John C. Sullenger Vineyard
2012 Cabernet Sauvignon
Oakville
bone dry | very sweet | |
light body | very full bodied | |
soft, gentle |
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very crisp |
no tannins | heavy tannins | |
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Winemaker, Nickel & Nickel
Darice Spinelli joined Nickel & Nickel in 1998, just one year after the winery's debut vintage. Since then she has helped shepherd the development of the winery's portfolio of single-vineyard wines and shaped its reputation as the preeminent authority on Napa Valley Cabernet. Every fall, Spinelli brings in the harvest of up to 15 vineyard-designated Napa Valley Cabernets from a collection of AVAs famous for growing the varietal, including Oakville, Stags Leap, Howell Mountain, Yountville and others. A quest for excellence and the desire to allow the true character of each vineyard to emerge in the resulting wine is the motivation behind Spinelli's work.
A Biology graduate of the University of California at Santa Barbara, Spinelli began her career in the wine industry at Inglenook and Beaulieu Vineyard. In 1990, she joined Franciscan Vineyards, and with her first vintage as winemaker, attracted great acclaim from the wine industry's toughest critics. Her tenure with Franciscan and eventual promotion to production winemaker afforded Spinelli the opportunity to produce wines from many growing areas, including the mountainous region of Mount Veeder; the flat, warm Cabernet country in Oakville; Rutherford, with its famed "Rutherford Dust" character; and regions further south to the coastal climes in Monterey. She even produced wines for Franciscan's venture in Chile.
Recognizing a great opportunity to create single-vineyard wines on a smaller scale, Spinelli moved to join the team at Nickel & Nickel. In crafting the Nickel & Nickel wines, she sees her role as one of providing harmony to the vineyard, doing everything possible to let the wines sing. It is Spinelli's hope to capture and enhance the natural balance and quality that come from a great vineyard site.
Country born: United States
Education: Darice has a BA in Biology from the University of California at Santa Barbara.
Years in the wine industry: 20-30 years
Winemaking Philosophy:
Providing harmony to the vineyard - doing everything possible to let the wines sing. It is Spinelli's hope to capture and enhance the natural balance and quality that come from a great vineyard site. A quest for excellence, encompassed by the challenge of creating the vineyard-designated Nickel & Nickel wines, is her guiding principle
646 South Flores
San Antonio TX 78204-1210
Premiere Napa Valley Wine Collection
Winery | Vintage | Variety | Appellation | Fanciful | Auction |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chappellet Vineyard | 2017 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 23 | |
Clos Du Val | 2017 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Stags Leap District | Full Circle | 23 |
Clos Pegase | 2017 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Calistoga | 23 | |
Coquerel Family Wine Estates | 2018 | Sauvignon Blanc | Calistoga | 23 | |
Galerie | 2017 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 23 | |
Inglenook | 2017 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Three Part Harmony | 23 |
Michael Mondavi Family Estate | 2018 | Sauvignon Blanc | Napa Valley | 23 | |
Paraduxx | 2017 | Red Wine | Napa Valley | Premiere Blend | 23 |
Pine Ridge Vineyards | 2017 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 4x5 | 23 |
Schrader Cellars | 2017 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Oakville | Schrader MB | 23 |
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars | 2017 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Stags Leap District | FAY Block 5C | 23 |
Terlato Vineyards | 2017 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Episode | 23 |
Vineyard 29 | 2017 | Cabernet Sauvignon | St. Helena | St. Helena Special | 23 |
Whitehall Lane | 2017 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 23 | |
Yao Family Wines | 2016 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford | 23 | |
Bella Union | 2016 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 22 | |
Clos Pegase | 2016 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Les Minéraux | 22 |
Darioush | 2016 | Red Wine | Napa Valley | 22 | |
Faust | 2016 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Coombsville | The Pact-Barrel Selection | 22 |
Foley Johnson | 2016 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford | 22 | |
Groth Vineyards & Winery | 2016 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Oakville | Sweet Spot | 22 |
HALL | 2016 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford | Sacrashe | 22 |
Heritance Vintners | 2015 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford | Beckstoffer Vineyard Georges III | 22 |
JaM Cellars | 2017 | Chardonnay | Napa Valley | ButterBlonde | 22 |
Jamieson Ranch Vineyards | 2016 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Falabella | 22 |
Louis M. Martini Winery | 2016 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | No. 254 Blend | 22 |
Mount Veeder Winery | 2016 | Caberent Sauvignon | Mount Veeder | 22 | |
Mt. Brave | 2016 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Mount Veeder | 22 | |
Paul Hobbs Winery | 2016 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Coombsville | Nathan Coombs Estate | 22 |
Pine Ridge Vineyards | 2016 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 5x5 | 22 |
