5/19/2024 - SonnyChiba wrote:

Awesome. Showing show nice elegance along with ripe fruit on the nose and palate. In a nice place right now. Would recommend drinking this one now.

5/8/2024 - SonnyChiba wrote:

Bottle was in good condition. Beautiful color - looked dark and rich, appearance only I would've guessed it was from the early 2000s. Holding up well overall, still has a good amount of fruit, dark fruit, backed by classic cedar and cigar wrapper. Worth noting that it faded quickly. Best to pop n pour and drink!

5/8/2024 - SonnyChiba wrote:

Finished last bottle from case. At 17 yrs old, this wine never really came around how I had hoped. It may just need to be left alone for a very long time.

4/29/2024 - SonnyChiba wrote:

Hovering around that 93-94 pts range at current age, a really nice wine. Benefited from about 30 minutes in the glass and gained a lot more nuance with air. Great mix of power and finesse. Complimented the course (Ryuzu in Roppongi) very well and was best priced option on their wine list (impressive list).

4/23/2024 - SonnyChiba wrote:

Weaker than other vintages of this wine I have had.

3/30/2024 - SonnyChiba wrote:

Excellent.

3/30/2024 - SonnyChiba wrote:

Very solid Oregon pinot. Clear ruby color to it. Light and tasty, red fruit, has some burgundy vibes.

3/27/2024 - SonnyChiba wrote:

Found it to be a little on the tight side initially but opened up after some time. Good fruit, very Merlot flavor profile. Nice wine!

3/27/2024 - SonnyChiba wrote:

The nose on this was incredible. Palate was great too, with classic Bordeaux characteristics, some early maturity showing through, some ripe fruit and smokiness. Drinking better than expected.

3/27/2024 - SonnyChiba wrote:

Served blind and guessed it correctly. Very enjoyable bottle. I really like where this is at right now.

3/21/2024 - SonnyChiba wrote:

Drank pretty well....Some ripe (with slightly sour) fruit, integrated tannins. Ready to drink.

3/21/2024 - SonnyChiba wrote:

An excellent wine. Very refreshing, good fruit, lots of fresh acidity. Loved it.

3/20/2024 - SonnyChiba wrote:

Bumping it up a point since 2020 tasting as I think this has developed very nicely and ready to drink now. Really lovely nose on this that is classic mature Bordeaux. Beautiful wine!

3/5/2024 - SonnyChiba wrote:

Decanted about an hour. This was in the zone! Has improved noticeably since last tasting 5 years ago. Beautiful nose, like a first growth. Ripe fruit, very elegant and layered, overall a complex wine that just kept pulling me back for more. Loved it!

3/5/2024 - SonnyChiba wrote:

Tasted blind and enjoyed this one. It does have a nice nose on it, and drinks well at the moment.

2/27/2024 - SonnyChiba wrote:

88-90pts. Very dark fruit driven and rich - like a full bodied cab. Meatier than I like my pinot. There's a delicious factor to this wine, but missing the elegance I seek out in good pinot. Might shed some some weight in the coming years. hopefully.

2/24/2024 - SonnyChiba wrote:

So good, love how pure the fruit tastes. Sheer elegance. Sadly, down to my last bottle.

2/24/2024 - SonnyChiba wrote:

Beautiful Bordeaux, really love where this at right now. Only room to improve, but for now it is damn tasty.

2/20/2024 - SonnyChiba wrote:

Solid wine at this point. Better than expected. Drank blind and thought it was and older Bordeaux.

2/15/2024 - SonnyChiba wrote:

Drinking well - nose of a super tuscan with rich ripe fruit like an older napa valley cab. A very fun wine to try, always liked Clos Apalta and haven't had one in a while.

2/9/2024 - SonnyChiba wrote:

This is starting to enter a nice drinking window. Decanted for about 90 minutes, definitely improved but the nose was rocking right off the bat. Would be fun to taste this along side other 05's and see how it stacks up, but definitely a beautiful Bordeaux wine with plenty of character, gorgeous now but plenty of time ahead.

2/9/2024 - SonnyChiba wrote:

A wonderful riesling. The nose was so compelling on this. Rich fruit, good acidity, touch of petrol as you'd expect.

2/9/2024 - SonnyChiba wrote:

Fantastic. Modern style and fruit forward, but carried by excellent balance and elegance, good purity of fruit. A lovely wine for drinking now, with plenty of life ahead.

2/4/2024 - SonnyChiba wrote:

Floral and red fruit driven nose and palate. Very fresh, clean, with nice acidity. Didn't realize these wines are 100% Sangiovese. Needs time for sure, but quality wine. 90-92pts range.

