Through a series of events many years ago I ended up with a significant var iety of the various single vineyard offerings from Nickel and Nickel which is a sister winery to Farn Niente specializing in single vineyard wines. I grilled a marinated flank steak and brought a couple of bottles up to open with dinner. Fresh zuchini from the garden with good Pecorino and toasted almonds, farm fresh Ohio sweet corn (I picked it) and a sliced tomato from the garden rounded things out.
2003 Nickel & Nickel Branding Iron Vineyard Napa Cabernet-This is an Oakvil le vineyard close to the valley floor. The wine is medium bodied in the gl ass. Nose of Napa dust, red berries and vanilla. Smooth on palate with re d berries, currants and plums. Nicely done with a good balance and long sm ooth finish. B2007 Nickel & Nickel Vogt Vineyard Napa Cabernet-Vogt is a Howell Mountain property and this wine screamed Howell Mountain. Dark purple and dense in t he glass. Dark nose of cassis, black fruits, espresso and bramble. A bit heavier than the Branding Iron with mountain fruit tannins. Plenty of dept h on the palate with dense fruit in a well polished package. B+
Two wines from completely different terrains and different vintages yet the family style showed through with a very polished well made wine with not t oo much of any one component and great balance.