Winemaker Notes
The 2021 John C. Sullenger Cabernet Sauvignon possesses beautiful red plum and raspberry aromas that are underscored by subtle spice and earthy notes opening 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.
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
Planted on 30 acres of clay loam soil, this property is the home vineyard for Nickel & Nickel. Brilliant red-fruit aromas lead to a glorious entry of dried violets, dark chocolate, and a field of boysenberry. Sleek tannins impart a streamlined texture, and notes of roasted coffee, black cherry, and cherry pith surround an earthy middle before continuing through the juicy finish.
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Wine Enthusiast
So silky but also so potent and concentrated, this luxurious wine is drenched in black fruits, oak spices, cocoa and mint that come up in the aroma and expand beautifully on the palate while the texture remains elegant and seductive. The wine is remarkable more for its finesse than its power.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon John C. Sullenger comes from a site in Oakville and is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon brought up in 55% new French oak. This deep purple-hued effort offers a textbook Oakville perfume of ripe black fruits, iron, smoked tobacco, and graphite. This carries to a powerful, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon with a broad, expansive mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a gorgeous finish.
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James Suckling
Delightful blue plums and black cherries followed by violets, fresh thyme, black ink and vanilla beans. Full-bodied, compressed yet juicy tannins with soft acidity. Polished mid-palate and finish. Balanced yet give this more time to come around.
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Wine Spectator
This red is nicely packed with black currant, boysenberry and mulberry fruit flavors that drive along steadily, with flashes of singed anise, violet and apple wood filling in on the finish. Emphasizes the fruit, but maintains a pure and detailed feel.
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.