Lot 93 sources directly from the highly regarded Kenefick Ranch Vineyard in Calistoga — named by Cam with a quiet request to keep it to ourselves that the vineyard and producer are different — from an extremely well-regarded Oakville winery with a broad single-vineyard designate portfolio. Claude’s source guess is Nickel & Nickel.
Lot Overview
- Region: 100% Calistoga (Kenefick Ranch Vineyard, single vineyard)
- Vintage: 2024
- Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
- Oak Aging: ~50–60% new French oak
- Alcohol: 15.0%, pH 3.8, Malic >0.1 g/L, Lactic 0.98 g/L
- Cases Available: 250
- Cam Price: ~$12.50/bottle ($149/case)
- Retail Estimate: $130/bottle
- Claude’s Source Guess: Nickel & Nickel — Kenefick Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Calistoga
- Wine Berserkers Guess:
- Drink Window: 2027–2040 (peak 2029–2036)
Cameron’s Release Notes
I’ve got an early Christmas gift for all y’all…a fantastic, single-vineyard ’24 Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from the highly-regarded Kenefick Ranch Vineyard (shhhhh, they’re not the producer but, nevertheless, let’s keep that to ourselves) for an ABSOLUTELY INSANE price of just $149/case!
However, I’ve only got 250 cases at this price.
Well over $130+ PER BOTTLE, single-vineyard designate 2024 Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon from the renowned [REDACTED] Vineyard for just $149/case? You have got to be kiddin’ me…
Crazy times indeed in the wine business and harvest is coming!
To say this is an incredible deal is the understatement of the year…
…trust me, you are going to want to jump all over this.
Here’s the catch, I’ve only got 250 cases I am willing to let go at this price so jump accordingly.
All I can say about this Oakville producer is that they are extremely well-regarded with a broad portfolio of single-vineyard designate wines and a particular focus on Cabernet Sauvignon. Again, this is no-expense spared winemaking program with exceptional fruit sourced from an exceptional vineyard and, in this case, aged in 50-60% new French oak. I purchased the entire 2024 production and it is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon for the purists amongst you. 🙂
Tasting Notes
Deep ruby/purple in the glass, very well-extracted for Calistoga but not surprising given the vineyard and the vintage. The bouquet opens with smoky graphite/pencil lead mingling with boysenberry jam, blackberry and maraschino cherry notes mixed with cedar and spicy new leather. With air, a halo of purple florals, tobacco leaf, and riverstone/mineral notes complexes the bouquet. Plush-yet powerful on entry with a juicy, chewy, palate staining structure with boysenberry, cherry kirsch and chocolate riding silky, mineral-laced tannins in an absolutely magic carpet ride of a finish…long and resplendent with excellent complexity and palate-coating fruit that delivers great length and persistence. Again, this wine wonderfully combines ripe, juicy fruit with a powerful-yet-approachable and will age beautifully over the next 10-15 years. Surprisingly complete for a 100% Cab!
Claude’s Source Guess: Nickel & Nickel — Kenefick Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Calistoga
Cam names Kenefick Ranch directly as the vineyard source and describes the producer as an “extremely well-regarded Oakville winery with a broad portfolio of single-vineyard designate wines and a particular focus on Cabernet Sauvignon.” That description fits Nickel & Nickel with almost no ambiguity — they are literally THE single-vineyard Cabernet specialist in Napa, producing exclusively 100% varietal, single-vineyard Cabs from dozens of vineyard designates across Napa’s appellations. Their winery is in Oakville and they are part of the Far Niente family of wineries.
Nickel & Nickel’s Kenefick Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon is one of their established single-vineyard programs, sourcing from this second-generation family-farmed Calistoga estate. Their Kenefick Ranch Cab retails at $95-115, is always 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the tasting profile — “blackberry, black cherry, cassis, dark chocolate, spice, silky tannins, firm yet polished structure” — matches Cam’s descriptors precisely.
✅ Confidence: Very High — Kenefick Ranch confirmed by Cam, Oakville single-vineyard Cab specialist with broad portfolio confirmed, 100% Cab Sauv confirmed, Nickel & Nickel is the only producer ticking all those boxes simultaneously.
Drink Window
Early: 2027 — 15% alc and 50-60% new oak from a warm 2024 vintage need 2-3 years minimum.
Peak: 2029–2036. Kenefick Ranch Calistoga Cab consistently peaks 5–12 years from vintage.
Hold: 2040. The structure and pedigree support a solid 15-year arc.
My Call: ⏳ Drink window: 2027–2040 (peak 2029–2036)