Ultimate California Wine Blog

Cardinale is a large, imposing-looking structure which sits atop a hill on Highway 29 in the Oakville district. While they are located within an appellation that is considered ‘valley floor’ fruit, the vineyards from which the grapes are pulled from their wine include Keyes Vineyard on Howell Mountain and Veeder Peak Vineyard on Mt. Veeder.

Entering the establishment is awe-inspiring as the view of the building is in sight during the entire ascent. It is a stunning edifice which somehwat peers down upon the whole valley. The reception area and tasting room are expansive, inviting, and very well lit.

I especially admired the modern art-like sculpture opposite the tasting bar — core dirt samples of their various vineyards. It was not only representational and educational, but a unique and stylistic way to add minimal art to the room. Immediately adjacent to the tasting area is a private banquet room which can be used for small party tastings for formal dinner parties. Immediately beyond that room lies the balcony from which a stunning view of the vineyards and the buildings which make up the wine-making facilities.

Like many high-end wineries, Cardinale is one that does not over extend themselves with multitudes of varietals — cabernets are the primary focus but there was a lovely merlot available the day of my visit as well:

2001 Keyes Howell Mountain Merlot – Dark, inky purple in color. Rich chocolate and full herbal aromas. More chocolate and dark, elegant fruit with a thick, long finish. Opulent and jammy. This is a wine I would love to lay down for five to eight years.

2001 Cardinale Cabernet – A rather complicated line-up: 28% Mt. Veeder (Napa), 20% Oakville (Napa), 18% Howell Mountain (Napa), 14% Knights Valley (Sonoma), 13% Alexander Valley (Sonoma), and 7% Atlas Peek (Napa); 75% Cabernet and 25% Merlot. Again, a bit of herb on the nose with a hint of oak. Vanilla and dark berry in the middle palate with some chewy tannins. Quite nice.

Cardinale Estate ~ 7600 St. Helena Highway (Highway 29) ~ Oakville ~ CA ~ 94558 ~ 707-948-2643

Silver Oak has had a well-established reputation for phenomenal Cabernet. Several years ago, I was fortunate to taste the 1974 Silver Oak Mountain Coast (I’ll go ahead and add those tasting notes at the bottom, just because I can). With that reputation, I was greatly looking forward to my visit to Silver Oak, but which one to go to? As you can see, I have categorized this listing under both Napa, Oakville (where one tasting room and location lies) and Sonoma, Alexander Valley, where a separate set of buildings exist. It was to the Oakville establishment that I arrived for my sojourn. The distinction is important as they produce Cabernets from both appellations.

Known for their logo Water Tower, a building which one will see scattered all over the valley, I was not too surprised to see the actual model sitting close by the working structures of the winery. The entrance of the tasting room is impressive and elegant. I especially like the stained glass window which lies above the large doorways. I didn’t get a full tour of the production facilities and can only attest to that which I witnessed from the outside.

Also, immediately to the left of the building is a great bronze sculpture of a man pushing a wheelbarrow. Contained within the wheelbarrow is a planting of fresh flowers and I imagine the foliage changes with the seasons. This is a relatively low-production winery, like Quintessa, where Cabernet is king and there is not much reason to bother with multiple varietals. So on to my tasting:

From 1974 Silver Oak Mountain Coast – Light ruby with bridge-red edges. Nose of hazelnuts, cherries, chocolate, and dill. Good body, long finish with return of red fruit character. A truly splendid wine.

And from today; 2000 Silver Oak Napa Cabernet – Surprisingly, from a blend of twelve different vineyards, 79% Cabernet, 11% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. While I got a little cassis and vanilla on the nose, the wine paled a bit in my mouth in an almost Pinot-like concentration. Slightly thin.

2000 Silver Oak Alexander Valley – I perceived quite a bit of brett on the nose. It was very oaky and a second whiff produced considerable minerals in the aroma. Again, much more pale in the mouth than I had expected this wine to be. I think it might actually ripen in the bottle and I wouldn’t mind trying one in eight or ten years.

There was also a Meyer NV Port. It was a tad cloudy and a bit overly sweet and syrupy for my tastes.

Silver Oak ~ 915 Oakville Crossroad ~ Oakville, CA 94562 ~ 800-273-8809

From their website, "founded by the partners of Far Niente in 1997, produced its first wines that same year, and opened the winery in July 2003," Nickel & Nickel is a treat on Highway 29 which has to be sought-out due to its appointment-only status. This is unusual for wineries on the 29, which tend to be more tourist-oriented, full of tschotschkies and t-shirts. Unassuming from the entrance as all you see are a collection of charming buildings dating back to the turn of the last century and a fully restored Model T truck parked under the white-picket fence of a sign.

Upon entering the reception hall, I was immediately escorted to a charming room, decorated with various country French antiques, an engaging fireplace, and stunning dried wildflower displays and framed woodcuts of wine-making apparatus. While relaxing and waiting for the other guests, I was given a 1999 Chardonnay which was (guess what?) oaky and buttery…

The tour commences with a walk around the grounds. There are several old, fully restored buildings. Within the Gleason Barn are the administrative offices, wine laboratory, and yet another antique horse-drawn carriage. I’m sure this is due to Gil Nickel’s love of antique vehicles which are well known at Far Niente.  We walked from the barn area to the wine-making facilities which are extremely impressive.

After the jaunt, we returned to the Sullenger House for tasting. Even though their book of wine is expansive enough to include Zinfandel, Merlot, Chardonnay, Syrah, and Cabernet, I was pleased that the tasting before me was just Cabernet. I am unsure if they every include those other varietals in the tastings or not. As the key of Nickel & Nickel wines are entirely vineyard-specific offerings, it can provide extremely enlightening to be able to taste what a single grape can do depending on where it is grown.

2001 Tench – Oakville; Chocolatey and downright merlot-like with a deep, plummy nose. Round and full in the mouth with nary a hint of minerality.

2001 Dragonfly – St. Helena; I might have thought this a Stag’s Leap district wine with its earthy aroma. Overwhelming scent of Band-Aid and medicinal qualities which made for a mineral taste in the mouth.

2001 Carpenter – Napa/Coombsville; Bigger tannins than the Dragonfly and a tad minerally and thin. I could sense the rocky soil as the finish provided significant mint.

2001 Rock Cairn – Oakville; While the Tench was merlot-like, the Rock Cairn was zin-like with a burn of alcohol which gave way to medicinal eucalyptus which eventually betrayed the blackberry in the mouth.

2001 Vogt – Howell Mountain; I was given the Howell Mountain as an extra taste as they knew I was from a Howell Mountain winery myself. Classic notes with deep, purply fruit and elegant spice.

Nickel & Nickel ~ 8164 St. Helena Highway ~ Oakville ~ CA ~ 94562 ~ 707-967-9600