Nickel & Nickel John Sullenger cab

Dried lavender and mulberry are fine contenders for attention. This fragrant and well-tempered red shows restraint amidst its broad, generous demeanor. Licorice, leather, soy sauce, and purple plum weave through a mineral core to a most elegant finish.

The 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon John C. Sullenger Vineyard comes from a site just south of To Kalon. Loaded with black cherries and ripe fruit, this full-bodied wine is rich, voluptuous and silky on the outside, but underneath that flesh, there's a firm structure and dusty tannins that linger easily on the elegant finish. This is a real beauty from the western side of Oakville.

Another Oakville beauty, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon John C. Sullenger Vineyard sports an inky purple hue and gorgeous aromatics of cassis, currants, iron, leafy tobacco, and violets. It's medium to full-bodied, tight and focused on the palate, with building tannins, the fresher, structured style of the vintage, and outstanding length. It's tight and reserved at the moment, so hide bottles for 3-4 years if you can. It's another brilliant wine I'd love to have in the cellar, and it will see its 20th birthday in fine form.

Deep and dark with lovely perfume and spices, showing aromas of blackberries, violets, blood plums, graphite and potpourri. The palate is textural and refined, offering mouthwatering tannins and a polished, detailed finish. A charming single-vineyard wine with plenty of flash and tension.

Old-school whiffs of tobacco, warm clay and cedar lead off before the fruit shows up, but when it does, this is a brick house of black currant and black- berry paste notes. There’s a ramrod of cast iron driv- ing underneath as well, lending a very structured feel. A little patience is needed.