Christie Kiley on December 22, 2014 0 Comments The next time you find yourself in the Napa Valley, travel along the famous highway and wine route 29. Stop off at the Oakville Grocery. It’ll be on the left hand side going north. Order the large cutting board full of local charcuterie and cheeses, some gourmet olives and various dried fruits. Don’t forget the fresh baguette and maybe a coffee. I say coffee, for now as you will need it if you are in for a day of wine tasting. Have a seat out back of the shop at a picnic table overlooking some vineyards while the sun kisses your shoulders. Once you have finished lunch, the first stop just a couple miles down the road is Nickel & Nickel. Be sure to call ahead and make an appointment. It will be well worth setting the afternoon aside so you can taste through some of Napa Valley’s finest wines. Nickel & Nickel prides themselves in producing exclusive single-varietal and single-vineyard wines. The Winery and Business Ethics The winery began in 1997 by the partners of Far Niente and their goal was to focus and showcase the finest appellations and vineyards of Cabernet Sauvignon that Napa had. They also have a humble collection of Merlot, Syrah and Chardonnay single varietal wines to complete their portfolio. In order to have the best wines, one must begin in the vineyard. A lot of consideration, knowledge and dedication go into selecting the ideal vineyard site. The Europeans have it right when they talk about terroir and how it really makes a wine. It is not just about the grape, but about the local climate, the soil, exposure. Furthermore, a successful wine is conducive to the rootstock selected, the clone and viticulture practices. The Napa Valley consists of over one-hundred separate and varying micro-climates. Two vineyards only a mile or two away from one another may grow the same grape, even the same clone, but each vineyard will produce totally different wines. Terroir is the expression of a location, the growing season and a year’s worth of work. The team of Far Niete focus more on what their terroir is, but also in how they care for it. They have implemented a program of sustainability into their viticulture and wine making practices. All of their farms are organically produced and if any power farming vehicles are utilized, they run on biodiesel fuels. The entire estate runs on solar power with a net-zero use of electricity from the network, also meaning they produce more energy than they consume. Water is reutilized and recycled from the winery for irrigation and as a safer and more natural protection against frost. They have a strict recycling program in place and even the employees’ vehicles are those with hybrid engines. The Vineyards of the Quarry Cab We touched a bit on how they go about selecting their vineyards and as I would love to chat with you about all of them, we only have time for one and it is the vineyard of our featured wine; the Quarry Vineyard. On the other side of the valley, running parallel with Highway 29, is the less-traveled, windy and beautiful Silverado Trail. This is the side of the Quarry Vineyard on the east side of another Napa appellation, Rutherford. The name originates from a pre-existing quarry which sourced white rock for a ghost winery that still remains standing just behind the vineyard. There are three blocks each with their own exposure, micro-climate and soils. The rocky, loamy soils of white rocks drain well giving the vines strength and vigor. These plots have full sun exposure in the afternoon sun and the white rock reflect the sun’s rays for a more intense and well-rounded maturation. The 2011 Vintage The growing season of the 2011 Quarry Cabernet Sauvignon had slightly above average rain fall, and the bloom of the bunches did not start until June, the latest that has ever been recorded. In order to compensate, the canopy was trimmed back to allow more intense rays to the fruit. The consistent summer temperatures, minus the typical heat spikes allowed for slow maturation and ripening. The vineyard was harvested in the middle of October and the fruit was perfectly in an ideal balance with low sugar levels and good acidity. The result of this vintage is a wine of complexity and elegance with a mixed cornucopia of some things sweet and others, savory. The nose is full of red cherry, fresh blackberry with hints of dried thyme and oregano and something like a sweet cigar just pulled from the humidor. The flavors round out with nice juicy berries and a finish of vanilla French toast and a touch of smoky cedar. It is a wine to enjoy now but it can age gracefully in your cellar or wine fridge for another five to eight years. Napa Valley Wine Reviews: Honig Sauvignon Blanc 2011 Cakebread Napa Valley 2012 Chardonnay Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 St. Supery 2011 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
