8/30/2021 - Aspenhawk Likes this wine:

I was pleasantly surprised by this one … expected little. Initial nose and taste was a little off putting. But won me over by 30 minutes later.

Enjoy

5/31/2019 - Aspenhawk Likes this wine:

Great wine right now. Open and enjoy or keep for 10 more

7/2/2017 - Aspenhawk Likes this wine:

in /12 i gave this a 93 i believe... 5 years later, i will give it a 95. We gave it a little over an hour in the decantor and served with tender medallions of beef ... again... Fantastic...

12/5/2016 - Aspenhawk Likes this wine:

really drinking well right now.. full body, light tannin however. dark red/ruby color

12/5/2016 - Aspenhawk Likes this wine:

Deep ruby color, i would say strong black cherry with easy tannins, slight vanilla hint, and classic soft merlot finish

10/20/2014 - Aspenhawk wrote:

bam!
Nailed it... it’s got a lot of layers, but it’s so easy to drink and love in the moment

The wine is a light ruby colored. The legs are slow. It tastes like blackberry. The body is medium/full. The wine has round texture and finishes medium.

7/20/2014 - Aspenhawk Likes this wine:

This wine is drinking very well right now. Decant for 30 - 45 minutes. Serve with your choice of red meat... we enjoyed with some great corn fed Steak!
This will be good till 2019 for sure.

7/17/2014 - Aspenhawk Likes this wine:

outstanding balanced Cab!!!!

7/17/2014 - Aspenhawk Likes this wine:

great Cab that continues to please!

1/5/2014 - Aspenhawk wrote:

outstanding.. must let this one breathe a while!

1/5/2014 - Aspenhawk wrote:

Great ruby color, with great fruit and maybe dark chocolate on the nose. Decanted for 2 hours before we started enjoying this... rich and full wine that is great in the mouth.
Long finish... will be great to cellar and enjoy in a few years. I think beyond 2015

10/1/2013 - Aspenhawk wrote:

dark garnet in color,
Great Zinfandel opens with aromas of berries and fruit and some oak.
a Zin in a cabernet style
berry along with hints of tobacco and chocolate.

9/26/2013 - Aspenhawk Likes this wine:

This wine is wonderful... decanted for 1.5 hours. loved the berry and almost chocolate aroma.
I agree with the vintner: "The character of the fruit is dark & brooding\"
there are many years left to enjoy the great depth of this wine.

9/26/2013 - Aspenhawk wrote:

i notice berry and licorice with a great finish.
served some steak and cheeses with this wine, great pairing.
don't be in any hurry to get out of the cellar, there is still plenty time for this one.

9/20/2013 - Aspenhawk Likes this wine:

This wine is a BIG wine and is drinking really well now. Decanted for 1.5 hours allowing you to get the full nose. Certainly blackberry and cherry. in the mouth i get lots of fruit with a deep chocolate or leather.. it changed over the time we drank it. long nice finish!

5/28/2013 - Aspenhawk wrote:

this has great potential.. still very young and big.. but great balance and body

4/6/2013 - Aspenhawk Likes this wine:

Great Cabernet nose!- cherry, slightly smoky with mint adding complexity. Good body, flavor- cherry, vanilla, and a little bit of brown spice on the finish. The tannins have integrated nicely, although they still have a little bit of grip on the finish....the acidity is well integrated and the finish lingers nicely. Overall, this is a great Cabernet - it's drinking well now with a bit of air and/or some food, but should continue to develop a little more over the next 2-3 + years.

10/7/2012 - Aspenhawk wrote:

We felt this was a well structured Pinot. After 1 hour in the decanter it was full of berry flavors.. maybe some vanilla or tea flavors.
The wine looks Violet colored. It smells like Blackberry, and Blueberry. It tastes like Blackberry, and Nutmeg or maybe vanilla. The body is Light/Medium. The wine has Round texture and finishes Medium.

10/3/2012 - Aspenhawk wrote:

this was a great wine. Decanted for over an hour... as others have mentioned aromas of: floral or vanilla, maybe even a touch of bark. Great smooth finish... left you wanting more at the end. Great wine from Silver Oak

9/25/2012 - Aspenhawk wrote:

Fortunately decanted this for almost 2 hours... opened to a full smooth wonderful balck cherry flavor. Others found the hint of tobacco, I personally did not. From reading the other reviews here, this wine needs it time on the decantor and for most folks likely needs to be served with a fine beef dish. We happend to have it with some boneless ribs as well as steak tips... it was delicious!

