Nickel & Nickel Branding Iron Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 Liter Magnum) 2018
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Wilfred
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Winemaker Notes
From the black cherry and dried herb aromatics to the sappy fruit flavors, Branding Iron Cabernet pulses with instantly approachable appeal. With deep fruit flavors that have a focused intensity yet feel round and broad on the palate, there’s a compelling density we have come to expect from western Oakville Cabernet, along with coating tannins, warm toasted oak and an extended finish.
The 2018 growing season kicked off in late February and eased into a mild spring that gave us extended flowering and uniform clusters throughout the vineyard. Summer continued with an even trend, with consistent temperatures allowing fruit to have beautiful, extended hang time. With no heat spikes we were able to wait patiently for every cluster to achieve perfect phenolic maturity. A no rush approach to harvest allowed fruit to develop beautifully on the vine and the Cabernet came into the winery with mature tannins, great acidity and perfect ripeness. This vintage was “near picture-perfect,” and the resulting wines are generous yet structured and expand on the palate.Tenacity, innovation and a single-minded commitment to “vineyard and varietal” have established Nickel & Nickel as the leader in single-vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Every Cabernet offers the purest expression of its vineyard. No two vineyards are alike. And, as the release of the new 2018 Nickel & Nickel Cabernets can attest, neither are any two vintages. Taste the pure, powerful expressions of unparalleled Napa Valley vineyards. The 2018 Nickel & Nickel Single-Vineyard Cabernets are crafted with excellence and made to be savored.
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2018 Nickel & Nickel Branding Iron Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon shows up with excellent richness followed by a soft, yet persistent touch in the finish. TASTING NOTES: This wine offers forward aromas and flavors of red currants, blueberries, and a light accent of oak in its aromas and flavors. Pair it with an oven-baked game bird. (Tasted: September 3, 2020, San Francisco, CA)
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Wine Spectator
Lots to like here, with a well of açai, plum and blackberry fruit to draw on and extra sweet spice, licorice, bay and sassafras accents adding range. Finish pumps along nicely, pulling everything together. Well built. Best from 2022 through 2033.
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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.