2/3/2024 - SonnyChiba wrote:

Had this bottle in the cellar for 12 years and was excited to finally open it. Very Insignia like or aged Napa cab- dried fruit, prune, rich and dense flavor profile. These older Napa wines of this era still come off somewhat one dimensional at times and lack structure, or port like. But I think this 2002 was more interesting than other vintages of Insignia from the late 90s. It has a luxurious feel to it and paired well with a T-Bone steak.

1/18/2024 - SonnyChiba wrote:

Showing some nice age right now, not sure how much it will improve. Having tried older vintages of Insignia I think this 09’ is in a sweet spot for my preference.

1/12/2024 - SonnyChiba wrote:

WOTN. Gorgeous on the nose, super floral and fresh, mixed with ripe red fruits. Bright with great acidity, balance, and great length. Wish I had more of these to stash away for a few years. Only downside to these wines are the high price points, especially here in Tokyo.

1/12/2024 - SonnyChiba wrote:

Holding up pretty well at age 50. Nice weight to it, creamy and sherry like on the finish, good length. Better than expected but best days are behind.

1/12/2024 - SonnyChiba wrote:

Notes consistent with previous tasting last year.

1/12/2024 - SonnyChiba wrote:

Beautiful wine. Medium bodied, elegant and complex. Drinking well

1/12/2024 - SonnyChiba wrote:

Very consistent with my tasting notes from 2020. In good spot now.

1/12/2024 - SonnyChiba wrote:

Fully mature, drinking well, classic Bordeaux characteristics. A nice wine but not one I would seek out.

1/12/2024 - SonnyChiba wrote:

Not my favorite Insignia. A little too port like and concentrated for my liking.

1/3/2024 - SonnyChiba wrote:

Fantastic wine, even right now. The nose on this is so appealing , like a bouquet of fresh flowers, perfume spice, cherry fruit. Couldn’t get enough of the nose. Gave it some time in the glass and it opened up wonderfully. Despite its youth and future potential it drinks surprisingly well now. Will be even more amazing in another 8-10 years.

12/19/2023 - SonnyChiba wrote:

Drinking very well. A lighter/medium-bodied vintage and wine, but with a nice layer of ripe fruit. Definitely not a powerhouse Sassicaia but very enjoyable.

12/18/2023 - SonnyChiba wrote:

Couldn’t be more different than my last tasting 10 years ago. As with many 2001, This has evolved so nicely. Beautiful balance of fruity and earthy components. Really enjoyed this!

12/17/2023 - SonnyChiba wrote:

What a beauty....Ornellaia never fails. This 2009 has great depth of fruit and power, but with great elegance and complexity as well. I think this wine will be incredible in another 10 yrs.

12/16/2023 - SonnyChiba wrote:

Loved it. Needed some air time, but opened up nicely. Really tasty barolo with plenty of life ahead.

12/4/2023 - SonnyChiba wrote:

This is so tasty right now. A huge improvement over last tasting just 3 years ago. The nose is very pretty and hoped it matched on the palate, thankfully it did, and then some. Floral ripe cherry fruit, very pure, great weight and balance. Lovely Pinot

11/22/2023 - SonnyChiba wrote:

Really drinking well at the moment. Have had the 904 from this vintage many times, and I can see this 890 is a slight nudge above. A fantastic Rioja now but plan to hold a couple of these back to see it evolve. 94-95pts

11/22/2023 - SonnyChiba wrote:

Superb wine. Another 01’ hitting just right. I’ve had this before and love it’s superior balance and elegance.

11/22/2023 - SonnyChiba wrote:

The best Sauternes I’ve had. Leaving some room with regards to point score just in case, but this is amazing and as perfect as I’ve tasted. Wow.

11/19/2023 - SonnyChiba wrote:

92+ ...A very good vintage for Beaucastel - while I don't enjoy these wines as much as I used to, this 2010 is drinking lovely.

11/19/2023 - SonnyChiba wrote:

Delicious wine. Has picked up some elegance at age 11 to go along with its rich dark fruit. Better balance than I remember too. Really enjoyed this.

10/3/2023 - SonnyChiba wrote:

This is fantastic right now. Love it....no rush to drink either.

9/17/2023 - SonnyChiba wrote:

Fantastic!

9/17/2023 - SonnyChiba wrote:

Great wine. A 2005 worth opening now. Still has rich red fruit full bodied and silky tannins. Little bit of age showing through.

9/17/2023 - SonnyChiba wrote:

Very solid Brunello. Classic style. Feels very quality. Drinking well with more upside 91+

9/4/2023 - SonnyChiba wrote:

No tasting note but remember thinking this was very good- a tad bit tight still, with nice tannin structure, should be fantastic.

8/13/2023 - SonnyChiba wrote:

Drinking well at the moment. Pretty bouquet. Little bit of sour cherry notes, some nice acidity as well. A nice wine if you can still find it reasonably priced.