Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.2

2022 vintage. Precious, delicate and wrapped with care. Wanted a longer finish but not forthcoming with this vintage. Pricing precludes serious consideration this vintage. Betting the 2023 will be JJ Walker "Dy-No-Mite!" 6.25.26. — 9 days ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Hevron Heights Winery – The Jacob’s Ladder, Murciano Barrel Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Judean Hills – Israel 🇮🇱

Overview
An exclusive release of only 4,400 bottles, this Cabernet Sauvignon reflects the elegance of the 2014 vintage in the Judean Hills. Tasting from bottle #2945 felt like a privilege, as this limited series captures both rarity and regional character with poise.

Aromas & Flavors
Layered blackcurrant, blackberry, and ripe plum, accented by cedar, tobacco, and graphite. With air, notes of dried herbs, leather, and warm spice emerge, adding depth to the fruit.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied yet graceful, with polished tannins and balanced acidity. Matured into a silky texture over time, showing structure without heaviness. The finish is long and expressive, leaving traces of dark fruit and earthy spice.

Food Pairings
Perfect with lamb chops, braised short ribs, or roasted beef. Also pairs beautifully with aged cheeses or mushroom-based dishes that echo its earthy tones.

Verdict
A rare and refined Cabernet that demonstrates both the potential of Judean Hills terroir and the grace of a well-aged vintage. Complex, elegant, and memorable — a true collector’s gem: bottle #2945 of only 4,400 produced. 🍷

Did You Know?
“The Jacob’s Ladder” line pays homage to biblical symbolism of connection between heaven and earth, echoing the winery’s vision of linking heritage with fine winemaking. — 9 months ago

Andrew McIntyre

9.6

Wow what a wine. Aged perfectly with power and grace. Highly recommmend! — a year ago

Ming L

9.5

The “Black Label” edition of the ‘18 vintage for 50th anniversary of the winery, with 3% Cab from the Backus vineyard - a first time for Insignia. Not sure that makes a difference.
Truly an exceptional wine even by Insignia standard. Complex notes of blackberry, red plum, cassis, cedar, tobacco, baking spices, menthol, and light forest floor that do not try to overwhelm your senses. Power and grace on the palate with impeccable balance.
Drinking beautifully now but patience will be rewarded. — 2 years ago

Tim L

8.9

Over-rated and over-priced but it’s the name and reputation driving this wine. For the price it should be more than “middlin”…not so…has decent balance and flavor but no saving grace from average… — 5 years ago

George mangum

9.2

Excellent finish. Smooth and bold without being too fruity. — 5 years ago

Brit Young

9.2

Strawberry, rich, very smooth. So good with our elk steaks! Catan night with Jared, Sam and Jess (and Grace). — 5 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2023 vintage. Last tasted 6.3.26 (9.1). That was PNP. This version had been open 4 hours. Excellent stuffing and solid structure in place. Unified and all pulling the rope the same direction. 6.24.26. — 9 days ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.3

Monticello Vineyards – Cabernet Sauvignon – 2019
Tietjen Vineyard, Rutherford, Napa Valley – California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
Crafted from the iconic Tietjen Vineyard in Rutherford, this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is a benchmark example of Napa’s famed “Rutherford Dust.” The vineyard’s gravel, loam, and sandy soils, influenced by both volcanic and marine deposits, contribute to its distinctive character. Produced in limited quantities, this reserve bottling exemplifies elegance and terroir-driven depth.

Aromas & Flavors
Lush red and black berry fruit with cassis at the core, layered with sweet vanillin oak, caramel, and subtle spice. Rutherford’s earthy dust signature emerges with grace, adding complexity and balance.

Mouthfeel
Rich and full-bodied, yet polished. Fine-grained tannins wrap the fruit in elegance, with a long, supple finish that lingers with both freshness and finesse.

Food Pairings
Perfect alongside grilled ribeye, lamb chops, truffle risotto, or aged gouda.

Verdict
An iconic Rutherford Cabernet—textbook definition of power meeting refinement. Age-worthy yet approachable now with proper decanting. Cheers!

Did You Know?
The phrase “Rutherford Dust” was coined by André Tchelistcheff, Napa’s legendary winemaker, to describe the unique terroir-driven, fine powdery tannins and earthy nuance that define Cabernet Sauvignon from Rutherford. — 8 months ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

Still going strong at 34 yrs. This was my last btl purchased on release when visiting Grace family vineyards where the wine was produced. Very tiny production showing black fruits, sweet spices, cedar, leather, earth & tobacco — a year ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.5

This is the Rutherford not the Napa bottling.
Great nose once it opens up


Force & Grace winemaker Jean Hoefliger, who’s crafted Cabernet Sauvignon at legendary estates including Château Lynch-Bages and Alpha Omega.

Winemaker’s Notes
Our Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from two vineyards in Rutherford, a small AVA at the widest part of Napa Valley, where vines enjoy the most sunshine hours of any appellation. The distinctive terroir found in these historic sites, one dating as far back as the 1800s, as well as the utilization of modern vineyard design and advanced farming techniques, produces fruit with dark red color, savory notes, and an elegant tannin structure that lends ageability to the final product.

