4/24/2024 - ipp Likes this wine:

This 30 year old cab is an elegant, well balanced beauty. It is not quite an old world style, nor a typical California cab classic ... but the best of both. Dark red color, wonderful nose and a very well rounded palate. Drinking really well at 30 ... I loved this wine. I wish I had more.

3/29/2024 - ipp Likes this wine:

great nose, good structure and balance

2/23/2024 - ipp Likes this wine:

wonderful nose of pineapple, wet slate and apple, on the palate it is a bit underwhelming by comparison to the nose. good long finish

2/15/2024 - ipp Likes this wine:

I am not sure ... I like it, but don't love it. Young, spirited, lighter tannins, strong, alcoholic nose. Very long finish, but a bit acidic.
First of 6 bottle bought in 2006.

2/7/2024 - ipp Likes this wine:

brink red color. tastes like the ripe, slightly raisins wine grapes from my grandmother’s backyard trellis. sweet, but not overly. very unique. really delicious. nice, long finish.

2/1/2024 - ipp Likes this wine:

dark caramel color. incredibly complex palate. sweet, but not cloying … apricot, maple, citrus and a little funk. very long, mouthwatering finish. i wish i had more

1/27/2024 - ipp Likes this wine:

Really nice, well aged. Nice nose, good balance. Been sitting on a case for 20 years. Drinking really well now. Class Margaux.

1/22/2024 - ipp Likes this wine:

Drank at Hawksmoor in NYC. Up against 2017 Bryant (very good, but too young), 1968 Latour (wonderful, but fading a bit) ... this was the winner of the night ... easily.
Awesome nose of blueberry, cassia and smoke. Impeccable balance. Long, juicy finish.

1/17/2024 - ipp Likes this wine:

Now is the time. Drinking perfectly. After four decades, still has beautiful color with NO bricking. Big, vibrant nose of mushrooms, underbrush, lavender and hints of dark fruit. Fantastic acidity in perfect harmony and balance with silky tannins. Near perfect.

1/12/2024 - ipp Likes this wine:

Beautiful nose of fruit and earth - blueberry and truffle, but well integrated … reminiscent of a winery at harvest. After 2 hours of decanting, good firm tannins, but well integrated. The nearly 15% alcohol is very well integrated, but obvious. On the palate, great structure, well balanced, blackberry on palate. Good acitic, but not too much … great with steak. Long finish.

12/31/2023 - ipp Likes this wine:

medium dark maple color. nose of apricots and boystris. sweet dried apricots repeat on the palate with hints of orange zest. not overly sweet or weighty … beautiful balance. long finish. lovely. still has years left. near perfect.

12/17/2023 - ipp Likes this wine:

Very good. Only drank half bottle ... second night was GREAT. Drinkable, but age worthy.

12/13/2023 - ipp Likes this wine:

great balance. delicious

11/15/2023 - ipp Likes this wine:

stud

11/15/2023 - ipp wrote:

first impression ... food friendly, not a stand alone glass of chianti

11/14/2023 - ipp Likes this wine:

beautiful nose of peach and apricot ... the palate was a interesting. Not sure I love it ... want to try again.

11/13/2023 - ipp wrote:

getting tired

11/7/2023 - ipp wrote:

a bit beyond its time

10/21/2023 - ipp Likes this wine:

If I didn’t know better, I would not guess this was a 24 year old cab. Still showing good color and a vibrant nose. It has good tannic structure and is in balanced with the 14.7% alcohol. Elegant. Still has time left. I am glad I have more.

10/9/2023 - ipp Likes this wine:

Has a huge, sweet nose with strong notes of strawberry taffy and flowers. Tons of flavor, though a bit disjointed ... strawberry candy, boystris and underbrush. Super viscous, balanced by some acidity. Long finish. Overall, this is a unique wine for a US plate. And, although not perfect, interesting and fun.

7/20/2023 - ipp Likes this wine:

still drinking well. soft but still very enjoyable

7/16/2023 - ipp Likes this wine:

drinking really well. I am not sure why the community's overall score is so low.

7/10/2023 - ipp Likes this wine:

still youthful

6/20/2023 - ipp Likes this wine:

This Spätlese is more balanced and complex than the recent bottles that I have tasting. It is at the top of the list of the group we have been trying in search of our next two case Spätlese purchase.
The wine is at the lower end of subtle sweetness, with good balance of acidity. Minerals are very obvious on the palate and present on the nose.

