Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine & Spirits
A 15-acre selection from this 115-acre vineyard on a knoll west of the Silverado Trail, this wine has a supple Rutherford richness. The red fruit brings apple skin and plums to mind, lending elegance to the texture, carrying through a firmly stated finish. There's nothing aggressive about it: a lively cabernet with finesse.
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Wine Spectator
There's a touch of smoke woven through the rich currant and black berry flavors, and this ends with tar and licorice notes and a crushed rock texture. Shows a little more body and texture than the other Nickel & Nickel 2009s. Drink now through 2024.
One of the most prestigious wines of the world capable of great power and grace, Napa Valley Cabernet is a leading force in the world of fine, famous, collectible red wine. Today the Napa Valley and Cabernet Sauvignon are so intrinsically linked that it is difficult to discuss one without the other. But it wasn’t until the 1970s that this marriage came to light; sudden international recognition rained upon Napa with the victory of the Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon in the 1976 Judgement of Paris.
Cabernet Sauvignon undoubtedly dominates Napa Valley today, covering half of the land under vine, commanding the highest prices per ton and earning the most critical acclaim. Cabernet Sauvignon’s structure, acidity, capacity to thrive in multiple environs and ability to express nuances of vintage make it perfect for Napa Valley where incredible soil and geographical diversity are found and the climate is perfect for grape growing. Within the Napa Valley lie many smaller sub-AVAs that express specific characteristics based on situation, slope and soil—as a perfect example, Rutherford’s famous dust or Stags Leap District's tart cherry flavors.