couple of cellar years left! Great wine still with good finish. Not overly strong tannins. Odors of chocolate, cherries and leather are still distinctive. Gave it 45 minutes and was fantastic with Beef Wellington.
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12/25/2010 - mcneil7 wrote: 93 Points
Dark color with a nose of cassis, some oak, spices and espresso. Taste is balanced with no tannins and loads of fruit. Linger is a good minute. Excellent wine that can still age
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12/25/2010 - djump wrote: 93 Points
Earthy aroma smooth absolutrly great red wine
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12/12/2010 - jbehrendt wrote: 89 Points
Had with turkey at Thanksgiving. An excellent wine. This bottle probably was past its peak. Still enjoyable.
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11/26/2010 - Jadiii wrote: 92 Points
Drinking very well right now. Minimal tannins.
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11/22/2010 - sgamiz wrote:
One my favorites Insignias -
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11/21/2010 - jinks wrote:
2nd place out of nine heavy hitter red wines in BT. My blind note: "dirt, earth, little fruit. Meaty. Young, tannins to spare."
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11/7/2010 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 92 Points
Gloriously aromatic, violets intermingled with tobacco and black cherries. On the palate, definitely a drop off in the fruit over the past year, although this wine probably suffered by being consumed alongside a much bigger, bolder Malbec.
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10/21/2010 - subtlet Likes this wine: 92 Points
The nose is like a dinner plate with steak, butternut squash, and dark blackberries with stems intact all showing through. It delivers full and juicy fruit along with structure that builds slowly and dries fully. The fruit is lovely all the way across. It's big and still clean. A tasty bit of butterscotch appears later in the experience.
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9/4/2010 - cos82 wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for one hour. Stunning nose of black fruits, mint, cedar and spice. Dark purple plum in color. Delicious mature palate of cassis, blueberry, plum and a touch of earth and oak. No tannin. Should hold up well for several more years. Drunk side by side with 04 Montelena Estate which was a much bigger wine and still very tannic. Considering the off vintage for CA, the Phelps is a beauty and drank perfectly with veal medallions in fresh porcini mushroom sauce.
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8/15/2010 - wirelesswine wrote: 91 Points
Decanted 90 min. Loads of red fruit, cassis, and a good amount of wood....not so much typical oak, more of a rough wood, or maybe a bit of cedar. I don't feel that the wine is any sort of decline as some notes are indicating. This wine was drinking very well, definitely has some years left, as the tannins were still firm with a dry finish. From a QPR perspective this is not the best, but if you forget how much you paid for it, it's much more enjoyable!
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8/6/2010 - ldc911 wrote: 95 Points
Went well with Osso Bucco. Lovely evening
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6/29/2010 - sreisgolf wrote: 92 Points
Very good. Tasted along with the '91 and this wine is a little more developed. After 30 minutes, very good!
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5/30/2010 - borneman wrote: 91 Points
triple berry, cassis, silky merlot comes through. Long finish.
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5/10/2010 - Sweet Nancy wrote:
Dark color, spice and black sweet fruit on the nose. Very intense fruit with spice and tar on the palate. Sweet chewy tannins on the finish. Not a stellar year from Napa, this wine exceeded expectations, especially since it was purchased at a silent auction in the summer of 2003...provenance unknown.
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5/7/2010 - bistro wrote: 93 Points
Delicious and smooth, though there may not be much time left.
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4/24/2010 - spineguy wrote: 91 Points
One of my more favorite Cali cabs. Perhaps a bit less fruit forward then its peers. Nice balance and integration.
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3/24/2010 - Old Amarone wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for about an hour. I have been a little worried about this because of reports that is is over the hump. Maybe, but I am not the least worried about the 2 that I have left in the cellar!. Wonderful candy and tobacco nose and palate of strong sweet mocha and black fruit. All of it summing up to a long finish to enjoy! Happy camper!
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2/20/2010 - gaw123 wrote: 91 Points
Bordeaux blend style. Nice depth. Decant for an hour. Anise and some vegetal flavors stand out.
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2/13/2010 - golfwine wrote: 87 Points
I'm perhaps being a bit critical, due to the stellar lineup of the evening. I had one of these about 3 years ago and can say that the wine is definitely NOT going to improve with any more time (there was noticeably more intrigue in that previous bottle). The aromatics were nice, though muted; as was the fruit-component and although the acidity and tannins were arguably in balance, the total package was somewhat underwhelming. If you got any, drink it!
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2/9/2010 - zeke26 wrote: 92 Points
Side-by-side with the '99 during our Super Bowl pre-game; consensus edge given to the '99 but the '00 is every bit Insignia class. Fantastic Napa red.
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2/6/2010 - pudljmpr wrote: 92 Points
Drinking perfectly. After a bit of decanting.
