| Wine Type | Vintage Name Variety Locale | Date Posted Score Helpful Comments More... |
|---|---|---|
| Red |
1999 Joseph Phelps InsigniaNapa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend more |
4/16/2022 - psusfca Likes this wine: 97 pointsStill a youngster Dark purple, no bricking so far. Tannins still present but well resolved. I really think the merlot brings out all the things we love about Insignia. We reversed things and started with Insignia (3 hour decant) and paired with24 month aged Dutch Gouda and 18 month aged cheddar from Australia. Amazing. Then some Brewer Clifton Pinot Noir to go with Duck ‘a L’Orange with Tokyo Turnips and their greens and duck fat roasted fingerling potatoes. Wonderful meal. And then we experienced food coma as we watched warriors game 1. |
| Red |
2001 Blankiet Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Paradise Hills VineyardNapa Valley more |
12/7/2021 - psusfca Does not like this wine: 75 pointsThis is the lowest rating I have ever given a wine on here. I wanted to like it, but this was awful. I opened it and tasted. Not corked but no positive elements. Tasted again several times to see if it just needed air and time. It remained terrible. Maybe it is just my palate, but I have Napa Cabs from many of the great producers. I hate pouring out basically a full bottle of wine but it was just not enjoyable. I still have a 2002 left. I'll give it a try soon. Fingers crossed |
| Red |
2018 Poderi Luigi Einaudi Dogliani Superiore Vigna TeccDolcetto more |
11/24/2021 - psusfca Likes this wine: 93 pointsThis is an utterly yummy wine. It starts out herbaceous but then red fruit and a lingering finish on back of the palate. I am a big fan of dolcetto and go two thumbs up on this one. Not sure it gets much better but will likely hold well at this delicious level at least for five years. |
| Red |
2007 Joseph Phelps InsigniaNapa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend more |
6/18/2021 - psusfca Likes this wine: 96 pointsThis was a gorgeous wine. I think that it is at its peak and will not improve further. But still likely can plateau at this level for many years of enjoyment. Fantastic length across the palate. Tannins fully resolved. Black fruit. I normally wouldn't drink an Insignia this young but as I looked at the reviews it seemed it was time to try one. Was so glad I did. Paired amazingly with a dry aged rib-eye. This was one of the most "pretty" Insignias that I can recall. |
| Red |
2011 Trinchero Cabernet Sauvignon Cloud's Nest VineyardMt. Veeder more |
4/25/2021 - psusfca Likes this wine: 93 pointsI think this was delicious. It is very much settled in its element. I don’t think it has huge back of palate but really well made. I respectfully disagree with previous commenter with regard to vintage ratings. 2011 has some amazing wines. I’ll go back to 1998 that was panned by critics but many ended up being way better than the outstanding 1997’s. I’ll give Dunn Howell Moutain as an example. If you have them time 1997 blew away 1998. I could go on with vintages. |
| Red |
2015 Christopher Creek Pinot Noir WestsideRussian River Valley more |
12/7/2020 - psusfca wrote: 80 pointsMaybe just at a dumb place but fruit was already gone. Had huge expectations that was so disappointing. Stick with Syrah, Petit Sirah and Zin. The PN’s are not holding up well. |
| Red |
2010 Sean Thackrey Petite Sirah Sirius Eaglepoint RanchMendocino County more |
8/22/2020 - psusfca Likes this wine: 94 pointsI love Thackrey wines. This one I was worried I was drinking too early. It’s definitely early and will get even better but it is Petite Sirah at its finest. Dark fruit, rich tannins, a finish that travelers from front, middle and back palate. It needs air to take down the Eucalyptus. He does ferment this wine in open tanks under Eucalyptus trees outside in Bolinas. So you do get Eucalyptus from leaves falling in. Which adds a character I love. Drink it early it is very prevalent. Wait and it is magical. Another great rendition of this wine. Had some 2001, 2002 recently and they are so so good but still babies. |
