2008 The Vineyard House

Cabernet Sauvignon

Producer: The Vineyard House

Appellation: St. Helena (Napa)

Alcohol: ?

Suggested Retail: $200

“Though this wine is predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon (85%), the balance of its composition is from Cabernet Franc (6%), Merlot (6%) and Petit Verdot (3%).

“The Vineyard House Cabernet is the creation of Jeremy Nickel, son of the late Gil Nickel of Far Niente, Dolce and Nickel & Nickel renown. While $200 might seem a shocking price for such a recent entry to Napa's cult wine derby, The Vineyard House isn't overpriced by the standards of that club, nor of first-growth Bordeaux.

“This wine is voluptuous. Deep and rich aromas of Cabernet fill the nose. There's a whisper of pepper and brown spice here. Traditional Cabernet flavors reminiscent of cassis and blackberry predominate with a some herbal notes in background. The lush finish seems just a little bit sweet—no doubt more due to the 50% new oak than any residual sugar. If your habit is to spend two hundred bucks on a bottle of wine, this is a worthy candidate for your money. Though the 2008 Vinyeard House did taste wonderful in December of 2012, it really should be cellared for a few years so to approach its potential.”

Food affinity: It demands something special. Maybe a lamb dish cooked very slowly so that it's flavor is fully developed and is a match for the power of The Vineyard House.