7/18/2012 - Aspenhawk wrote:

decanted for one hour... needed more to really reach it's peak. It is wonderful in the mouth.. smooth.

2/18/2012 - Aspenhawk wrote:

this is drinking really well right now. Great nose of berries. Soft/smooth berries and chocolate in the mouth and a lingering easy finish of maybe vanilla.

2/13/2012 - Aspenhawk wrote:

this is a great $27 cabernet... Full body. definite berry flavors in the mouth with a bit of vanilla on the end. Just the right amount of tannins to give a smooth finish. Drinking really well right now.

1/29/2012 - Aspenhawk wrote:

Dark Red almost purple. Blackberry and maybe a little vanilla on the nose.
Lush and rich, intense structure that is strong on the palate. The finish is rich and long. Great Cabernet.

1/1/2012 - Aspenhawk wrote:

A great Chardonnay that never dissappoints - nice golden color. citrusy soft in the mouth. was great with the crab and seafood we served NYE.

12/25/2011 - Aspenhawk wrote:

Be sure to decant as others have indicated... 2 hours is a perfect amount of time.
Enjoy

11/16/2011 - Aspenhawk wrote:

this a great wine. Dark Red in the glass with strong legs. I had read the other notes and we did let it breath for almost 2 hours to a point the nose had nice arouma of berrys for sure and some oak or spice....
nice in the mouth velvety and rich like most Insignia. I don't see this geting a lot better.. I think it is a drink now or in the next 18 months.

8/6/2011 - Aspenhawk wrote:

Interesting Character in the mouth, definite berry comes through. A very smooth or maybe quiet finish. Ends very quickly. I think I would call this a drinker.

7/23/2011 - Aspenhawk wrote:

great nose.. balanced fruit. Great Cab. have a little chocolate with this one for an excellent evening.

7/10/2011 - Aspenhawk wrote:

This wine does not disappoint... as long as you realize what it is. After all, it IS a conundrum! It is not a chardonnay. So don't compare it to one. It is sweet, yet not. It will be entirely different with each course of a meal and will be ok with them all. Just enjoy

7/10/2011 - Aspenhawk wrote:

wow.. what a surprise! This is a great summer wine to have in the fridge. Clean and crisp. Great with grilled salmon and grilled scallops. Definite fruit and touch of grass.
Just line the webpage sez: "Medium bodied on the palate, the wine is fresh and lively and all about summer and swimming pools and picnics and uncomplicated fun. "

6/26/2011 - Aspenhawk wrote:

I have go to say this was a nice surprise purchas. fortunately ran through the ariator for the first two glasses - lots of sediment> Great nose.. berries and maybe mushrooms. Good oak and fruit that is full in the mouth.

6/22/2011 - Aspenhawk wrote:

Nice full bodied cab. Oak on the nose, Garnet in color, Blackberry, dark cherry, chocolate, cassis, and good oak. decanted for an hour.. very smooth for as big as it is.

6/19/2011 - Aspenhawk wrote:

This is a nice wine, it is a deep garnet color, floral nose. good fruit with maybe some vanilla. great legs and felt smooth in the mouth.
Glad I found it!

5/25/2011 - Aspenhawk wrote:

Nice ruby red. Interesting earthy with pine needles on the palate. Definite chocolate on the finish

5/20/2011 - Aspenhawk wrote:

This is the last of a case of this wine.. It has help up well, but is not robust. Past time to drink compared to the other bottles.... vanilla with a little berry on the nose.. very quick to finish

4/12/2011 - Aspenhawk wrote:

very good cabernet. Well balanced. Dark ruby in color, great full nose. Typical of Chat. Monte.

4/9/2011 - Aspenhawk wrote:

Nice full body with leathery nose. decanted and enjoyed the great buy. Outstanding wine for the price. Has to be rated 92+

8/20/2010 - Aspenhawk Likes this wine:

nice light summer wine. hint of oak.