Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
A velvety texture makes this varietal wine luxurious. Cassis, tar and clove notes mingle with dried herb and black olive flavors, all integrated and deliciously graceful. Its robust tannins soften as it progresses toward a long finish.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
The 2014 Nickel & Nickel John C. Sullenger Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is an excellent example of the Oakville AVA. The wine exhibits dramatic black fruit flavors, with an accent of anise and black tea. Its formidable finish pairs well with a thick Porterhouse steak topped with blue cheese. (Tasted: April 27, 2017, San Francisco, CA)
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Wine Spectator
Aromas of wilted rose, blueberry, currant and subtle strawberry add up to a notably complex mix of fruits, framed by firm, fine-grained tannins and a persistent push on the finish. Best from 2020 through 2032.
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Wine & Spirits
From a vineyard on the east side of Highway 29, this grows at the edge of an alluvial fan that spreads east from the benchlands at the base of the Mayacamas Mountains. It produced a 2014 cabernet that’s both lush and herbal, fragrant with green, crunchy, savory herbs even as it’s rich and supple. Decant a bottle for roast lamb.
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.
Home to some of the most sought-after Cabernet Sauvignon in America, Napa Valley’s Oakville district stretches across the center of Napa's valley floor and foothills between the Vaca and Mayacamas Mountains. This AVA is home to the legendary To Kalon Vineyard and Martha's Vineyard, as well as many powerhouse wineries including Screaming Eagle, Silver Oak, Robert Mondavi, Opus One, Far Niente and Groth.
The climate is generally warm and agreeable, resulting in year after year of favorable vintages. Summer days see a gentle tug of war between warmer inland air and the cool air coming in from the San Pablo Bay, creating an ideal environment to grow red varieties. Oakville's diverse soils, namely ancient sea bedrock, clay and gravel, are well-drained, and perfect for high-caliber viticulture.
Cabernet here is often bottled varietally but is also popular in Bordeaux Blends. Oakville wines are known for their silky, sensual textures, structured tannins, dark and brooding fruit and lovely aromatics. These age-worthy and prestigious wines are favored by collectors throughout the world.