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1/22/2010 - Night Train wrote: 90 Points
Opened about 1/2 hour before tasting. Shy nose at first, along with muted flavors. Started opening up about an hour later, revealing a nice cabernet nose. Medium body, with mostly black cherries on the palate. Somewhat disappointing lack of complexity, but otherwise conveyed an impression of elegance and refinement. In spite of the vintage, this should hold for a few more years.
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1/16/2010 - Wonder wrote: 89 Points
When first opened, seemed to be aged wine. hmmmm. After it had been open for a few hrs, it got better. We drank side by side with a 1997 Pride Reserve Cab, and that wine was over the top, still young. Rather disappointing with the Insignia.
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1/5/2010 - hifiwine wrote: 93 Points
impressive especially for a 2000
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1/5/2010 - Mr T wrote:
quick pop on New Year's eve......this is a very nice wine...not sure I would wait much longer although not falling apart...this was a bargain
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1/3/2010 - jedly wrote: 89 Points
refined and smooth, although a bit thin for a cali cab. Definitely an overrated and overpriced wine but enjoyable if someone else is buying.
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12/29/2009 - skwid wrote:
A bit green at 1st but went very well with the flannery ribeye. Seemed to open up after 30 minutes or so. The nose was quite nice.
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12/27/2009 - davidandrose wrote: 92 Points
Pop and pour at BLU Kitchen, Jackson Hole; not decanted. This wine is very impressive for the vintage, stands next to Shafer HSS for the best bottle of the vintage IMO. We found that this well-balanced wine began to fall apart after 90 mins opened, but the balance indicates that this wine could still be consumed over several years and that there's no need to drain your cellar if you still have some of this. Unfortunately, this was our last bottle.
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12/25/2009 - mcneil7 wrote: 94 Points
wonderful wine, decanted for 3 hours before drinking. This was a Magnum bottle. Nose was dark cassis with spice notes of licorice, coffee, some oak. Taste was balanced with some tannins but overall a stellar wine
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11/29/2009 - jbshows wrote: 94 Points
All I hoped it would be. Harmonious and supple. Beautiful. Wonderful nose. Cafe 30A with K and JW.
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11/29/2009 - Mr T wrote:
Wonderful wine in its window.....this was a great value...wish I had bought more
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11/27/2009 - norsktorsk wrote: 95 Points
Dark and rich with a full nose of fruit. Integrated tannins with a great long finish. One of the best I have had.
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10/10/2009 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 94 Points
Spectacular stuff for a substandard year. Tannins totally integrated. Concentrated and dense. Plenty of sweet black cherry fruits. It would be fun to taste this head to head with some of the more heralded vintages as we really liked this tonight- WOTN.
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10/6/2009 - Thralow wrote: 94 Points
It is interesting. One strange benefit of a cellar is the habits I form down there occasionally teach me something. Today I learned sometimes the things that my habits teach me are wrong. Often, I reference CellarTracker before heading to the cellar, just as frequently I go to the cellar and simply pull a bottle.
When I pull bottles, I avoid California reds from the years 1996, 1998, 2000 and 2002. I gravitate toward the 2005, 2004, 2001 and recently 2007. I am biased toward young Cabs. And I really avoid 2000 and 2002. This 2000 Joseph Phelps tosses all that aside. Chalky, smooth and sophisticated sexy in a Dean Martin and Tom Jones manner. It starts soft and smooth but the finish lasts forever and by the time it is done there are knickers on the floor and everyone is dancing.
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9/19/2009 - Hollowleg wrote:
Decanted for an hour. Went up against an '03 Justin Isosceles & an '03 Montelena Napa. I picked the Isosceles as WOTN, while one of my friends chose the Insignia, which was a bit heavy on the oak for me, while the Isosceles seemed more balanced.
The '05 Insignia was the most hedonistic wine I've ever tasted, but it's unfair to compare the two vintages.
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9/18/2009 - Yiannis wrote: 95 Points
FROM MAGNUM.
Very dark garnet. Initialy closed, but opened up rather fast after being decanted, and reached its peak after 3 hours. Gorgeous and extremely complex nose with licorice, creme de cassis, cedar, spices and hints of earthy aromas. Full-bodied, ultra-soft and smooth with textbook velvety tannins, opulent fruit and moderate, yet adequate acidity. Very long finish. A beauty. At its peak now, will drink well for another 10 years. This is supposedly a poor Napa vintage, but this wine is great at this stage.
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8/14/2009 - psirah wrote: 90 Points
I was surprised by this wine, and it shows that while 2000 Napa as a vintage is not well regarded, there were outliers. This had a large nose of bright dark fruit with some earth, cedar and leather notes. Very nice. On the palate this had great blackberry and kirsch flavors; this wine aslo had a noticable green, mostly green olive note that went well with the wine. While not my favorite example of Phelps' Insignia, this was quite enjoyable and the wood and tannins have come together in this bottle, and it is ready.
