News & Scores
Scores & Reviews
2023 Nickel & Nickel John C. Sullenger Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville
99 Points
“Dried lavender and mulberry are fine contenders for attention. This fragrant and well-tempered red shows restraint amidst its broad, generous demeanor. Licorice, leather, soy sauce, and purple plum weave through a mineral core to a most elegant finish.”
The Tasting Panel•Nov 1, 2025
96 Points
“Sourced from Nickel & Nickel’s estate Sullenger Vineyard in Oakville, which surrounds the winery and tasting barn and extends east toward the Napa River and south to the Opus One property line, this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon was aged for 21 months in 55% new French oak. In this vintage, the wine leans beautifully savoury, framed by structured tannins that provide a firm foundation and a striking blood-orange acidity that brings tension and lift. Notes of tobacco, cassis and dried wild herbs emerge through the mid-palate, giving the wine an earthy, mineral-rich profile. Both winemaker Joe Harden and Phil Holbrook attribute this heightened sense of place to the extensive work undertaken in the vineyard, from thoughtful canopy management to targeted replanting.”
Decanter•Jun 2, 2026
96 Points
“The 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon John C. Sullenger Vineyard comes from a site just south of To Kalon. Loaded with black cherries and ripe fruit, this full-bodied wine is rich, voluptuous and silky on the outside, but underneath that flesh, there's a firm structure and dusty tannins that linger easily on the elegant finish. This is a real beauty from the western side of Oakville.”
Wine Advocate•Oct 1, 2025
95 Points
“Deep and dark with lovely perfume and spices, showing aromas of blackberries, violets, blood plums, graphite and potpourri. The palate is textural and refined, offering mouthwatering tannins and a polished, detailed finish. A charming single-vineyard wine with plenty of flash and tension. Drink or hold.”
James Suckling•Mar 24, 2026
95 Points
“Another Oakville beauty, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon John C. Sullenger Vineyard sports an inky purple hue and gorgeous aromatics of cassis, currants, iron, leafy tobacco, and violets. It's medium to full-bodied, tight and focused on the palate, with building tannins, the fresher, structured style of the vintage, and outstanding length. It's tight and reserved at the moment, so hide bottles for 3-4 years if you can. It's another brilliant wine I'd love to have in the cellar, and it will see its 20th birthday in fine form. Drink 2028-2045.”
Jeb Dunnuck•Dec 22, 2025