Vintage:

The 2001 vintage was a climatic roller coaster ride. A warm March led to early bud break, followed by April frosts that significantly reduced the crop in some north coast regions. May and June were warm, but the weather turned cool again in July and August, slowing the ripening process, which was reignited by an early September heat wave. The result in Napa Valley was a small-to-medium-size crop of fully ripened Merlot grapes blessed with intense fruit flavors.

Vineyards:

Cakebread Cellars Merlot comes from two classic regions in Napa Valley: the cool-climate Carneros district in the southern part of the valley, which yields bright fruit with crisp acidity, and the mid-valley Rutherford district, whose warmer temperatures produce ripe, rich fruit with juicy red berry and cherry flavors. The grapes for the 2001 Merlot, drawn from 13 distinct vineyard blocks in these two regions, was harvested between September 8 and October 2, 2001.

Winemaking:

Cakebread winemaker Julianne Laks employs innovative winemaking techniques to maximize the winery's high-quality Merlot fruit. First, she cold-soaks the must (unfermented juice and skins) prior to fermentation to extract more color and flavor. Then, she uses a technique called rack-and-return, which involves draining a tank of fermenting juice and transferring it to another tank, leaving the "cap" of skins to fall to the bottom of the emptied tank. The juice is then pumped back into the tank and thoroughly macerates with the skins, further extracting color and flavor while softening tannins. Once fermentation is complete, the Merlot ages 20 months in French oak barrels, 45% new, prior to bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Cakebread Cellars 2001 Merlot, blended with 13% Cabernet Sauvignon for depth and structure, is among the winery's finest. The product of a superb red wine vintage in Napa Valley, it boasts a beautiful, bright ruby color and a complex aroma of ripe cherry fruit mixed with scents of cedar and smoky, toasty oak. On the palate, the wine offers lavish black cherry and plum flavors accented with intriguing black tea spiciness.