50+5+13+16+6
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6/27/2009 - AllRed wrote: 92 Points
Impressively structured and dense. Aromas of spice, blackberry and cedar. Dense dark fruit with a firm edge on the palate. Hard to believe this is a 2000.
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6/20/2009 - Paul S wrote: 92 Points
CT London Event (Hide Bar, Bermondsey, London): A very nice wine with lots of stuffing in it - I think this is absolutely bursting with potential. Nose was rich with toasty oak, black peppercorns, bramble and lots and lots of dark fruit. Clearly extracted palate, with mouth coating but very fine tannins adding a very strong sense of structure of rich plums and cassis flavours. Lovely balance in spite of the great fruit weight though. I was very impressed. Lots of fruit at the finish as well, which was long, very long in fact, and powerful to the very end. An excellent wine.
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6/1/2009 - Hollowleg wrote: 90 Points
A bit more tannic than I remember. The finish was a bit stunted. The fruit was a bit more prevalent on day two.
Very good for a tough vintage.
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5/16/2009 - timewithwine wrote:
A blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc and 1% Malbec. A funny wine. I’ve not tried the ‘00 for many years - probably at a futures tasting in ‘02, so I was not sure what to expect. It takes some time for the wine to open; maybe 30 minutes or so. The nose is cassis, blackberry jam, currants, leather, tobacco and a dusty quality that I refer to as dusty rose. The attack is big, as you expect from this wine, but, initially, it faded on the mid-palate to ...... nothing. The finish just disappeared before it arrived. A very soft, round mouthfeel on the attack that dries to dust. Eventually, the finish showed up, but was still short. By the time the finish joined the party, it added mocha to the mix and mint was in the mid-palate, but so was signs of dill. This is a wine the reminds me of an inexperienced lover. Another data point suggesting that Cali Cabs of late don’t age. An unexpectedly significant load of sediment. Standing future bottles up for several days will be necessary. With pan seared aged ribeyes in a mushroom sauce. Recommended with reservations.
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5/14/2009 - NW_HURLEY wrote: 91 Points
Excellent experience with a wine from a rare challenged vintage out of Napa. Toward dispatching the deficiencies of this wine quickly, it was obviously a wine of lesser vibrancy, depth and sophistication as compared to the award winning 2002 and other "peak year" vintages, the 2000 enjoyed this evening suffers only by comparison. As it was the only wine we opended this evening, it proved itself to be a stand out. Then again, if one were to consider it in comparison to most other cabernet heavy Napa offerings from the 2000 vintage, this wine is a star.
As for the wine itself, the body is supple with some truly lush carmel and eathy tones, yet on the whole remains light, effervescent and playful. I believe that the janus-like fusion of opposite impulses revealed themselves in such balance as an aspect of this wine's age. I expect we'll be finishing our remaining bottles over the next few months with all of the elated expectation of a child chasing visions of ice cream inspired by Good Humor's melody hypnotically infusing the dusky breezes of July. Ah yes, the wine. Pardon my carrying on, but I was - and remain - delightfully surprised as I had expected this wine from this vintage to have turned flabby and flat. This wine was anything but that.
In the end, my surprise and delight must find proportion, context, within which an attempt at objective measure can be rendered. Thus my rating of a 91 for this bottle. Subsequent samplings from this vintage may induce me to at a point, no more, to my judgment. Stay tuned as time will tell.
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5/6/2009 - jedly wrote: 88 Points
Very nice but overpriced.
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3/21/2009 - JoelZ wrote: 93 Points
Very nice bottle. It wasn't up to the 1999 Insignia that I was fortunate enough to enjoy last year (didn't quite have the same level of fruit), but great nonetheless. Silky smooth tannins.
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3/7/2009 - tvmama wrote: 90 Points
not a greatest insignia
still had great smoothness and rich aroma
however, was not a great bottle
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2/15/2009 - idrinkvino wrote: 92 Points
Not quite as lush as I remember prior tastings to be. But it still has the classic Insisignia tannins and gravel to finish. 92+
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2/10/2009 - orcharddude22 wrote: 91 Points
Next to the last bottle. Not nearly as interesting as earlier bottles. Berries and mocha flavors, a bit muted with a nice nose. The tannins have resolved to a nice, smooth finish. I think these need to be consumed as they are not going to improve. Still for the $50 pricetag these are a bargain today.
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1/20/2009 - Greginnd wrote: 94 Points
Wonderfully complex with chocolate, red and black fruits, wood, leather and earth. This wine was everything I expected. It was especially wonderful to toast our new president with this bottle.
