Winemaker Notes
Beautiful red plum and raspberry aromas underscored by subtle spice and earth open onto layers of juicy red fruit flavors. Classic Oakville tannins support the full, round palate, while soft toasted oak and spice lift the long, seductive finish.
The 2018 growing season kicked off in late February and eased into a mild spring that gave us extended flowering and uniform clusters throughout the vineyard. Summer continued with an even trend, with consistent temperatures allowing fruit to have beautiful, extended hang time. With no heat spikes we were able to wait patiently for every cluster to achieve perfect phenolic maturity. A no rush approach to harvest allowed fruit to develop beautifully on the vine and the Cabernet came into the winery with mature tannins, great acidity and perfect ripeness. This vintage was “near picture-perfect,” and the resulting wines are generous yet structured and expand on the palate.
Tenacity, innovation and a single-minded commitment to “vineyard and varietal” have established Nickel & Nickel as the leader in single-vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Every Cabernet offers the purest expression of its vineyard. No two vineyards are alike. And, as the release of the new 2018 Nickel & Nickel Cabernets can attest, neither are any two vintages. Taste the pure, powerful expressions of unparalleled Napa Valley vineyards. The 2018 Nickel & Nickel Single-Vineyard Cabernets are crafted with excellence and made to be savored.
Professional Ratings
-
Wine Enthusiast
A strong showing of black cherry and licorice lead the way to a soft, supple midpalate in this wine that's aged in French oak, half new and half once-used. Secondary notes of nutmeg, clove and coffee permeate through the structure and weight of the palate. Enjoy from 2028–2038. . Cellar Selection
-
James Suckling
High-toned with lots of ripe, rich plums and hints of dates and chocolate. It’s full-bodied and layered with gorgeous fruit and a long, flavorful finish. A little tight now, but will improve by 2023.
-
Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2018 Nickel & Nickel John C. Sullenger Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon evokes richness, textures, and substantial persistence on the palate. TASTING NOTES: This wine delivers spot-on Oakville aromas and flavors of red currants that meld into black fruits and forest floor. (Tasted: September 3, 2020, San Francisco, CA)
-
Wine Spectator
Juicy, with plum and blackberry notes that meld nicely with hints of sassafras and bay. Lightly brambly along the edges, with a nice tug of earth through the middle, leaving a loamy echo amidst the fruit and savory notes on the finish. Best from 2021 through 2031.
-
Jeb Dunnuck
Lots of spiced red and black fruits, new leather, dried tobacco, and damp earth define the bouquet of the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon John C. Sullenger, a more closed, tannic wine. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, with plenty of richness, hide bottles for 3-4 years and it should keep for 15-20. Rating : 92+
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon C.C. Ranch is made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and was aged in French oak, 48% new, for 18 months. With a deep garnet-purple color, it comes skipping out of the glass with bright, cheery scents of ripe black cherries, mulberries and crushed black currants with suggestions of chocolate box, menthol, lavender and plum preserves. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is completely coated with crunchy blackberry layers, supported by fine-grained tannins and a lively backbone, finishing long and fragrant.
Rating: 92+
-
Wine & Spirits
This comes from the estate vineyard surrounding the Nickel & Nickel winery, on the east side of Highway 29. It has the density and richness of classic Oakville cabernet, with lush black-cherry flavors, lightly amaro-like bitterness and dark-chocolate tannins lending an umami bridge to beef stroganoff.
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.