Vineyards:
At Cakebread Cellars we take great pride in our collection of estate vineyards throughout the Napa Valley. This wide array of vineyard sites results in beautiful, layered wines like the 2017 Merlot. These diverse vineyard sites range from the Suscol Springs Ranch in the cooler southeastern corner of the Napa Valley, to the nutrient-rich valley floor in Rutherford, and all the way up to warmer Calistoga, at the very northern end of the region. Suscol Springs, a rocky, well-drained vineyard, is a unique site for Merlot, which stresses the vines resulting in smaller, more concentrated fruit. The famous dust of Rutherford adds another excellent, structured element. Each vineyard produces differing and distinctive grapes, resulting in a complex, multi-layered Merlot that is both bold and elegant, as well as concentrated and fresh, reflective of these varying vineyard sites.
Tasting Notes:
This is a savory, bold and structured wine, with a firm foundation. Hints of dried herbs, along with aromas of deep blackberry and black cherry, are evident along with mineral notes of crushed stone. The flavors are deeply concentrated with black plum, as well as fresh blackberries to match the nose. Freshness and acidity are followed by silky textures and refined, elegant tannins.