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1/19/2009 - flattfam@charter.net wrote: 94 Points
My last bottle of an 'off year.' Still lots of fruit, and the finish holds well. For those who still have this vintage, it should last at least 5 more years.
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12/13/2008 - spretzer wrote: 94 Points
incredible. Had with the tasting menu at Heron's for Kathy's bday. Tightly wound to start but progressed beautifully through the night. Incredible well balanced. did not disappoint!
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11/28/2008 - Rob MacKay wrote:
Our last bottle of Insignia from 2000 was no disappointment. I previously had this wine about a month ago so the details are nearly the same this time around. The only thing I will reiterate is that the drinking window on this wine is wide open. No need to wait on it so enjoy it now while it is at its best.
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11/26/2008 - S-E wrote: 94 Points
Loved it, even better than expected.
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11/23/2008 - jeffm_fla wrote: 94 Points
My second bottle of the 2000 was really excellent. Smooth, balanced, no aggressive tannins. I'm always amazed that, even as the blend changes each year, Insignia is always identifiably distinctive. I guess that is what terroir means...
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10/28/2008 - Mccrossanc wrote: 95 Points
It just keeps getting better
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10/25/2008 - Rob MacKay wrote: 91 Points
Brought to dinner at Langley's in Windsor, CA. While the restaurant most certainly underperformed, the wine did not. This is a very typical Insignia with excellent scents of creme de cassis, vanilla and a bit of ground coffee beans. Flavors are wonderfully smooth and well integrated with great fruit, depth and a lingering finish that has only a hint of tannins. For 2000, this wine is really quite exceptional. I would compare it to the 98 vintage. My only criticism, and this is not necessarily a bad thing, is that while other vintages of Insignia from a better growing season usually end up with the stuffing for putting a bit of age on them, this vintage is drinking very well now but probably will not last for more then another 5 years before it starts to peeter out on you.
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9/15/2008 - qualjohn wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for 4 hours. Very dark, brooding, cherry with a bit of leather, mostly up front with a short an unexciting finish. Tanins a bit to sharp at the start but tempered with food. Okay, but not an attention getter.
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9/6/2008 - Pknut wrote:
At Marissa's Bat Mitzvah.
Enjoyable. Black fruits and spice on the palate. Not oaky. Although clearly a Cal Cab, this was balanced and not loud.
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7/25/2008 - vpoms wrote: 89 Points
Nice cab, but I was expecting more from Insignia, even for 2000. Has all the components of a good cab, but needs to be decanted for about an hour. Can also benefit from a few more years in the bottle.
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7/13/2008 - jeffm_fla wrote: 93 Points
A bit of a bite when first opened but smoothed out with air. A great wine with food,complemented steak perfectly.
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6/23/2008 - Cotedorfan wrote:
No real signs of aging, except perhaps slightly muted fruit and a strong oak/structure component sticking out. Very good for a 2000. Not a long distance runner, however.
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6/8/2008 - sadiebear wrote: 90 Points
Iwon this bottle at Showthyme Restaurant...A true american style bordeaux...Very enjoyable!
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5/27/2008 - TheRikker wrote: 92 Points
Dark brooding red showing no signs of age. Great nose of cedar, chocolate , cherry, and a bit of tobacco leaf/cigar box. Very smooth on the palate. Great balance and structure. Tannins are there but mostly in the background. They become a little more pronounced after a couple of hours making me think that this should do quite well for at least 5- 7 more years. Went great with the steaks. Flavors are similar to the nose. 15+ second finish. Drinking very nicely now but I think will improve as more secondary aromas and flavors emerge.My first Insignia and was very pleased.
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5/26/2008 - goofy Yno wrote: 92 Points
this show very nicely. very nice nose of cassias, vanilla, black cherry. nice balance mouth, full bodied but soft. fruit forward with a little complexity and a nice finish. good showing in a toufh year
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5/25/2008 - JDB wrote: 91 Points
Part of 2000 , 2001 , 2002 mini vertical . Shockingly good , out of the gate it was my favorite with a great nose and great dark fruit and smoke & leather . It was the first of the three to start to fall apart
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5/18/2008 - greening wrote: 96 Points
An amazing wine, rich and thick with chocolate, loam, and black cherries. As lovely on the nose as the palatte.
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5/15/2008 - orcharddude22 wrote: 92 Points
Very nice again, chocolate, cassis and black fruit. Nice nose and a decently long finish.
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5/5/2008 - CMCLR wrote: 91 Points
Fading a little, better balance than fruit.
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4/29/2008 - Nickel wrote:
Modest but dark nose of chocolate, cassis, coffee grind and a hint of oak. Palate was incredibly silky with deep, expansive flavors. Tannins are nearly resolved. Finish is med to long. A very classy wine (relative to its region of origin).
