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 an elegant fashion.
The Insider is carefully crafted from grapes grown within 4 sub-districts 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 pump-overs 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, and 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.
Specs
Vintage: 2020
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation: Paso Robles
Aging: 18 months in 2-year-old French Oak
Alcohol: 14.66%
pH: 3.73
Total Acidity 6.14 g/L
Residual Sugar: Dry
What’s Included
4-bottles:
4x 2020 The Insider Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles
Case:
12x 2020 The Insider Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles
Owners: Richard Bruno (Vinum), Chris Condos & Suzanne Hagins (Horse & Plow)
Founded: 1997
Location: Napa, CA
Vinum Cellars is a collaboration of winemakers Richard Bruno and Chris Condos, who first became friends while they were students at UC Davis. They share a long standing passion for Chenin Blanc and fondness for the more obscure grape varieties.
After graduation, Chris went to work for Pine Ridge as Enologist, and Richard went to Bonny Doon as their distiller. Shortly after, their friendship was solidified over Chenin Blanc with the creation of their first wine “Pointe Blanc”. Currently the Vinum Cellars team is working with over 14 grape varieties from El Dorado and San Benito Counties to Napa Valley.
Our basic winemaking philosophy is to work with great grape growers to develop the best fruit in the vineyard. We pick the grapes at optimal ripeness and gently process the fruit. We are very experimental with yeast strains and use different cultures for each variety. Our whites are barrel fermented slowly and aged Sur Lies in small French Oak barrels. With our reds, skin contact is optimized by the use of small open top fermentors, hand punch downs and extended maceration before pressing. Our belief in the use of older French Oak barrels allows the varietal fruit of our wines to be expressed. We are committed to experimenting and learning new winemaking methods while preserving an old world approach.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, ID, IL, KS, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WI, WY
The wife and i agree on the nose being full of dusty wood and some meatiness. I get a little more on the olive/briney side with some green pepper.
Quite light on tannin with a lingering bit of alcohol and doesn’t hide the 14.6% ABV well. I don’t get jammy cooked fruit and not a lot of overripeness either. It is quite herbal so the recommendations of rosemary-based pairings would work.
It did get better with air, so i’ll package up the rest of the bottle and try again tomorrow. It’s been open 5 hours and it’s opened up and blown off some of the olive that was VERY prominent at opening.
The finish is longer, and the herbaciousness is just as strong – tarragon and marigold being at the fore. Still very fruity with no tannin or grip. I’ll try to pair the remnants with dinner and see what comes of that!
Lab Rat checking in with a quick review. Let me say, it’s pretty good being an insider
Cork pull was clean, no dryness or sediment to be found. A good start!
Opening it I noticed some wafting fruit, maybe some plum and general “richness”. It was inviting. First taste was on the lighter side, and a little sweet. The finish was dry and I was looking forward to letting this air out a little.
My first pairing was with some homemade roasted chicken wings.
As I poured and paired the second glass, I found it to be less sweet and had good overall balance. My tasting journey continued over the next 2 nights, next with Indian takeout, and finally with some chicken parm. During that time, I found this wine to be approachable and really better with each night as it evened out more and more with time.
Really enjoyed this wine, and seems like a buy to me with this pricing. Just let it breathe a bit before you jump in!
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
2020 The Insider Cabernet Sauvignon - $50 = 23.80%
2020 The Insider Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles
Tasting Notes
Specs
What’s Included
4-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
$336.00/Case for 12x 2020 The Insider Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, ID, IL, KS, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Friday, Mar 3 - Monday, Mar 6
2020 The Insider Cabernet Sauvignon
4 bottles for $69.99 $17.50/bottle + $2/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $159.99 $13.33/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
Hello all!
I sit here with a glass of the 2020 “Insider”.
The wife and i agree on the nose being full of dusty wood and some meatiness. I get a little more on the olive/briney side with some green pepper.
Quite light on tannin with a lingering bit of alcohol and doesn’t hide the 14.6% ABV well. I don’t get jammy cooked fruit and not a lot of overripeness either. It is quite herbal so the recommendations of rosemary-based pairings would work.
It did get better with air, so i’ll package up the rest of the bottle and try again tomorrow. It’s been open 5 hours and it’s opened up and blown off some of the olive that was VERY prominent at opening.
DAY 2 LUNCH TEST!
(Stored recorked in the fridge overnight)
The finish is longer, and the herbaciousness is just as strong – tarragon and marigold being at the fore. Still very fruity with no tannin or grip. I’ll try to pair the remnants with dinner and see what comes of that!
Lab Rat checking in with a quick review. Let me say, it’s pretty good being an insider
Cork pull was clean, no dryness or sediment to be found. A good start!
Opening it I noticed some wafting fruit, maybe some plum and general “richness”. It was inviting. First taste was on the lighter side, and a little sweet. The finish was dry and I was looking forward to letting this air out a little.
My first pairing was with some homemade roasted chicken wings.
As I poured and paired the second glass, I found it to be less sweet and had good overall balance. My tasting journey continued over the next 2 nights, next with Indian takeout, and finally with some chicken parm. During that time, I found this wine to be approachable and really better with each night as it evened out more and more with time.
Really enjoyed this wine, and seems like a buy to me with this pricing. Just let it breathe a bit before you jump in!
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
2020 The Insider Cabernet Sauvignon - $50 = 23.80%