Calistoga
2018 Nickel & Nickel Kenefick Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Calistoga, Gift box
- 95 pointsVinous
- 94 pointsWine Advocate
- 90 pointsWine Enthusiast
A bold and powerful gift. Crafted to capture the concentrated fruit and rich tannins of Kenefick Ranch's prized vines, this full-bodied wine "reminds us," says our winemaker, "that great Cabernet can be both pretty and powerful." Ripe black cherry and blackberry front load the palate, while coating tannins and notes of tobacco, cocoa and spice unfold on the midpalate and continue into a finish layered with dark, sappy-silky fruit.
Calistoga
2018 Nickel & Nickel Kenefick Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Calistoga, Gift box
Calistoga
2018 Nickel & Nickel Kenefick Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Calistoga, Gift box
- 95 pointsVinous
- 94 pointsWine Advocate
- 90 pointsWine Enthusiast
A bold and powerful gift. Crafted to capture the concentrated fruit and rich tannins of Kenefick Ranch's prized vines, this full-bodied wine "reminds us," says our winemaker, "that great Cabernet can be both pretty and powerful." Ripe black cherry and blackberry front load the palate, while coating tannins and notes of tobacco, cocoa and spice unfold on the midpalate and continue into a finish layered with dark, sappy-silky fruit.
$185
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The Details
Varietal
100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Aging
18 months in French oak barrels (50% new, 50% once-used)
Skin Contact
20 Days
Harvest Dates
September 20–24, 2018
Release Date
September 2020
Winemaker
Joe Harden
Near-perfect weather in 2018 led to extended hang time and optimal harvest.
Near-perfect weather conditions and timing, from budbreak to harvest, made 2018 a Goldilocks vintage. The season started in February with a mild spring, resulting in extended flowering and balanced clusters. Consistent summer temperatures allowed for leisurely, extended hang time, ensuring each cluster achieved perfect phenolic maturity. With no need to rush, we harvested the fruit at just-right ripeness over two weeks. This ideal scenario allowed us to pick each block at its optimal point, enhancing the vintage's quality.
Club Cabernet
Far Niente’s Club Cabernet wine club was created for lovers of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.
High temperatures meet cool breezes, crafting perfectly structured, ripe wines.
One of the northernmost AVAs, temperatures here can reach as high as 100 degrees. However, cool afternoon and evening breezes drawn in from the Pacific Ocean help reduce nighttime temperatures, resulting in wines with ripe fruit flavors and structure.
Harvested from Kenefick Vineyard
Planted on well-drained, alluvial soils at the base of Calistoga's Eastern hills, Kenefick Ranch produces vines of moderate vigor that yield loose clusters with small, concentrated berries. The loamy soil, western exposure, and the warmer upper valley climate of this westward-facing vineyard help us achieve optimal phenolic ripeness. The resulting wines consistently offer a mouthwatering combination of boysenberry and black cherry aromas with fresh fruit flavors that expand and coat the palate, along with density, layers of texture and a juicy finish.
95 Points
Vinous
“The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Kenefick Ranch shows all of the dark, brooding intensity that is typical of this Calistoga site but without being excessively heavy, as so many wines can be. Inky dark fruit, cloves, licorice, lavender and menthol fill out the layers. The 2018 is just gorgeous. ”
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