Nickel & Nickel C.C. Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Rich and chocolaty on the nose, deep and saturated with black fruits on the palate, this impressive, dense and concentrated wine is one to save for later enjoyment. The thickness of the fine-grained tannins and sheer power of the blueberries, black cherries and roasted, toasted oak spices need time to marry.

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. It's going to evolve for 15-20 years with ease. It's an impressive wine.

Leads with a core of steeped black currant and warmed fig fruit, backed by loam, licorice root and roasted alder notes. The broad, grippy finish shows a buried cast iron edge as the fruit and loam notes merge steadily, ending with touches of old-school burl and walnut husk. Best from 2025 through 2040. 2,400 cases made.