Nickel & Nickel C.C. Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 Liter Magnum) 2021
-
James
Suckling -
Jeb
Dunnuck -
Tasting
Panel
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
The 2021 C.C. Ranch exudes finesse from the very first swirl with lifted plum and floral aromatics opening onto a beautifully plush palate. Ripe raspberry and plum flavors are underscored by seductive spicy notes, with soft tannins gently supporting the wine from entry to completion. With fruit that grows brighter and fresher as the wine progresses to the finish, this Rutherford Cabernet is incredibly approachable now but will continue to age gracefully over time. a finish that lingers well after the last sip.
Professional Ratings
-
James Suckling
Wonderful crunchy black and blue fruits with violets, eucalyptus and nutmeg with cocoa powder and subtle pencil shaving notes. Very finely grained juicy tannins with refreshing acidity that cleanses the palate. Full- to medium-bodied yet polished and balanced. Shows beautiful drinkability but it will go much further with age.
-
Jeb Dunnuck
Coming from well-drained, gravelly loam soils just west of the Silverado Trail in Rutherford, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon C.C. Ranch just about jumps out of the glass with ripe red, black, and blue fruits as well as complex notes of sappy green flowers, camphor, iron, and dusty earth. It's a big, mouth-filling, full-bodied effort that has solid tannins, plenty of mid-palate depth, and outstanding length, and there's clearly a more floral, herbal edge here that gives it a singular character. While it doesn't quite have the elegance in its tannins of some of the other releases, I love its complexity, and it has perfectly ripe fruit and a terrific sense of freshness and vibrancy.
-
Tasting Panel
Sturdy and broad-shouldered, this is an intense expression of dusted dark chocolate, blackberry, and peppercorn. The taste of chiseled rock is apparent, as are black cherry and sandalwood seasoned with exotic spices. Opulence settles in on the extended finish.
Other Vintages
2020-
James
Suckling
-
Wine
Enthusiast -
Wilfred
Wong -
Wine
Spectator
-
The Somm
Journal -
James
Suckling -
Robert
Parker -
Wine
Enthusiast -
Wilfred
Wong -
Jeb
Dunnuck -
Wine
Spectator -
Wine &
Spirits
-
Wine
Enthusiast -
Jeb
Dunnuck -
Wine
Spectator -
Robert
Parker -
Wilfred
Wong -
James
Suckling
-
Wilfred
Wong
-
Robert
Parker -
Wine
Enthusiast -
James
Suckling -
Wilfred
Wong -
Wine
Spectator
-
Wilfred
Wong
-
James
Suckling -
Wilfred
Wong -
Robert
Parker
-
James
Suckling -
Wine
Enthusiast -
Robert
Parker
-
Wilfred
Wong
-
Wine
Spectator
-
Wine &
Spirits -
Wine
Spectator
-
Robert
Parker -
Wine
Enthusiast
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.
The Rutherford sub-region of Napa Valley centers on the town of Rutherford and covers some of Napa Valley’s finest vineyard real estate, spanning from the Mayacamas in the west, to the Vaca Mountains on the other side of the valley.
Inside of the Rutherford AVA, bordering the Mayacamas, is a stretch of uplands called the Rutherford Bench. (These bench lands technically run the length of Oakville as well). Mountain runoff creates deep, well-drained, alluvial soils on the bench, giving vine roots plenty of reason to permeate deep into the ground. The result is wine with great structure and complexity.
Rutherford Cabernet Sauvingons and Bordeaux Blends garner substantial attention for their enticing fragrances of dusty earth and dried herbs, broad and juicy mid-palates and lush and fine-grained tannins. The sub-appellation claims some of the valley’s most prized vineyards today, namely Caymus, Rubicon and Beckstoffer Georges III.
It is also home to Napa’s most influential and historic personalities. Thomas Rutherford, responsible for the appellation's name, made serious investments here in grape growing and wine production between the years of 1850 to 1880. Gustave Niebaum purchased a large swath of land and completed his winery in 1887, calling it “Inglenook.” Today this remains the oldest bonded winery in California. Georges Latour founded Beaulieu Vineyard in 1900, making it the oldest continuous winery in the state. Latour also hired the famous enologist, André Tchelistcheff, a man credited for single-handedly defining the modern Napa winemaking style.