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4/20/2008 - Wayne Richmon wrote: 92 Points
Drinking as well as my earlier note but now 1 year additional age. No decant. Still the only 2000 I've enjoyed.
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4/10/2008 - WineForRob wrote: 92 Points
Was pleasantly surprised based on the vintage. Nose was a knockout combo of chocolate and cherries maybe some plum. Full blodied and plush. Not at all what I expected from this 2000. Flavors broaden out and linger with the smooth finish. Still has acidic backbone with receding tannins. Couple more years left but is drinking very nicely right now.
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4/1/2008 - rmodak wrote: 93 Points
This is at peak now. Without a decant, the nose is full of creamy chocolate and olive. The palate is silky and smooth with cassis, black olive, and pencil lead. The fruit is round and the finish long and balanced with fine tannins. This shows the pedigree of this wine.
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3/15/2008 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 92 Points
dark purple color. the nose on this wine is gorgeous, even after being opened for only three hours. vanilla leads the way, but there's also blackberries, currants, toast and a bit of mint. rich on the palate, but i was surprised by how approachable this was. very silky with round tannins and a gorgeous, plush mouthfeel. blackberry, currant, coffee, smoke and vanilla fountain soda. the fruit is lush and pure, like right from the farmer's market. and the oak accentuates it, it doesn't overpower it. this is a great effort that i imagine will be more expressive in a few years.
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3/9/2008 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 90 Points
Decanted 2 hrs. Beautiful cassis, coffee, hint of mint on nose. Somewhat muted fruit on palate, oak starting to dominate. Smooth tannins. I bought this in 2007 (for $70/bottle!) so not sure where this is in its evolution- I'm probably going to drink my other bottles within the next year or so.
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2/18/2008 - jmd60611 wrote: 80 Points
Not the Insignia for me...Austere but not void of fruit, just very low on flavor and richness...Dissapointing
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2/7/2008 - idrinkvino wrote: 93 Points
Coffee and mocha scented, chocolate covered cherries on the palate. Excellent.
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2/2/2008 - Hollowleg wrote: 92 Points
Drank while watching "Sideways", after a 90 minute decant. My score's a bit lower since I've been trying better wines and/or better vintages (in this case the latter).
Still a great value, relatively speaking.
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12/7/2007 - orcharddude22 wrote: 93 Points
Drank at Merisol with Becky and Alec. Same notes as previous bottles, smoke, chocolate cherries and cedar. Smooth wine with a nice finish. This is not the best Insignia but continues to be a solid choice for the price. Awesome nose.
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11/27/2007 - sgamiz wrote: 96 Points
Drank from a Magnum. This is an exceptional bottle of wine, I love the fact that this is considered an off year and is less expensive to get :)
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10/13/2007 - Dave Dalluge wrote: 87 Points
Thirty Years of Phelps Insignia (1974 through 2004): The nose is a very similar to the 1998 featuring black fruit, oak and vanilla. Clumsy. The taste simple with dark fruit tons of oak. A little hot on the finish. I'm not optimistic for the future of this one either.
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10/13/2007 - Siggy wrote:
Insignia Vertical Tasting 1974-2004 (WA Frost, St. Paul): Primal. Showing a lot of black fruit and oak/vanilla. Tough to evaluate in this lineup.
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9/26/2007 - mattiasjansson wrote: 91 Points
(From magnum - decanted for 1.5 hours.) Earthy nice with a hint of barnyard. Nice fruit but falls a little flat on the finish.
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9/23/2007 - idrinkvino wrote: 93 Points
Sharp blueberry and coffee fragrances that light the senses. Layers of flavours starting with bright berries, then licourish, then leathers, then sweet fruit. Fantastic wine.
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9/23/2007 - zimmy07 wrote: 92 Points
Drank from a mag. Very good balance with great dark fruit, coffee and some mocha. Drank with a 2000 Monte Bello, could not differentiate between the two.
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9/9/2007 - AMM3RD wrote: 92 Points
Plum & Blueberry on nose and flavor profile. Very enjoyable. Will continue to improve for another 5 years. Well made wine with perfectly integrated tannins. Would decant for 1 hour if you have the time. Enjoyable!
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8/20/2007 - wabi47 wrote: 90 Points
very well balanced plum, a bit of earth; about as i recall in the past; not as full esp mid palate as other vintages but still a very good wine
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7/7/2007 - spacewrangler wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for an hour. Color darkening around the edges. I wish I tried this upon release to see how it has evolved. Great aromatics on this, offering black fruits, cassis, mint, chocolate and just a touch of spicy oak. This filled out with some air, initially missing a mid-palate - this firmed up nicely and gained a seamless structure with about 1-2 hours in the decanter. Silky, long finish. I enjoyed this more than a 2002 Insignia out of 375, perhaps due to bottle age?
