Nickel & Nickel Quarry Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Nickel & Nickel Quarry Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 is a 100% varietal, single-vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from Rutherford, bottled at 14.8% ABV in a standard 750ml format. This vintage earned 96 points from critic Wilfred Wong and showcases the distinctive mineral-driven character of the Quarry Vineyard site.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.8%  |  Origin: Rutherford, Napa Valley, California  |  2019 Vintage  |  Winery: Nickel & Nickel

Production & Heritage

Nickel & Nickel was founded in 1997 by Gil Nickel, also the proprietor of Far Niente, with a singular mission: producing 100% varietal wines from individually designated single-vineyard sites across Napa Valley. Each year, the winemaking team selects up to 20 vineyards deemed worthy of the Nickel & Nickel designation, evaluating soil composition, rootstock, clonal selection, sun exposure, and farming practices before a vineyard earns inclusion. The Quarry Vineyard sits in the Rutherford appellation, where the site's unique soil profile and meticulous viticulture yield a wine intended to be a pure expression of place rather than a blended interpretation of the region.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with layered potpourri and violet perfume, building into concentrated black fruit and blueberry. Deeper investigation reveals spicy dried sage, cedar, and subtle oak influence.

Taste: The entry is generous and almost sweet, with vanilla, toffee, and baking spice cascading across the palate. At mid-palate, voluminous layers of mixed red and dark fruit emerge, underscored by cocoa and forest floor. An herbal spiciness and distinctive wet stone minerality — a hallmark of the Quarry Vineyard site — provide structural counterpoint to the fruit richness.

Finish: The finish is long, simultaneously savory and melting, with lingering notes of raspberry, cedar, and earthy mineral. Tannins resolve gracefully, leaving a lasting impression of Rutherford depth without heaviness.

How to Drink Quarry Vineyard Cabernet

This wine is best served slightly below room temperature, around 62–65°F, in a large-bowled Bordeaux glass that allows the aromatic complexity to develop fully. Decanting for 45–60 minutes opens the layered nose and softens the tannin structure. Given the wine's depth and concentration, it performs best as a standalone sipping wine or alongside a meal rather than in cocktails — Cabernet Sauvignon of this caliber is designed for the table.

Best For

• Gifting a serious Napa Valley Cabernet collector or wine enthusiast
• Pairing with a prime dry-aged steak dinner or celebratory meal
• Building a vertical or horizontal tasting of Rutherford single-vineyard Cabernets
• Cellaring for mid-term aging to explore how the 2019 vintage evolves

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Quarry Vineyard Cabernet taste like? The 2019 vintage delivers concentrated black fruit and blueberry flavors layered with vanilla, toffee, cocoa, and forest floor, anchored by a distinctive wet stone minerality. An herbal spice thread and cedar notes add complexity to a finish that is both savory and melting.

How does Quarry Vineyard Cabernet compare to Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon? Both are prominent Napa Valley Cabernets, but Nickel & Nickel's Quarry Vineyard bottling is a single-vineyard, 100% varietal wine from Rutherford, while Caymus blends fruit from multiple Napa Valley vineyard sources. The Quarry Vineyard tends toward more site-specific mineral character and herbal complexity, whereas Caymus is known for a rounder, fruit-forward house style.

Is Quarry Vineyard Cabernet good for cellaring? Yes — the 2019 vintage's structured tannins, balanced acidity, and concentrated fruit suggest a drinking window that extends well beyond release, rewarding patience with additional complexity over the next several years.

Where is Quarry Vineyard Cabernet made? It is produced by Nickel & Nickel winery using fruit exclusively from the Quarry Vineyard in the Rutherford appellation of Napa Valley, California. Rutherford is widely regarded as one of Napa's most prestigious sub-appellations for Cabernet Sauvignon.

What foods pair well with Quarry Vineyard Cabernet? Dry-aged ribeye steak pairs naturally with the wine's tannin structure and savory depth. Braised short ribs complement its cocoa and forest floor notes. Roasted lamb with rosemary echoes its herbal spice character. Hard aged cheeses like Comté or aged Gouda mirror the wine's richness. Dark chocolate desserts with moderate sweetness align with the wine's toffee and cocoa undertones.

What sizes does Quarry Vineyard Cabernet come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, which is the widely available format for Nickel & Nickel single-vineyard wines.

Is Quarry Vineyard Cabernet worth the price? Positioned in the premium tier of Napa Valley single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine reflects the cost of meticulous single-site viticulture and limited production from a respected Rutherford vineyard. The 96-point score from Wilfred Wong and consistently strong community reviews on CellarTracker (averaging 91+ points) reinforce its standing within this competitive category.

Why Quarry Vineyard Cabernet?

The 96-point rating from Wilfred Wong places this 2019 vintage among the strongest performers in Nickel & Nickel's single-vineyard portfolio. What separates this bottling from many Napa Cabernets is its unblended, single-vineyard purity — every drop comes from one Rutherford site selected for its specific soil, rootstock, and microclimate. The wet stone minerality that runs through the palate is a direct signature of the Quarry Vineyard's terroir, giving the wine a sense of place that blended regional bottlings rarely achieve. For drinkers seeking a Rutherford Cabernet that prioritizes vineyard identity over winemaker intervention, this is a compelling and well-documented example.