We hand-pick our fruit at night, sort the fruit at the winery to keep only the best berries, and age our wine for 22 months in 50-60% new French oak, lending oak sweetness and toastiness — 2 years ago

Ron R

9.2

Sunday nite with my wife and soulmate. She chose one of her faves to compliment our dinner.. always a strong presentation, not as present as the 16 vintage. It’s extracted, but doesn’t display the poise and grace that we have become accustomed to with this bottling. Given the price, I won’t purchase more than the 3 bottles that I have. — 5 years ago

with Anne-marie

Sam Lando

9.2

Beautiful purity, depth of fruit, and grace. Delicious. — 6 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2022 vintage. Beautiful stuff. Rolls in at nearly $300 a bottle retro cost tho. The 2019 vintage was off the charts. Will hold out for the 2023 rollout. 6.25.26. — 9 days ago

Conrad Green

9.4

Gorgeous and intense. Rounded savory flavors. Inky dark fruit. Some hints of menthol and kirsch. Pure and delicious. From mag — 6 months ago

with Peter, Gregg and 1 other

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Jack Winery – Proprietary Red Blend 2022
Napa Valley, California – USA 🇺🇸

Overview
Crafted as a small-lot, carefully curated Bordeaux-style blend, this wine showcases Jack Winery’s dedication to balance and terroir expression. The 2022 vintage is composed of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Cabernet Franc, 16% Petit Verdot, and 6% Malbec, each varietal bringing a distinct layer of complexity to the finished wine .

Aromas & Flavors
The nose opens with striking aromas of blackberry, black licorice, mission fig, and violets. On the palate, expect a plush wave of black cherry and black licorice, edged with rosemary, finishing silky and long with notes of French vanilla, burnt caramel, and tobacco spice .

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied and seamless, this wine balances density with grace. The polished tannins integrate beautifully with firm acidity, leading into a smooth, lingering finish that feels refined yet powerful.

Winemaking Notes
Hand-harvested from premium Napa vineyards, each varietal is fermented individually and then aged in French oak barrels—with a portion of new oak used to enhance complexity while maintaining harmony  .

Food Pairing
Rich enough to stand with grilled lamb chops, braised short ribs, or aged cheeses, yet elegant enough to complement slow-roasted pork or mushroom risotto. A versatile Napa blend for both hearty and refined food.

Verdict
A showcase of Jack Winery’s blending artistry. The 2022 Proprietary Red Blend delivers structure, finesse, and layered flavor—bold yet approachable, and built for both sipping now and savoring down the road. Cheers! — 10 months ago

Tom Garland

9.1

Decant and pour. On the nose: Terrific nose of stewed plum, eucalyptus, herbaceous, smoke, black olives, and mushroom. Taste: smooth, creamy, dry wine with blackberry, pencil lead, dried herbs, smoke, dark cherry, earth, and a medium finish. — 2 years ago

with Brenda

David Kline

9.1

Grace family st Helena cab 2018
Juicy plum and blackberry, cedar, oak and cherry, violets and smoke.
Firm tannins support black pepper, black cherry and cassis in abundance. Mouth-coating and intense with tertiary flavors of violet and graphite cinnamon and licorice.






#cabernetsauvignon #cab

#napavalley

#sthelena #napa

#napacab #estategrown — 3 years ago

Ron R

9.8

@David L graciously opened his cellar up to us, and we are so grateful.
This is just disgracefully strong. Poise, grace and texture. A model of restraint, yet makes you sit up and take notice. I think I’m gonna swig from the bottle! — 5 years ago

with Mike, Diana and 3 others

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.8

Thats some great juice @Benoit Touquette wine.👍🏼
Winery notes

STORY

Benoit Touquette has continued to serve as winemaker since 2006.

The first vines the family planted were one acre of Bosche clone Cabernet Sauvignon grafted to budwood provided by Dick Grace of Grace Family Vineyards. The first few vintages were also made at Grace Family Vineyards, until the winery on the estate was completed, with Andy Erickson as winemaker. The winery's first release was an estate Cabernet Sauvignon in 1990, which sold out immediately, and with subsequent vintages, Hartwell established a reputation for fine Cabernet Sauvignon.

Over the years, other parcels of the property were planted, allowing the winery to produce other Cabernet Sauvignons, as well as Merlot, a red dessert wine, and a red wine blend. In 2006, the Hartwells purchased a 4.5-acre vineyard in Carneros from which they produce a Bordeaux-inspired Sauvignon Blanc, and brought acclaimed winemaker Benoit Touquette on board to oversee production.


Hartwell Vineyards was founded in 1986 when Bob Hartwell purchased 90 acres of Wappo Hill—the half of Wappo Hill not owned by Robert Mondavi—in the Stags Leap District of Napa Valley.

The fruit for the T5 Cabernet Sauvignon hails from the highest point on the Hartwell estate, blocks 14 and 15, which were planted to Bosche clone 30 years ago. The 100% Cabernet wine ages for two years in T5 barriques, rare and prized barrels from famed French cooperage house, Taransaud. These barrels are toasted and crafted from five-year seasoned staves by coopers who have been awarded the title of “Meilleur Ouvrier de France” (Best Craftsman in France). Much like some of the finest wines, they are available only to a select list of customers due to their limited availability.

Each year, a mere 100 cases of Hartwell T5 are produced, available only by allocation to members of the T5 Cabernet Sauvignon wine club. — 6 years ago