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7/4/2007 - Hollowleg wrote: 93 Points
I was able to get my hands on three more bottles. This time I paired it with assorted breads & crackers, with goat cheese spread & three kinds of purple olives. Just a fantastic wine.
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6/19/2007 - chrisraub wrote: 92 Points
have had 3 of these in the last 3-4 months and have loved it every time. rich layers of flavor / aroma in a balance of tanin and acidity that makes for great drinking.
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6/8/2007 - RockinCabs wrote:
The Phelps had perhaps the brightest sweetest cherry fruit of any of these wines and exhibited a nice cedery oak that blended in as well. This was a good bottle, but as with past experiences with Insignia it was good, but stuck to a very classic formula for CA cab.
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5/30/2007 - Wayne Richmon wrote: 92 Points
This is a wonderful bottle of wine. I agree that it drinks better than the 99. It's fuller richer and shows more fruit. It is the only 2000 vintage cab from Cali that I have really enjoyed and the price I was able to get it at was reasonable. I will have to try one of the premium vintages of this wine to really get better understanding of just how good this can be. It certainly shines in the off years.
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3/5/2007 - sgamiz wrote: 96 Points
Rainwater At Ketner; what a great bottle of wine - for my taste (not the best around) better than the 99. This wine can age for a few more years but is delicious now. I will try to get more.
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2/7/2007 - wabi47 wrote: 90 Points
great balance with berry and currant fruit, some leather/cassis; a bit thin on mid palate or wouild score higher; nice length
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1/27/2007 - Mahan wrote: 94 Points
Great bottle, with hints of vanilla, tobacco. Dark color. Opened a bit through dinner, but the bottle did not last long. Nice, smooth finish.
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1/16/2007 - Hollowleg wrote: 94 Points
My WOTN. We tasted this along side a '99 Silverado & a '94 Napa Silver Oak. It lights up your mouth with notes of chocolate, liquorice & black fruit, and a lingering finish. I decanted for about 30 minutes before it started opeing up, it's really drinking well right now. I wish I had more than one bottle left.
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1/6/2007 - orcharddude22 wrote: 93 Points
Tried another bottle as our New Year's bottle was corked. Opened and decanted for 2 hours prior to dinner.A bit slow to open and a bit tannic to start, really started to sing with a ribeye off the grill. Muted nose of lead pencil and black fruit. Smooth tannins, tastes of dark cherries, graphite and anise. Continues to be a solid wine.
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11/19/2006 - redpine42 wrote: 91 Points
5 year vertical blind tasting of Insignia.
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11/8/2006 - andycak wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for 1 hour - Great leathers, tobacco, and black fruit
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10/14/2006 - davidandrose wrote: 91 Points
Opened but not decanted, and allowed to sit for 90 mins. A nicely-balanced wine, especially for the vintage, but lacking the depth or nuances of a typical Insignia or top flight calicab. After this had been open 3 hrs the finish became even more brief; I'll plan to drink my remaining bottles over the next 3+ years.
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9/28/2006 - Cilantro wrote: 93 Points
Not decanted. Berries and wood on the nose, deep purple color, full flavors of berries and dry licorice, medium finish with noticeable tannins. Very, very nice!
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9/28/2006 - orcharddude22 wrote: 94 Points
Strong nose, awesome taste of chocolate and cherries, great long finish. Smooth polished tannins, great wine.
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8/19/2006 - jhngo wrote: 87 Points
Flat flabby with no distinctive nose and an overly tannic finish.
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8/1/2006 - JBBridge wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for three hours, poured back into the bottle for one hour. Consumed with grilled steaks, sweet corn, fresh tomatoes, etc. I was very pleased given the bad things I had heard about this vintage. Pleasant, medium nose with fruit and floral scents. Very nice, fresh palate with cassis, red fruit, some licorice. Tannins resolved, fully integrated. I think this is drinking well right now and probably won't greatly improve. I have a general preference for Old World style wines, but this makes a strong case for New World style.
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7/29/2006 - orcharddude22 wrote: 94 Points
Decanted for one hour and served with a sizzling ribeye at Ruth Chris. Awesome wine with chocolate, tobacco , plum notes with a fairly long finish. Outstanding wine with red meat!!
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7/8/2006 - Garfield wrote: 91 Points
Beatiful wine. Needs to be decanted for at least 1 hr. to show its true potencial. Well balanced and typical great structure from Phelps.
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6/23/2006 - MarkC wrote: 92 Points
Solid wine, especially given the context of the vintage. Good color - purple and red. Hints of cedar and red fruit on the nose. On the palate plenty of red fruit - strawberries and raspberries - and finely integrated tannins. Full-bodied. Medium-length finish.