6/8/2023 - ipp Does not like this wine:

flabby, simple, nothing compelling at all

6/4/2023 - ipp wrote:

semi sweet, a little flabby, no complexity ... but, at this price point - decent value

5/27/2023 - ipp Likes this wine:

Experienced at Hawksmoor in NYC (great steakhouse). Fruit forward nose of candied fruit and spice. Wonderful balance on the palate. Great acidity. Long finish. Nice bottle to experience, but for the money I prefer a high-end new world cab.

5/27/2023 - ipp Likes this wine:

agree with other tasting notes - a bit out of balance with not enough acidity to hold up to the sweetness. But ... with sushi and wasabi, this wine ROCKS.

3/28/2023 - ipp wrote:

well aged. good balance. but on the decline

2/12/2023 - ipp Likes this wine:

Christmas gift - solid value ... well made, well structure cab from Paso Robles

1/17/2023 - ipp Likes this wine:

exceeded expectations. juicy, balanced cal cab. so good. love it.

1/15/2023 - ipp Likes this wine:

This wine is near perfect. The only other wine I have rated 99 or higher is the 1997 Bryant Family and 2003 Hundred Acre. Dark red/purple color, no browning at all. Nose of dried fruit, cassis and a bit of tobacco. Elegant and balanced on the palate, dominated by well integrated tannins, ripe fruit and a bit of oak. Wonderful mouth-feel, excellent finish. Drink it now, it is elite. (did not decant, opened 90 minutes prior to dinking, poured from bottle)

1/14/2023 - ipp Likes this wine:

WOW!!! This bottle was the star of a night lined up against a 98 Mouton, 85 Lynch Bages and 97 Lail. The 01 Insignia is drinking like a 4-5 year old, but with rounds edges. Beautiful bouquet, loads of dark ripe fruit ... almost candied. Great, integrated tanning, long finish. WOW ... sorry, already said that.

1/14/2023 - ipp Likes this wine:

I decanted 30 minutes after opening bottle two hours prior ... perfect. Aging beautifully. The tannins have really smoothed out. Good bottle bouquet. Still dark color. Earth, dark fruit and dark chocolate. Looking forward to drinking more of this great Mouton.

1/14/2023 - ipp Likes this wine:

This is the most unique white I have ever drank. Out of the bottle, the very dark yellow color catches your attention. On the nose, one could be faked into think they are sniffing a aged red bordeaux. I loved it for its uniqueness, I liked it on the palate.

1/1/2023 - ipp Likes this wine:

Needed air. After four hours, fruit emerged from this well structure, balanced, beautiful cab. Loved it.

12/25/2022 - ipp Likes this wine:

light, fruity, clear ... want to taste again

12/23/2022 - ipp wrote:

getting a bit tired

12/5/2022 - ipp Likes this wine:

Nose is a bit musty, maybe slightly corked. But great on the palate ... uncharacteristically fruit forward, but good balance of acid and refined tannins. Long, racy finish. Interesting.

11/27/2022 - ipp Likes this wine:

juicy. dark fruit. aging well. still kicking for a 15 year old zin. worthy of big RP score

7/27/2022 - ipp wrote:

a bit flat and tired

5/7/2022 - ipp Likes this wine:

well aged, still has 10+ years

2/14/2022 - ipp Likes this wine:

The 2001 is well aged. In my opinion, the 750ml is at its peak and will last 5+ at this top level. Soft, elegant and well balanced. I think the 1.5L have 10-15 years at this level before any drop off.

1/16/2022 - ipp Likes this wine:

drinking well. excellent balance, with beautiful harmony between tannins and acidity.

1/8/2022 - ipp Likes this wine:

It needed a few hours to open up and show its best. Beautiful dark purple. Big nose. Sweet, dark fruit … great tannins. Long finish. This is one of my favorite Lewellings.

12/31/2021 - ipp Likes this wine:

Excellent. This beautiful Lail is drinking so well … probably has at least a decade, if not two, left. Still has dark purple red color with no brick on the edges. Gorgeous bottle bouquet, followed by great balanced on the palate … fine tannins, good acidity and long finish. This is a real winner.

12/25/2021 - ipp Likes this wine:

complex and well balance

12/10/2021 - ipp wrote:

a bit past prime

10/9/2021 - ipp Likes this wine:

still youthful

10/8/2021 - ipp Likes this wine:

Fantastic LH Riesling. Nearly 30 years old and still so good! Awesome color, great balance. Raisin, ripe apple and honest.