Freddy R. Troya

9.3

Nickel & Nickel – Vaca Vista Vineyard – Cab Sauv– 2022
Oak Knoll District, Napa Valley, California 🇺🇸

Overview
A single-vineyard Napa Cabernet sourced from the cool and elegant Oak Knoll District. Fermented and aged with the classic Nickel & Nickel precision, this expression favors balance, red-to-dark fruit purity, and structure over sheer power. A modern Napa style that emphasizes approachability without sacrificing depth.

Aromas & Flavors
Black cherry, cassis, plum, and violet, with cedar, vanilla, graphite, and a touch of baking spice. Subtle oak integration allows the fruit and minerality to shine.

Mouthfeel
Medium-plus in body, polished, and cohesive. Fresh acidity, supple tannins, and a graceful arc from entry to finish. Not a bruiser — a refined, cooler-climate profile that stays lively and lifted.

Food Pairings
Flat iron steak, short ribs, mushroom risotto, grilled lamb chops, herb-crusted pork tenderloin, or aged cheeses.

Verdict
A beautifully balanced, site-driven Napa Cabernet that delivers both sophistication and drinkability. Finessed rather than forceful, and a strong example of why Oak Knoll continues to be one of Napa’s most exciting AVAs for Cabernet.

Did You Know?
Nickel & Nickel was founded by the Far Niente family with a mission to produce 100% varietal, single-vineyard wines, showcasing Napa’s terroir with clarity. Oak Knoll is one of Napa Valley’s coolest sub-AVAs, producing elegant, aromatic reds with natural acidity and restraint.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
Oak Knoll being a single-vineyard expression from this sub-AVA makes it one of the easiest, most easygoing Cabernets from the Napa floor, and I always like to have it as an opener when pouring more intense Napa reds. A perfect warm-up that sets the stage beautifully. — 14 days ago

Abel Rebelo

8.9

Fruit forward but slight dryness develops with time. Great wine with a fantastic steak at La Vaca Negra! — 2 years ago

Deborah M

9.4

The wine that sent me down the rabbit hole. Not sure if it was the silky texture, boysenberry and licorice flavors, or the chocolate. In my mind the 2012 Altamura was brilliance in a glass and I needed to learn more.

Altamura Ranch is located in Wooden Valley. The valley is described as a small, almost round valley, approximately two miles wide at its widest point and located 9 miles northeast of the town of Napa within the Napa Valley appellation. It is is bordered by the Vaca Range to the east and “Napa Mountain” to the west.

I will always remember the first time I enjoyed this wine. Fairly confident I could pick this wine blind. The 2013 is just as good as the first time. — 3 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.5

Realm Cellars – Farella Vineyard – Red– 2021
Coombsville AVA – Napa Valley – California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A site-driven, estate Cabernet Sauvignon from Realm Cellars’ Farella Vineyard in the cool-climate Coombsville AVA. The 2021 vintage is composed of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from a high-elevation block within the vineyard known as the “rockpile,” named for its dense concentration of stone and gravel soils. This unique position in the foothills of the Vaca Mountains delivers natural freshness, complexity, and refined structure.

Aromas & Flavors
Layered aromas of red and black cherry, cassis, and ripe plum unfold alongside graphite, crushed stone, subtle floral tones, and hints of cedar. As the wine opens, nuanced notes of spice, earth, and mineral depth continue to build, revealing impressive complexity.

Mouthfeel
Medium-to-full bodied with a remarkably polished and silky texture. The tannins are refined and seamless, offering structure without weight. Fresh acidity from the cool Coombsville site carries the wine effortlessly through a long, graceful finish.

Food Pairings
Herb-crusted lamb, grilled filet mignon, roasted duck breast, mushroom-forward dishes, or aged hard cheeses.

Verdict
A beautifully composed Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon that emphasizes elegance over brute force. Complex, multi-layered, and progressively expressive, this is a refined interpretation of mountain-influenced Coombsville Cabernet.

Did You Know?
Coombsville is one of Napa Valley’s coolest AVAs, influenced by morning fog and volcanic soils from the Vaca Mountain range, often producing Cabernets with heightened aromatic complexity and natural acidity.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
I was genuinely surprised by how smooth and delicate this wine is for a site of such intensity. Multi-layered, graceful, and beautifully balanced, it’s an exceptional Cabernet that showcases finesse as much as depth. — 5 days ago

Paul J

9.0

Complimentary half bottle from The Sanctuary in Kiawah. Not bad. Good starter to vaca and the night. — 2 years ago

with Brooke

John pappel

9.5

Starts with light almond notes, transitions through a variety of herbal notes and ends in a fresh peppermint. — 4 years ago

with Adam

Gage Orion

9.2

Fantastic Cabernet…. Paired incredibly well with our slow braised short ribs… jammy, dark fruit, and semi bold. Got another bottle that I’m going to let sit a little longer and compare. — 8 months ago

Daniel Jara

9.4

Frutos rojos, taninos presentes , acidez moderada , cherry, excelente para carnes como rabo de toro, churrasco de cerdo para negra añejo, solomillo de vaca. — 2 years ago

Laura Purdy

8.9

High acid, preferred Vaca Vista — 2 years ago

Sunil Sachdev

10

Indulgent red. On vaca in Madrid. — 2 years ago

with Jimi