2020 The Insider, Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles
The color of this fine Cabernet is medium plum with brick red edges. The aromas are deep with supple bing cherry and dried cherry notes and backed by integrated vanilla and toasted oak. The palate enters with silky tannins and is wrapped generously with ripe cherry and cassis. The palate is multi-layered with cherry and boysenberry with layers of integrated French oak tannins and lactone which brace the fruit and provide a matrix on which the fruit presents itself in elegant fashion.
The Insider is carefully crafted from grapes grown within 4 subdistricts within the Paso Robles AVA: Adelaida, Templeton Gap, Creston and Santa Margarita Ranch. We vinify each of these vineyards separately and process and ferment each independently to bring the best out of each vineyard. After a 3-4 day cold soak we ferment each Cabernet lot over 3 daily pumpovers prolonging the skin contact until 14 days have elapsed. We then rack each onto French oak and put the wines through Malo-Lactic fermentation. The wines are racked, sulfured and laid to rest in 2 year old French oak for a period of 18 months. During its life in the cellar it is racked 4 times. Once the final blend has been made the final (5th rack) combines our selection of each vineyard which is clearly expressed in the bottle. The name "The Insider" comes from the confidentiality agreement we had to sign in order to purchase the grapes from the vines of a well known winery producing world class wines. With our insider connections and knowledge we are able to offer you a wine of exceptional quality and pedigree at a price that will amaze.
This wine pairs well with sea salt seasoned Rosemary chicken served with fresh steamed green beans and organic couscous with wild mushrooms. Other favorites are grilled New York Steak or pan seared Filet Mignon served with fingerling potatoes, roasted Ciopollini Onions sautéed with wild mushrooms. The best vegetarian option is a well built Impossible Burger with grilled or sautéed onions, white cheddar, tomatoes, lettuce and kosher pickles. This is a nice Cabernet Sauvignon for sipping anytime and anywhere and will age well through 2032.
2019
92 PTS, James Suckling
"Notes of cocoa-dusted black cherries, dried blueberries, leather, sweet tobacco and nutmeg. Dense and fleshy with a full body and plush, velvety tannins. Deep core of ripe purple fruit and a chocolaty finish. Drink or hold."
89 PTS, Wine Enthusiast
"Baked blackberry, cracked pepper and loads of oak spice show on the nose of this bottling. There's a viscous, nearly sweet character to the palate, which is hefty in body and ripe with dark fruit flavors." - MK
2018
90 PTS, Wine Enthusiast
This wine pairs well with Bolognese pastas or stews as well as anything off the grill from seared skirt steak to pan seared Filet Mignon served with truffle mashed potatoes and haricots verts seasoned with sea salt. For a vegetarian option try it with Dal (curried lentils) over basmati rice and serve with yogurt, mint chutney and onion naan. This is a nice Cabernet Sauvignon for sipping anytime and anywhere.
2017
90 PTS, Wine Enthusiast, December 2019
The name "The Insider" comes from the confidentiality agreement we had to sign in order to purchase the grapes from the vines of a well known winery producing world class wines. With our insider connections and knowledge we are able to offer you a wine of exceptional quality and pedigree at a price that will amaze.
This big cab has a deep, dark plum color with purple hues with nice viscosity illustrating the dense weight and alcohol percent. The aromas are classic Bordeaux notes such as blueberry, huckleberry, pencil lead and cassis notes. The palate is ripe and rich with supple, silky black cherry and blueberry flavors. The mid palate showcases the ripe fruit and integrated French oak.
After opening up, the wine reveals a vibrant Cabernet Sauvignon tannin structure which showcases both its backbone and age-ability while finishing with rich plummy and ripe cherry fruit and cherry vanilla on the finish.
This wine has been carefully crafted from grapes grown within 4 subdistricts in the Paso Robles AVA: Adelaida, Templeton Gap, Creston and Santa Margarita Ranch. We vinify each of these vineyards separately and process and ferment each independently to bring the best out of each vineyard. After a 3-4 day cold soak we ferment each Cabernet lot over 3 daily pumpovers prolonging the skin contact until 14 days have elapsed. We then rack each onto French oak and put the wines through Malo-Lactic fermentation. Once the wine is racked, sulfured and laid to rest in 2 year old French oak for a period of 15 months it is then transferred into brand new French oak barrels for an additional 3 months. During its life in the cellar it is racked 4 times. Once the final blend has been made the final (5th rack) combines our selection of each vineyard which is clearly expressed in the bottle.
100% Cabernet Sauvignon
3,000 cases
2016
San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, January 2019
BRONZE MEDAL
2015
88 points
Wine Enthusiast, December 2017
2014
90 points
Tasting Panel March 2017
“Smooth and lush with dense plum, blackberry and
cassis fruit; lush and balanced; long and earthy.”
89 points
Wine Enthusiast, February 2017