C.C. Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon (Wine)

C.C. Ranch is planted in Rutherford, along the slope of a knoll west of the Silverado Trail. The vineyard grows classic Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon on well-drained, gravelly loam soil and receives a variety of exposures, depending on the block and location. The vines are well balanced and the canopy is opened up to give good light exposure. Nickel & Nickel produces wine from 15 select acres of this 115-acre vineyard.

Foggy nights offered the perfect conditions for fruit and tannin maturity. There were no heat spikes this year, so flavor development was at its peak. We pulled leaves around the fruit to give adequate exposure. Bloom and veraison occurred two weeks ahead of last year and the vines looked well balanced. The five clones in this vineyard ripened at different rates. We harvested the west facing hillside blocks in late September, and the other blocks ripened over the following three weeks. The uniqueness of each block contributed to the outstanding flavors of this vintage.