Nickel & Nickel
John C. Sullenger Vineyard
2017 Cabernet Sauvignon
Oakville
Auction 23 | Lot No. 74
Vintage: 2017
Nickel & Nickel
John C. Sullenger Vineyard
Cabernet Sauvignon
Oakville
5 cases produced
Highlights
- This wine is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, completely sourced from the John C. Sullenger Vineyard
- All of this vineyard’s 30 acres are devoted to Cabernet Sauvignon
- The vineyard is composed of fluvial river deposits and clay loam soil from the Bale soil series
- A dark, serious wine with ripe plum, black cherry, cedar and tobacco leaf flavors and a rich texture
Description
Nickel & Nickel winery, born from a tradition of exceptional winemaking, is dedicated exclusively to producing 100 percent varietal, single vineyard wines from the Napa Valley's most significant appellations. John C. Sullenger Vineyard is situated behind our winery in the heart of Oakville, a winegrowing area celebrated for producing exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon. Our home vineyard has been farmed to achieve the purest expression of its place. In 2003 and 2009, we conducted a meticulous replant, tightening the vine spacing and drainage, to maximize grape development and ripening. The 2017 John C. Sullenger Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon has a beautiful core of plum and black cherry fruits, earth and tea with a rich middle palate.
Wine Facts
- Single vineyard wine
Joe Harden
Winemaker, Nickel & Nickel
Joe Harden, Winemaker, Nickel & Nickel
As Winemaker, Joe Harden oversees the production of Nickel & Nickel’s expansive portfolio of 100 percent varietal, single-vineyard wines from the Napa & Russian River Valleys. Prior to taking the helm of Nickel & Nickel in 2018, Joe served as an integral part of the Robert Mondavi winemaking team where he was the winemaker for Bordeaux varietals and oversaw production of the renowned To Kalon Cabernet Sauvignon wines. A Lodi native, Joe was entrenched in the wine business at an early age with a father who worked for a wine distributor and later became a winegower.
A talented athlete, Joe was offered a basketball scholarship to Division I Notre Dame University following graduation from high school. After a while however, he found himself missing California wine country and opted return to the golden state, continuing his passion for basketball and rediscovering his roots in wine. Harden completed of a Bachelor of Science degree in Viticulture and Enology at University of California, Davis in 2011, the 6’7’ college athlete put his oenology career on hold for a year while he tested the waters of a professional basketball career with the NBA D League Warriors in California and then the Ballarat Miners in Melbourne, Australia.
The rigors of the professional circuit, however, led to his return to California in 2012, where he began his internship at Robert Mondavi Winery under the tutelage of winemaker Geneviève Janssens. He advanced to enologist in 2013 and was eventually named winemaker there in 2014.
Utilizing his distinctive background to lead the single-vineyard winemaking program at Nickel & Nickel, Joe is able to further expand upon the innovative mission established at the winery with its founding in 1997.
When he is not making wine, Joe resides in Yountville with his wife Hannah, also an alum of the UC Davis basketball program. Together they enjoy cooking, reading, brewing beer and biking and of course, the sharing of fine wine with friends and family.
Country born: United States
Years in the wine industry: 7 years
Winery Distribution
Nickel & Nickel is distributed in the following markets. Please contact the winery directly for the most up-to-date distribution information and to explore commercial opportunities.
Nickel & Nickel Contact: Kimberly Bailey
Domestic:
- California ( Far Niente )
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