| Red |
2013 Tenuta Sant'Antonio Scaia Paradiso Veneto IGTRed Blend more |
7/2/2020 - psusfca Does not like this wine: 80 pointsMaybe it is past prime or maybe it will open over time. I’ll check tomorrow. But the fruit was lacking and it was heavy tobacco. I love the Scaia wines but not this one. |
| Red |
2010 Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valleymore |
10/21/2019 - psusfca Likes this wine: 95 pointsWow this is great!! I'm sure it will get better as it is young for Dunn even the Napa Valley. Opened it and loved it - 3 hours later even more amazing. Dark fruit, resolved tannins, amazing length on the palate. This is why I love Dunn wines so much. |
| White |
2015 Calera Chardonnay Bien Nacido VineyardSanta Maria Valley more |
10/14/2019 - psusfca Likes this wine: 92 pointsVery well done. Definitely in a richer Cali style. Not Burgundian but also not a butter and oak bomb we used to get from California Chardonnay. Similar to the great wines we are getting from places like Gary Farrell. And a steal at $20 per bottle. At original price of $36 would still be worth it. I might stock up on this for weeknight chard. Balanced, nutty, rich. I’m a fan of Calera wines in general. And this adds to my fandom |
| Red |
2006 Robert Young Estate Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Red Winery Road ReserveAlexander Valley more |
10/5/2019 - psusfca wrote: 91 pointsI remember opening a bottle back 6 years ago or so and was disappointed. Good but not great. This has improved a lot. Nice dark fruit, settled tannins but still maybe a touch more oak than I would like these days. Still a very nice experience. Won’t get better from here. But for the $30 I paid I’m happy very happy with it. |
| Red |
2014 Sean Thackrey Orion Rossi VineyardSt. Helena Syrah Blend, Syrah more |
4/8/2019 - psusfca Likes this wine: 94 pointsThis is gorgeous. Never had an Orion this good this young. It will age glacially but I have plenty of bottles. There is dark fruit, eucalyptus/menthol mostly absent. Already just a highlight. It’s yummy. Now back to NCAA championship game |
| Red |
2000 Sean Thackrey Orion Rossi VineyardSt. Helena Syrah Blend, Syrah more |
3/13/2019 - psusfca Likes this wine: 94 pointsMy Mea Culpa moment. I gave this wine an average rating 8 years ago. I was not patient enough. This has blossomed into a gorgeous wine that has the nose of an French Hermitage. Gorgeous wine. Dark fruit, the right acidity, earthiness, length from front to back of palate. I am going out on a limb given my memory these days, but this was one of my favorite Orion’s ever. Well done Sean. |
| Red |
2015 Loring Wine Company Pinot Noir Keefer Ranch VineyardGreen Valley of Russian River Valley more |
5/31/2018 - psusfca wrote: 81 pointsI have really liked Loring wines in the past. This one is far from a favorite. Candied fruit is at front and never goes away. I tried over two days. Just never found it more than ok |
| Red |
2006 Lieff Cabernet Sauvignon Auberge RoadRutherford more |
5/17/2018 - psusfca Likes this wine: 92 pointsI think this is delicious. It is on the softer side. Oak is just a hint in the background. Length goes from front to back of palate. Black fruits more prevalent for me. I was skeptical based on professional ratings, but I think this is an extremely well done Cab. Bravo |
| Red |
2001 Kathryn Kennedy Cabernet Sauvignon Small LotSanta Cruz Mountains more |
5/1/2018 - psusfca Likes this wine: 93 pointsI wish I had more of this wine. To us, it is In a great place. Fruit is still present in forefront and continues across the palate. A bit of leather upfront with earthiness carrying through with more dark fruits in the glass. I’d put this as a Grand Cru Bordeaux tasting blind. And a great one at that. Not as good as a 1998 La Mission Haut-Brion we had last week bit still stellar. |
| Red |
2002 Quilceda Creek Cabernet SauvignonWashington more |
