The Vineyard House tasting with Jeremy Nickel at the Wine Watch

 “If I hurt you, I’d make wine from your tears” Never Tear Us Apart by INXS

It is national bring your kids to work day so we have a new star on Wine Watch TV today to help promote our dinner with Jeremy Nickel.

The Vineyard House was originally Hiram Crabbs place in the late 19th century, it was sold to the Stelling family and then to Gil Nickel.  Gil left this house to his son Jeremy to ensure that he would always have a place in Napa Valley.  Although Jeremy is on the board of directors for Far Niente and Nickel and Nickel Wineries, he does not work at either winery.   On the Vineyard House property there is a 2 acre vineyard which some of the fruit from this site now goes into the this exciting new wine and he has also purchased 35 acres right there on the valley floor located just 50 feet before you get to Harlan estate and Bond Wineries.  In the very near future this wine will be 100% estate bottled.  Bill Ballentine is making the wine and the first vintage was 2005.

I liked all of these wines but it is clear that the 2008 and 2009 vintages are a cut above and we are just beginning to see the potential of this Vineyard House property.  Join us as we experience every vintage of this wine made to date with special guest Jeremy Nickel.  Wine Watch Caterings Toni Lampasone will be making a few small courses to accompany the tasting wines and the fee for this event is $95 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463.

Vineyard House Tasting at Wine Watch with Special Guest Jeremy NickelThursday, April 24th7pm

2005 The Vineyard House Cabernet Sauvignon Napa   

"The Vineyard House 2005 from Napa is a delicious Cab with loads of blackberry, black cherry, black currant and cassis liquor exploding in your mouth. There is a hint of wet stone on the long finish that is very appealing. The acidity is medium and the wine is nicely balanced on the palate. This fruit forward wine is a crowd pleaser and should age 5-7 years or more. It's a great first effort for Jeremy Nickel and we will surely see wonderful wine coming from Vineyard House in future vintages."  - Randa Warren (Master Sommelier)

2006 The Vineyard House Cabernet Sauvignon Napa    Price: $202.50    Sale $178.20       Case $2066

A bit of Syrah in the blend.  This is first vintage and they made 200 cases, this wine is a blend of purchased fruit.  A very lush wine on the tongue with a solid core dark currant and cassis berry fruit and nice balanced fruit, sweet tobacco spice and a nice hand of toasty oak spice.  Lots of sweet berry fruit on the tongue with smooth round tannins, a very grapy wine concentrated and rich, almost sweet on the finish, sweet tobacco spice and dark chocolate notes, nice length and complexity to the finish, smooth round tannins.  Finish 40+          Excellent +        

2007 The Vineyard House Cabernet Sauvignon Napa    Price: $202.50    Sale $178.20       Case $2066

Petite Verdot in the blend this year instead of Syrah.  This wine has a good amount of dark currant and dark cherry fruit with sweet tobacco spice, dark chocolate and hints of eucalyptus, fresh earth and more on the nose.  This wine is very smooth and balanced with fine tannins very fresh with lots of juicy fruit, almost liqueur like with sweet tannins and a nice hand of spice and floral notes through the finish.  Finish 45+        Excellent +        

2008 The Vineyard House Cabernet Sauvignon Napa    Price: $202.50    Sale $178.20       Case $2066

A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon 85%, Cabernet Franc 6%, Merlot 6%, Malbec 3%.  Dark currant and cherry fruit, dark spice and dark mocha chocolate, fresh plowed earth, graphite mineral, a cornucopia of fruit earth and spice on the nose.  Very big and chewy with dark cherry, currant, cassis very rich on the tongue with ripe round tannins and a very silky sexy texture to this wine with layers of dark spices.  This wine has lots of juicy fruit very exotic spices and a long finish echoing the nuance from the nose through the finish.  Finish 50+      Most Excellent

2009 The Vineyard House Cabernet Sauvignon Napa    Price: $202.50    Sale $178.20       Case $2066

A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon 88%, Cabernet Franc 4%, Merlot 4%, Malbec 4%.  Dark cherry liqueur like fruit with cassis and dark currant berry fruit very rich and juicy with a host of dark spices, dark chocolate, concentrated and rich bouquet of aromas, very complex.  A very thick and juicy wine with smooth and round tannins with a long finish that echoes the nuance from the nose through the finish. Very silky and smooth round with a host of dark spices and a long finish.  Finish 50+         Most Excellent

2010 The Vineyard House Cabernet Sauvignon Napa   

**This wine will be released in the fall in South Flordia

Menu

Duck & Smoked Mozzarella Ravioli with Brown Butter-Sundried Tomato-Basil Sauce

Lavender Braised Beef Short Rib with Roasted Spring Vegetables

The fee for this event is $95 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463.

A bit about the Vineyard House

The Vineyard House (TVH) is an exceptional and rare Cabernet Sauvignon created by proprietor Jeremy Nickel as a tribute to his late father Gil Nickel, founder of three of Napa’s most acclaimed wineries: Far Niente, Nickel & Nickel, and Dolce.  Like his father before him, Jeremy’s vision for TVH is to build a world-class estate winery around his one-of-a-kind property in Oakville, and to produce an extraordinary and aspirational Cabernet Sauvignon that is at once drinkable and collectible. To that end, TVH has received rave reviews and held its own twice in blind tastings against Napa’s most renowned cult wines.  TVH takes its name from a 19th century farmhouse surrounded by vineyards in a picturesque valley in Oakville, California.  Known as The Vineyard House, the home was built in 1853 by William Baldridge, one of Napa’s most prominent citizens. It was bestowed to Jeremy by Gil when he passed away in 2003.

Six vintages have been produced to date: 2005 through 2010. Production in the first three years was only 200 cases each. The 2008 vintage was 350 cases, and the 2009 vintage was 500 cases. The 2010 vintage is 700 cases and will be available in May/June 2014.

Jeremy is proud to continue the family tradition of great winemaking.  “Here’s to all we do that would make our fathers proud!

"My father taught me many life lessons, one of which was “never compromise on quality.” The Vineyard House Cabernet Sauvignon is a tribute to my father’s commitment to excellence, as well as his passion for fine Cabernet. An “Okie from Muskogee,” who established three of Napa Valley’s most iconic brands, Gil Nickel was not only my father, but my hero, whose lessons continue to inspire me every day. here’s to our fathers!"  Jeremy Nickel