Three Wine Cabernet Sauvignon Suscol Creek 2015

For years, Matt Cline has been one of Nicholas Wines favorite winemakers, consistently over-delivering on every project I’ve seen him work on. Many of you know him for his work with Zinfandel, Mourvedre and Carignan. But his Cabernets are easily my favorite in his arsenal. Here’s why.

Unlike the zinfandel and red blend varieties that are made to drink in their youth, Matt’s Cabernet program is much more patient and deliberate. Though he obtains a mere block of fruit from Suscol Creek vineyard for this Cabernet, he has the wine sit in new French Oak barrels for 22 months where they beautiful integrate with the wood and smooth the racy wine into a well structured animal.

Hailing from southern Napa Valley and the same vineyard where nearly a quarter of Phelps 2015 Insignia was drawn from, Matt Cline’s big brawny 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon was crafted. Patiently aged for 22 months in French oak, the Three Suscol Creek Cabernet Sauvignon is made from fruit grown on Block 5 of the Suscol Creek Vineyard. It boasts flavors of blackberry, figs and black currants with notes of tobacco and cedar. The wine is dense and rich with a synchronized, silky texture and firm tannins giving it a lush mouthfeel and a lengthy finish.