The 1999 vintage marks only the third time that Cakebread Cellars has bottled a syrah. An exclusive offering available only through the winery, fewer than 80 cases of this remarkably dense and concentrated wine were produced.

Consistent with the two previous releases, all of our Syrah fruit was grown in the Carneros region, Napa Valley's southernmost appellation, bordering San Pablo Bay. Winemaker, Bruce Cakebread, believes that this is the ideal region for growing our syrah due to the cool maritime influences of the bay.

Cakebread Cellars' 1999 Syrah was made using our traditional red winemaking techniques such as; cold soaking the juice and skins (or must) prior to fermentation to help intensify the flavors and color of the finished wine, and draining the wine from tank to tank (what we call rack and return), to stimulate the production of the phenolic compounds that help smooth out and soften the tannins.

Like the 1997 and 1998 vintages, the 1999 Napa Valley Syrah possesses an inky black color. On the palate, it displays ripe, intense, darkly fruited flavors reminiscent of blackberries and black cherries with hints of licorice and dark chocolate. Cakebread Cellars' 1999 Syrah's super dark fruit is nicely balanced by juicy acidity, a subtle hint of toasty oak, and a smooth, dry, lingering finish.

Grape Variety:
100% Syrah

Alcohol Content:
14.1%

Vineyards:
Carneros/Napa Valley

Total Acidity:
0.61g/100ml

Harvest dates:
10/22/99

pH: 3.67

Fermentation:
Stainless Steel

Residual Sugar:
0.05g/100ml

Barrel Aging:
100% new French oak

Release date:
11/1/01

Winemaker:
Bruce Cakebread