Winemaker Notes
The 2016 Sullenger Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon opens with beautiful plum, black cherry and plum aromas underscored by delicate notes of herb and earth. Layers of soft, juicy cherry flavors spread across the palate, while firm yet silky tannins are balanced by bright natural acidity on the finish. The resulting wine possesses a lushness and depth that is both immediately approachable yet structured to evolve beautifully over time.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon John C Sullinger Vineyard has a floral nose with cassis, red cherries and redcurrants plus wafts of pencil shavings and rose hip tea. The medium to full-bodied palate is vivacious with loads of poise and freshness plus firm, grainy tannins, finishing long.
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James Suckling
This bottling has an earthy edge with black-truffle, blackberry and cassis aromas leading to a very suave, plush and quite powerful palate that delivers a long, flavorful finish. Pure cabernet sauvignon.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: Like all of the Nickel & Nickel single-vineyard Cabernets, the John C. Sullenger has been time tested and loved by all. The 2016 vintage is an excellent effort. TASTING NOTES: This wine is attractive and classy. Its aromas and flavors of ripe berries and shading of earth make it fantastic choice with grain-fed Salisbury steak accented with morels. (Tasted: January 11, 2019, San Francisco, CA)
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Jeb Dunnuck
Toasty oak, spice box, plums, and graphite notes all emerge from the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon John C. Sullenger. It's another seamless, very pretty, elegant wine from this label.
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.