Nickel & Nickel Dragonfly Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 1999

The diminutive, five-acre Dragonfly Vineyard is a Cabernet hotspot. Located in St. Helena at the base of Spring Mountain , old timers know this magical place as a "banana belt" microclimate, as it ideal summer temperatures allow the vines to develop their notable ripe and jammy fruit. The vines benefit from the site's deep, gravelly loam soils and gentle southern exposure, while the vineyard's namesake dragonflies zip about all summer long .

The spring of 1999 arrived later than usual and flowering occurred during cool weather, reducing crop production. There were a few hot summer days in this area, but they occurred early enough in the season that very little damage to the vines was sustained. The vineyard experienced a wonderful growing season and a warm, relatively dry fall. The vintage's lower yields pushed the fruit flavors to extremes.

Rich and powerful yet elegant, the Dragonfly Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon impresses with its ripe, jammy fruit and plush texture. The color is a beautiful garnet and the aromas reveal the ripeness of this fruit at harvest. The wine opens with concentrated flavors of strawberry jam, berry and vanilla wrapped in soft layers of toasty oak. The tannins are incredibly supple and long, adding to the warmth and elegance of the wine.