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6/9/2006 - mmyette wrote: 93 Points
Gorgeous wine. Opened up to sweet vanilla, berry, vanilla oak, and sweet mocha. The Insignia is almost never bad, and for a mediocre year, this is an extraordinary wine.
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6/8/2006 - bsherwin wrote:
Cab Lovers of NYC Insignia Vertical (Zoe): This is a nice wine. A good job for a bad vintage, but it's really nothing to write home about. Smooth on the entry it fades a little on the finish. Good fruit, but not much of it. Crushed mint. Solid if unspectacular.
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6/3/2006 - hifiwine wrote: 92 Points
drinking great now, still weak for an Insignia
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5/21/2006 - idrinkvino wrote: 93 Points
Dark purple body and bright red around the edges. Flowers and sweet berries on the nose. Exceptional balance and mouthfeel. Burnt bittersweet chocolate, red ripe fruit. Can't go wrong with this one.
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3/25/2006 - Cilantro wrote: 92 Points
Not decanted. Fruit and wood on the nose, dark color, deep flavors of cedar and dried fruit, soft tannins, medium finish. Highly enjoyable. There is not doubt this is an Insignia, but it is not as concentrated as 2001 and 2002, and thus suffers ONLY in comparison.
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2/16/2006 - fryguy wrote:
Decanted three hours and enjoyed a lot seemed ready to drink to me.
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2/11/2006 - idrinkvino wrote: 93 Points
Bought a case on a deal - surprised at the lackluster reviews on this. The smoothness and evolving flavors were exceptional. One of the best in my cellar. Going back for another case.
--guy
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1/22/2006 - Cilantro wrote: 91 Points
Berries and oak on the nose. Deep red-purple color. Concentrated taste of dark fruit, but not as impressive as the 2001 or 2002. 10 sec finish. Overall very tasty.
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1/7/2006 - davidandrose wrote: 92 Points
Right out of the bottle this had a lot of vegatable characteristics, with bell pepper and grass leaving a real bad taste. Did not decant at first out of anxiety over the relative "thinness" of the wine, I let this breathe uncorked for an hour, then gave it 45 mins in the decanter. Improved considerably, and another hour later it was an excellent wine. Good fruit and tannic integration, with some spices, light oak and vanilla. Still has a fairly short finish, but drinking very well with proper time and handling.
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1/1/2006 - jmp wrote: 92 Points
A solid matched with peppercorn tenderloin. Excellent ripe fruits, nicely oaked, still dry tannins on t he finnish. More worthy than many of the comments on t his wine. A solid value at PA pricing.
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12/25/2005 - 97mjr wrote: 93 Points
[4953] No decanting, drack over 2 hours. Inky. Nose of smoke, cherries, mint. Medium bodied not a huge wine by Insignia standards. On the palate, chocolate, mint, smoke, cassis, cherry licorice. Bordeaux in style. Pleasantly surprised by how good it was. Better than the Ladera. Though it was lacking somewhat in structure; so drink now.
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12/25/2005 - hifiwine wrote: 92 Points
not your usual insignia but still a very good wine
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12/8/2005 - Burgundy Al wrote: 91 Points
Phelps Insignia Vertical 15+ Years: Vertical tasting. Really great aromatics display lots of dark fruit and a wonderful perfumed, floral character. Big blackberry fruit follows through on the palate,still good structure, particularly given the vintage reputation. Finish shows the fruit nicely with some nice interesting earthy touches.
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12/6/2005 - hcampana wrote: 90 Points
Tasted double blind with my tasting group. Deep ruby with nice aromatics of cassis, chocolate and a marked note of licorice. Full to medium bodied with nice texture, fine tannin and a fruity finish. This is a surprisingly good wine from the forgetable 2000 California vintage. I correctly guessed an elegant California cab, but missed the vintage.
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11/18/2005 - ml wrote: 91 Points
Inky black. Medium nose of very dark fruit and smoke. First impression of flavor is that it does have an element of the typical Insignia profile. Very tannic. No, make that *very* tannic, and harsh tannin at that. It really overpowers the fruit. The flavor is of a really dark brooding nature, and very smoky and spicy. Relatively short finish. 87 pts.
Day 2...
Okay, a gremlin came and swapped my bottle out over night.
Seriously, this seems like a very different wine today.
It's still pretty tannic, but now I'm getting a nose of sweet cherries and roses, and it seems like a fairly smooth drinker now. All of the smokiness is gone. The finish seems a bit longer, but still not long by any means.
Not a stellar Insignia, but still pretty nice.
91 pts
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11/8/2005 - texaswino wrote: 91 Points
Currant, mocha and coffes notes. Firms up and finishes with dusty tannins. Very nice for the vintage but falls behind other vintages of this wine.