Shafer Vineyards | 2016 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Stags Leap District | Sunspot Vineyard | 22 |
St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery | 2016 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford | Louis XIV | 22 |
Stags' Leap Winery | 2016 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Stags Leap District | 22 | |
Terlato Vineyards | 2016 | Red Wine | Napa Valley | EPISODE | 22 |
Arrow&Branch, Caldwell, Covert, Italics | 2015 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Coombsville | Coombsville Crew | 21 |
Bella Union | 2015 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 21 | |
Beran | 2015 | Zinfandel | Napa Valley | 21 | |
Beringer Vineyards | 2015 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 21 | |
Clos Pegase | 2015 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | The Gravels | 21 |
Emerson Brown | 2015 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Oakville | 21 | |
Etude | 2015 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 21 | |
Faust | 2015 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Coombsville | Salvation | 21 |
Foley Johnson | 2015 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford | 21 | |
Heritance Vintners | 2014 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford | Beckstoffer Georges III | 21 |
JaM Cellars | 2015 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Coombsville | 21 | |
Modus Operandi Cellars | 2015 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Gravitas | 21 |
Mount Veeder Winery | 2015 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Mount Veeder | Rosenquist Ranch | 21 |
Newton Vineyard | 2015 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 21 | |
Robert Mondavi Winery | 2015 | Red Wine | Oakville | Monastery Block, To Kalon Vineyard | 21 |
Trefethen Family Vineyards | 2015 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley | p = mv | 21 |
Twomey Cellars | 2015 | Red Wine | Napa Valley | Proprietary Blend | 21 |
VinRoc Wine Caves | 2015 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Atlas Peak | Red Lava | 21 |
Acumen | 2014 | Red Wine | Napa Valley | 2+2+2+2 | 20 |
Bell Wine Cellars | 2014 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford | 20 | |
Coquerel Family Wine Estates | 2015 | Sauvignon Blanc | Calistoga | Terroir Walnut Wash | 20 |
Davies Vineyards | 2014 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Diamond Mountain District | J. Davies Estate- Jamie's Block | 20 |
Ghost Block and Markham | 2014 | Red Wine | Yountville | 20 | |
Groth Vineyards & Winery | 2014 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Oakville | Sweet Spot | 20 |
HALL | 2014 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Sacrashe | 20 |
Hewitt Vineyard and Provenance Vineyards | 2014 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Peaks and Valleys | 20 |
Jamieson Ranch Vineyards | 2014 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Atlas Peak | Stagecoach | 20 |
Laird Family Estate | 2014 | Red Wine | Yountville | Flat Rock Ranch Proprietary Blend | 20 |
Merus | 2014 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Coombsville | 20 | |
Raymond Vineyards | 2014 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Masquerade | 20 |
Silver Oak Cellars | 2014 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 20 | |
Silverado Vineyards | 2014 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Stags Leap District | Solo- Heritage Clone | 20 |
Appellations | 2013 | Red Wine | Napa Valley | Unbroken | 19 |
Conn Creek Winery | 2013 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Diamond Mountain District | UnCONNtested | 19 |
Darioush | 2013 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 19 | |
Faust | 2013 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Liberation | 19 |
Goosecross Cellars | 2013 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Yountville | State Lane | 19 |
Hoopes Vineyard | 2013 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 19 | |
Kuleto Estate | 2013 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 19 | |
Laird Family Estate | 2013 | Red Wine | Yountville | Flat Rock Proprietary Blend | 19 |
Michael Mondavi Family Estate | 2013 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Animo Barrel Selection | 19 |
Raymond Vineyards | 2013 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Masquerade | 19 |
Silverado Vineyards | 2013 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Stags Leap District | SOLO - Heritage Clone | 19 |
Chappellet Vineyard | 2012 | Red Wine | Napa Valley | Pritchard Hill Persuasion | 18 |
Faust | 2012 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Atlas Peak | 18 | |
HALL | 2012 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Diamond Mountain District | Rainin Vineyard | 18 |
Hewitt Vineyard & Provenance Vineyards | 2012 | Red Wine | Rutherford | "Cab Meets Cab Franc" | 18 |
Hoopes Vineyard | 2012 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Scion | 18 |
Nickel & Nickel | 2012 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Oakville | John C. Sullenger Vineyard | 18 |
Silverado Vineyards | 2012 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Stags Leap District | SOLO - Heritage Clone | 18 |
Trefethen Family Vineyards | 2012 | Cabernet Franc | Napa Valley | Ankle Breaker | 18 |
Black Stallion Estate Winery | 2011 | Red Wine | Napa Valley | Unison | 17 |
Emblem Wines | 2011 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | OSO VINEYARD BARREL SELECTION | 17 |
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