2015 Michel Rolland Cabernet Sauvignon

Community Tasting Notes (12) Avg Score: 94.6 points

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  3/6/2022 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 95 Points

  Opened close to dinner as we'd run through most of the '14 Rolland I'd opened, as it turns out, an hour or two, too early for dinner.
  
  Great from the pnp, though a tad strong upfront. Within a short time, that recedes, and the same great 'Rolland Experience' emerges. Garnet color in the glass, another classic Napa cab nose, etc. Again, just clean, pure red/blue and maybe a little blackberry fruit in this vintage. There is a tad more astringency to this vintage but in no way is it off-putting. It maybe takes a point away as compared to the '14 which just felt and drank so well balanced tonight.
  
  Now open about 90 min......nose remains classic Napa. Maybe a little more sense of graphite to it. Cassis increases up front. Moderate astringency remains. The '15 in general, seems to have a slight win over the '14 as far as 'density' of fruit it seems. The palate is slightly more intense. Maybe in another year this one will come across as seamless and balanced as the '14 was earlier tonight? It's density of fruit and concentration of flavors would give it a one point edge over the '14 if that were to happen. As it stands now it falls back a point or two with more than 3 hours of air. Which leads one to think this needs more time to evolve. Probably not at its best drinking window yet.
  
  Addendum: one glass left in the bottle under cork, on the counter at room temp of 74 deg here in FL. This wine has 'circled back' and come completely together now. It is smooth, deep and rich in fruit and challenging the '14 for a 96. It just took it 24 more hours to get there. Nice wine.

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  1/26/2021 - pkouchu wrote: 95 Points

  ground coffee, blackberries, black currant, savory herbs, cassis, plum, cedar, chocolate, toasted oak spice, and blue florals. Ripe and fruit forward dark fruits, bold upfront. warm spice on the mid palate, rounded tannins, smooth finish.
  
  Needs to be decanted about 4-5 hours before serving, but pretty smooth sailing through the night afterwards. Big wine.

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  1/3/2021 - gteran76 Likes this wine: 92 Points

  I was expecting way more out of this bottle, I bit over the top fruit wise and unidimensional (but enjoyable). I think 2-5 years of cellar will definitely do some good...

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  9/1/2020 - wineotim wrote: 93 Points

  I opened this while I still had recent tasting memories of the '16 Insignia. This wine has the telltale heavy handed oak treatment that Monsieur Rolland is known for, btw I suggest everyone see the movie "Mondovino" as he is portrayed to be the consultant to almost everyone who is anyone in the wine industry. Anyway, I have my obvious bias in that regard. This is very oaked and in need of some lift to make it great, just a bit flat and weighty for my palate. I know by experience that Insignia will age well. I'm not so sure on this wine. It is created at Alpha Omega under the auspices of Rolland.

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  8/8/2020 - bubbachumps wrote: 96 Points

  consistent with my prior note

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