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10/27/2005 - psmith wrote:
Classic cassis, black cherry, darker fruits with some vanilla and green traces. Nicely balanced sweetness. Medium-bodied with coarser tannins reflective of the vintage. ***/5
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8/26/2005 - futronic wrote: 90 Points
Dark ruby/black colour. Aromas of black licorice, smoke, blackcurrant, charred wood, and graphite. Full-bodied, tannins integrating nicely, showing oak, licorice, and blackcurrant notes on the palate. Moderate-length finish, 30-35s, with plum and blackcurrant.
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8/20/2005 - ctwino wrote: 90 Points
Too young to drink yet, big and chewy as expected but I would age it a few more years. Potential for a mid 90s score if you wait,
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5/1/2005 - tshields wrote: 92 Points
We loved this wine! Full and complex, what a great (mostly) Cab should be. Drank in the hospital room after the birth of our 3rd child, as a celebration. Sure made the hospital food taste better!
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3/20/2005 - wineotim wrote: 94 Points
Sampled all of Phelps wines as presented to our group by Phelps representative. This wine stole the show, full bodied, dark cherry, subtle hint of licorice, cedar and cassis nose, so well integrated and balanced. Hard to believe this is considered an off vintage. Complimented our sirloin tips perfectly.
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12/29/2004 - otisabdul wrote: 90 Points
Tasted at the WIML off-line at Speakeasy Supper Club. Bright purple color. Minty, red raspberry, and vanilla flavors and aromas. Very bright and vibrant on the attack. A bit more candied than most Insignias, a trait that seems consistent with the vintage. Enjoyable now. Drink over the next three years to catch its playful fruit profile. It does not seem to have the skeletal structure or substance to age and improve into the next decade.
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12/3/2004 - MarkC wrote: 92 Points
Wow - this is a big wine. Admittedly this was from two double-mags (at a company Christmas party), so it's probably aged almost not at all. Dark color, heady nose of sage, cedar, dark berries, hints of pencil. In the mouth this wine played it a bit close to the vest at first, but after an hour of decanting and another 45 minutes in the glass it started to loosen its grip on intense raspberry and currant, bits of leather and licorice, and some other dark, roasted, extracted flavors (think red wine sauce reduction).
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7/31/2004 - Eric wrote: 88 Points
My trip to Napa, Part 4: Montelena, Phelps, Darioush, lunch at Tra Vigne, Dinner at Bouchon and a nightcap (Napa Valley, California, USA): The nose shows roasted plum, cassis, caramel and some black olive. The palate shows dark, sultry fruit, spicy, yet somewhat monolithic and simple for now. The 2000 is one of the few Insignia that is not at the same level as the others.
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4/17/2004 - Jason wrote: 86 Points
Others liked this wine more than I did. The nose was boring with caramel and loads of oak. The palate is very tannic and short. There isn't enough fruit to match. This may not get much better.
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4/17/2004 - Eric wrote: 90 Points
Seattle Tasting Group does 22 years of Phelps Insignia (Bellevue, WA, USA): This is somewhat herbal with some caramel. The wood really lays on top of this wine right now. It does have very nice cassis with lovely structure, but the finish is somewhat astringent. This is not integrated like the 1999 or the 2001.
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11/7/2003 - R2-D2 wrote: 92 Points
This is pretty dang nice for a 2000 CA wine. Loads of engrossing baked blueberries, vanilla, plums and caramel in the nose. The finish vibrates with ripe acidity and tannins, but is certainly drinkable to those unwilling to deny their gratification. Red currants, plum and graphite.
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5/26/2003 - Vino Me wrote: 90 Points
Not as big as the 1999 but stil plenty tannic. Sweet black fruit notes muted by the tannic structure. A definite step down from the 1999. 90.
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5/3/2003 - SacredCow wrote: 91 Points
Tasted at the Parsec Cup #7 event in Frisco, CO on 5/3/03. Free The Grapes brought this wine to me as my two bottle share of the Insignia from the Phelps Preferred Club, membership which we share. I believe the club price is $90.
This wine was tasted by all double blind. It was opened, but not decanted, while waiting for dinner to be prepared and served.
Very dark, almost inky black color. One of the tasters mentioned tar on the nose (I disagreed with that). I detected vanilla, oak and dark fruits. On the palate, licorice, vanilla and dark fruits. Creamy oak, with no midpalate hollowness. The finish showed more vanilla and oak, but not overwhelmingly so. Long finish.
For a wine this young, with no decanting, this wine was outstanding. Every taster agreed that it was outstanding. Still, I wondered what it might become with more air time, and/or age.
I will say that as much as I enjoyed the 98 Insignia, I believe this wine is a step up from that vintage. However, at a price of $90, I will not likely add to the lone remaining bottle.
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