4/9/2018 - psusfca Likes this wine: 98 pointsThis is just spectacular. Best Quilceda I've had ever. I hesitate to put this wine at such a high rating. Gorgeous blue fruits. Oak is present in a reasonable way at open, but fades to perfectly balanced in background. Its delicious. I don't think this bottle will get much better, so I think I'll drink the others over the next year or so. |
| Red |
2009 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Russian River Valleymore |
3/29/2018 - psusfca Likes this wine: 92 pointsJust a beautiful wine. This is delicious. It has delicious fruit, great stricture and a nice finish. My husband found more leather on the back end than wanted but I disagree. This has aged wonderfully. I think this wine has peaked. But it will stay here for a few years. It’s delicious. |
| Red |
2003 Merus Cabernet SauvignonNapa Valley more |
3/12/2018 - psusfca wrote: 86 pointsI love Merus wines. The smell is terrific. The wine has stayed over several hours in the candied fruit category. Just a bit too cloying. Oak is almost non-existent (and I have grown to dislike overoaked Cabs). It seems to be lacking fresh fruit flavors. I still enjoy it to an extent, but can't say I am close to wowed. I opened a 2006 Stryker Two Moon Cab to compare before we had dinner. The Stryker had better structure and tannins. Maybe this is in a dumb phase for the wine but can't say that it makes me excited for the bottles I still have. Maybe waited too long. Confusing wine. |
| Red |
2005 York Creek Vineyards Petit VerdotSpring Mountain District more |
2/23/2018 - psusfca Likes this wine: 93 pointsThis was delicious. The wine still seemed young but not too early. And at a $20 bargain price point, I wish I had bought multiple cases. It is exceptional. |
| Red |
2013 Sean Thackrey Orion Rossi VineyardSt. Helena Syrah Blend, Syrah more |
1/25/2018 - psusfca Likes this wine: 92 pointsThis is young, but I wanted to see what the rest of the bottles are going to become. But it is still delicious. Has some menthol/eucalyptus at first open, that dissipated a good amount upon Vinturi/air. This should improve with age - quite a bit I assume, but surprisingly delicious now. I usually do not open this early. 6 or 7 more to age |
| Red |
2011 Sean Thackrey Orion Rossi VineyardSt. Helena Syrah Blend, Syrah more |
12/4/2017 - psusfca Likes this wine: 93 pointsI opened this thinking it would be quite young but would open up. But it was really delicious shortly after a small decant. Dark fruit, some herbal but more restrained then I would have thought at this point in its journey. It will be even better down the road but delicious now. I would say that the length is not as long as I would normally expect. But delicious - well done |
| Red |
2001 Provenance Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Oakvillemore |
8/7/2017 - psusfca Likes this wine: 91 pointsThis was delicious. I think it is at a great point. Doubt it will get better but likely to hang at this tasty level for several years. Tannins are tame, oak is pleasantly in the background. Dark fruits predominate for me. Nice finish. Not super long, but quite good front to back. I've been mixed on Provenance wines from decent to delicious. This fits into delicious. |
| Red |
2007 Alpha Omega "Red Wine"Napa Valley Red Blend more |
6/5/2017 - psusfca Likes this wine: 92 pointsThis was simply delicious. Opened 3 hours before consumption. On open, tight and quite oaky. It turned into a yummy wine. Not great length on the palate, but nice mix of black and red fruits, touch of oak, and reasonable complexity. AO wines have aged better than I expected. 10 years old, and I think it will hold at this for a few years. But probably won't get better. So drinking now is a good option |
| Red |
2001 Conterno Fantino Barolo Sorì GinestraNebbiolo more |
3/10/2017 - psusfca Likes this wine: 96 pointsStunning juice. It needed some opening. But was great Tannins are resolved. Red and Back fruits. This goes across all palates. Oak is at the level (low) that I think is perfect. Wish I had more 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1) |
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- Tasting notes: 198 notes on 192 wines
