The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon State Ranch is from Yountville, a sector that is becoming populated with such high quality wineries as Cliff Lede and Kapcsandy. This deep ruby/purple effort is not so much austere as it is more narrowly constructed than its siblings. There is a lot going on in this outstanding Cabernet, but it is the least expressive of all these Nickel & Nickel Cabernet Sauvignons. It reveals some minerality along with white chocolate and black currant characteristics, but the structure dominates at present. Forget this wine for 3-4 years and drink it over the following 20 years. An impressive group of 2007 Cabernet Sauvignons from the Gil Nickel family represents an Oakville terroir lesson with the exception of the State Ranch which comes from a vineyard further south in Yountville.Tel. (707) 967-9600

The dense purple-hued 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon State Lane Ranch (also 100% Cabernet Sauvignon) exhibits more chocolate, espresso roast, black fruits, underbrush, and tobacco leaf characteristics. Very promising, but slightly more austere in the mid-palate and finish than its siblings, it should drink well for 15+ years. All four of these single vineyard offerings from Nickel and Nickel are in need of 4-6 years of bottle age, and appear to be long distance runners.Tel. (707) 967-9600