Hess Mt. Veeder Block 19 Cuvee 2019

Hess Mt. Veeder Block 19 Cuvee 2019 is a multi-varietal red blend from Mount Veeder, Napa Valley, bottled at 14.5% ABV in a standard 750ml format. What sets this wine apart is its sourcing: a cuvée drawn from 19 distinct vineyard blocks across The Hess Collection's mountain estate, capturing the full diversity of one of Napa's most rugged and elevated appellations.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.5%  |  Origin: Mount Veeder, Napa Valley, California  |  Vintage: 2019  |  Producer: The Hess Collection

Production & Heritage

The Hess Collection farms a substantial estate on Mount Veeder, Napa Valley's highest-elevation AVA, where the coolest growing season and geographically diverse soils across steep slopes and narrow valleys produce wines of notable concentration and structure. The Block 19 Cuvée takes its name from a blend of 19 separate blocks within that estate, marrying Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, and Petit Verdot into a single, layered wine. Mount Veeder's thin volcanic and sedimentary soils naturally stress the vines, yielding small berries with intense color, flavor, and firm tannin—hallmarks that define this cuvée.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with a rush of dark fruit—blackcurrant, blackberry, and blueberry—layered with savory herbs, cocoa powder, and a subtle floral quality reminiscent of dried potpourri. Behind the fruit sits a trace of sweet oak and celery salt that adds complexity without overwhelming the primary aromatics.

Taste: On the palate, the wine enters with concentrated blackcurrant flavor and ripe dark berry fruit, moving to a textured, multi-layered mid-palate where opulent fruit meets vanilla and a savory, almost tomato-like spice note. The structure is round yet firmly tannic, with the characteristic grip Mount Veeder reds are known for providing a solid frame for the fruit.

Finish: The finish is long and structured, driven by big, resolved tannins and lingering notes of dark cocoa and cassis. A hint of dried herb and sweet oak persists as the tannins slowly recede.

How to Drink Block 19 Cuvée

This is a wine built for decanting. Pour it into a wide-bowled glass and allow 30–60 minutes of air to soften its firm tannin structure and let the savory-herbal layers emerge. A classic Cabernet-style food pairing works beautifully—grilled lamb chops with rosemary, for example—where the wine's tannin and dark fruit meet charred, herb-crusted protein. For a braise, try it alongside short ribs in red wine reduction, where its own savory depth mirrors the dish. A cheese course featuring aged Gruyère or Comté highlights the wine's vanilla and cocoa undertones.

Best For

• Cellaring alongside other age-worthy Napa reds from the 2019 vintage
• Pairing with a grilled red meat dinner for a special weekend meal
• Gifting a wine enthusiast who appreciates mountain-grown Napa blends
• Exploring Mount Veeder as a distinct Napa Valley sub-appellation

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Block 19 Cuvée taste like? It delivers concentrated blackcurrant and dark berry fruit backed by cocoa, savory herbs, and sweet oak, all framed by the big, firm tannins that Mount Veeder wines are known for. The overall impression is opulent and layered, with a structured, lengthy finish.

How does Block 19 Cuvée compare to Hess Allomi Cabernet Sauvignon? The Allomi Cabernet comes from a single Napa Valley floor vineyard and is a pure Cabernet Sauvignon, typically showing a rounder, more immediately approachable character. Block 19 Cuvée, by contrast, is a multi-varietal mountain blend with higher-elevation tannin intensity and greater structural complexity from its five grape varieties.

Is Block 19 Cuvée good for aging? Yes—the 2019 vintage's firm tannic backbone and concentrated fruit suggest it will develop well over the next 8–12 years, though decanting makes it rewarding to drink now.

Where is Block 19 Cuvée made? It is produced by The Hess Collection from their estate vineyard on Mount Veeder, a mountainous AVA in the western hills of Napa Valley, California, distinguished for its high elevation and cool growing conditions.

What foods pair well with Block 19 Cuvée? Grilled lamb chops with rosemary complement the wine's herbal and dark fruit notes. Braised short ribs mirror its savory depth. Aged hard cheeses like Gruyère highlight its vanilla and cocoa undertones. Dark chocolate desserts echo the cocoa-dusted finish. Mushroom risotto pairs well with the wine's earthy, textured mid-palate.

What sizes does Block 19 Cuvée come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle.

Is Block 19 Cuvée worth the price? Block 19 positions as a premium Mount Veeder estate wine, sitting above The Hess Collection's valley-floor offerings in both complexity and price tier. For a multi-block mountain cuvée from a respected Napa producer, it represents solid value within the broader Mount Veeder category.

Why Block 19 Cuvée?

The defining differentiator here is provenance: 19 individual vineyard blocks from one of Napa Valley's most challenging and highest-elevation growing sites, blended into a single cuvée that captures the full geological and microclimatic range of The Hess Collection's mountain estate. Where many Napa reds lean on Cabernet Sauvignon alone, this wine gains textural complexity and aromatic breadth from its five-grape blend of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. The 2019 Napa Valley vintage is widely regarded as a strong classical year, and the Block 19 Cuvée's combination of concentrated mountain fruit and structured tannin makes a compelling case for the uniqueness of Mount Veeder terroir.