Wines (12 View)

94 points Wine Spectator
A dynamic blend, combining deep structure with finesse and polish, this features black cherry and cassis flavors laced with toasty spice, red licorice and a hint of dusty herbs as it builds tension toward refined tannins. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2030

92 points Vinous
The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is a tasty, easygoing Cabernet Sauvignon to drink now and over the next 10-15 years. Bright red/purplish berry fruit, spice and lifted floral notes lend freshness to this attractive, vibrant, mid-weight Cabernet. The 2019 is very nicely done, and is also one of the most approachable wines of the year, even though there is plenty of grip.

94 points James Suckling
This is really beautiful with raspberry, blackberry and blueberry aromas and flavors. It?????s full-to medium-bodied with firm, integrated tannins and a beautiful finish. Shows lots of finesse and polish in the texture. Some may find it a little austere, but it should soften in a year or two. Better after 2021.

94+ points Jeb Dunnuck
The deeper purple-hued 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is a terrific Oakville effort loaded with pure cassis fruit as well as notes of spicy oak, scorched earth, and tobacco. Classic Napa Cabernet in every way, it?????s medium to full-bodied, has ripe, polished tannins, a terrific spine of acidity, and the balance and purity to evolve for 20-25 years if well stored.

93 points Wine Advocate
Groth's 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve substantially raises the stakes, showing much more richness and concentration than the regular Cabernet Sauvignon. Black cherries and cassis appear on the nose, framed by cedar and vanilla, while the medium to full-bodied palate is velvety and expansive, flowing easily into a long, harmonious finish dusted with soft tannins.1.

Winemaker Notes:
This Hess Select Cabernet features grapes from some of the best vineyards in Napa and Lake county. The wine showcases a ruby color with aromas red raspberry and dark cherry. Flavors of red raspberry, black cherry follow with spicy notes of currants, anise, cloves, cedar and a touch of vanilla. This soft, round, medium-bodied wine tastes like Cabernet should.
This Cabernet is perfect with an informal BBQ straight through to Saturday night. Dishes incorporating sweet peppers, caramelized onions or roasted Portobello mushrooms, a hearty bacon burger with blue cheese, barbecued shrimp, and mild blue cheeses or cheddar cheese. All these dishes pair well with the Hess Select Cabernet.

"Bright acidity lends a crisp freshness to the flavors of peach, passionfruit, and lemongrass, artfully
balanced by a touch of freshly squeezed grapefruit and lime. Juicy and refreshing, with aromas of
jasmine, peach, and grapefruit rind. Medium-bodied, with a lingering finish." Winemaker notes

Aged on light lees 10% in neutral oak tanks (the oak tanks help develop mid-palate texture without adding any oak flavor) 90% in stainless steel tanks
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The fruit for this wine comes from our sustainably farmed vineyard in Rutherford, as well as other nearby vineyards.

99 pts James Suckling
Blackberry and black chocolate with mint, conifer and clove. Sweet tobacco, violets and flowers, too. Some graphite. Cool and complex. Full-bodied with ultra fine, dusty tannins and a wonderful, extremely long finish. Savory and refined. A classic-styled 2018. This needs time, but is so approachable and gorgeous. One of the best Insignias ever. Alive and changing all the time. 40% Stags Leap AVA. 87% cabernet sauvignon, 8% petit verdot, 3% malbec and 2% cabernet franc. Leave this for five or six years, but so wonderful now.

97 pts Wine Advocate
The 2018 Insignia is a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc. The vineyard sources this year include: 30% Las Rocas (Stags Leap District),18% Yountville (Oak Knoll District), 13% Banca Dorada (Rutherford), 18% Suscol (South Napa Valley), 14% Home Ranch (St. Helena), 12% Las Rocas (Stags Leap District), 7% Barboza (Stags Leap District). It was aged for 24 months in 100% new French oak barrels. Deep garnet-purple colored, it comes storming out of the glass with powerful notes of blackcurrant cordial, stewed black plums and boysenberries, plus hints of cedar chest, graphite, menthol and wet slate with a fragrant waft of clove oil. The medium to full-bodied palate already demonstrates remarkable balance at this youthful stage, featuring a firm backbone of fine-grained tannins and bold freshness to support the tightly wound, crunchy black fruits, finishing long and spicy. 17,000 cases were made.

97 pts Vinous
The 2018 Insignia is a boisterous, explosive wine. Medium in body and gracious, with striking aromatic presence and tons of silkiness, the 2018 is all class. Today it comes across as a more refined version of the 2016, with similar depth, but riper, sweeter tannin and perhaps a touch more finesse as well. I can't wait to taste it from bottle.

Winemaker Notes:
Upon arrival at the winery, the grapes were carefully destemmed and transferred to upright tanks for a two-day cold soak. The wine saw 15 to 20 days of maceration time and was pumped over two to three times daily to build its round, elegant mouthfeel. Each lot was aged and evaluated separately, with the final blend taking place in May 2019. In total, the wine aged for 16 months in a combination of French and American oak barrels (29% new).

The 2005 is bottled and made in a rich yet elegant style, with loamy currant, spice and dried berry with a touch of cedary oak and a hint of graphite. It’s very tight and young now, but well-balanced and fairly typical of the 2005 vintage for Napa Cabernet. - WS

Winemaker Notes:
The Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon brims with black currant, blackberry, some sage and cedar underscored with mocha and tobacco threads. This wine's lush core of bright blackberry, dark cherry and graphite are complemented by expressive earthy and toffee notes on the mid-palate. The finish is full of well-rounded fine-grained tannins and fresh, balanced acidity making this Cabernet the perfect pairing for port-braised beef short ribs topped with mint leaves.