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 home vineyard of Nickel & Nickel, Sullenger Vineyard is situated behind the winery in the heart of Oakville and is named for John C. Sullenger, who settled the farmstead in the 1880s. The vineyard's 30 acres of clay loam soil are planted exclusively to Cabernet Sauvignon, with 2 rootstocks and a few different clones which each add a unique element to the resulting wine.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
This wine opens in a swirl of brick, dust and sage, which is followed by a leathery undercurrent that gives texture to an otherwise supple, polished palate. Plum, cherry and mineral-like earthiness provide contrast and complexity to a full-bodied yet elegant expression of the grape.
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James Suckling
Aromas of cooked dark cherries, blueberries, sweet spices and bay leaves. Medium-bodied with round tannins. Polished with a velvety texture and a flavorful, fresh and supple finish. Drink or hold.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
One of the family's own vineyards, Sullenger was planted to Sauvignon Blanc when it was purchased in 1997. Those vines were removed, a drain tile was installed, and in went Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon John C. Sullenger Vineyard is a fine success, boasting copious black cherries and baking spices, with gently herbal accents. It's medium to full-bodied and silky in feel, finishing with notes of pipe tobacco. Best After 2022
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Wine Spectator
This has a lovely, caressing flow to its cassis, dark plum and blackberry puree flavors, while well-integrated toast runs along the edges, with a mix of sweet bay leaf and anise. There's a subtle loamy hint at the end, while the purity of the fruit wins out easily.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2019 Nickel & Nickel John C. Sullenger Cabernet Sauvignon delivers excellent complexities on the palate. TASTING NOTES: This wine offers aromas and flavors of dried spices, black fruit, blackcurrants, and oak. Enjoy it with oven-baked short ribs. (Tasted: December 4, 2021, San Francisco, CA)
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Jeb Dunnuck
Also from Oakville, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon John C. Sullenger is slightly more earthy and savory, with chocolaty red and black fruits and savory herb/tobacco notes, medium to full body, low acidity, ripe tannins, and moderate concentration. It’s drinking nicely and best enjoyed over the coming 8-10 years.
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.