2005 Merlot 750

Our Sauvignon Blanc grapes are grown in the Napa Valley and the North Coast, including in our own estate ranches in Carneros, Napa, Rutherford, and Calistoga. The cooler, southern part of the valley gives us sauvignon blanc with bright citrus characters, flinty minerality, and balanced acidity, while the warmer northern region brings out tropical notes in the final wine.

"Sauvignon blanc was the first white grape variety our family planted in 1972 adjacent to the winery, and it's still thriving there today. Zesty citrus aromas and balanced acidity make this classic Napa Valley sauvignon blanc perfect with lighter fare, fresh cheese, or your favorite seafood dish."— Dolores Cakebread

Our Annahala Ranch sits on 60 acres in the southern end of Mendocino County’s Anderson Valley. This former apple orchard, with its closer proximity to the Pacific Ocean compared to its sister vineyard, Apple Barn, spends more time in fog. Vines at our Annahala Ranch are planted in loamy soils and represent a selection of high-quality pinot noir clones, including Dijon 114, 667 and 777, and clone 828. This diversity of clones enhances the wine’s complexity: Dijon clones tend to impart perfume and intense black cherry characters, while clone 828 contributes elegant texture and a hint of dried rose petals.

Grown in the cool Carneros conditions that maintain excellent balance between fruit characters and acidity in grapes. We ferment and age this wine in French oak barrels, and leave it on the yeast lees for months to enhance texture and complexity. Floral aromas mingle with fresh citrus, orange blossom, and white peach characters, and the palate is weighty yet balanced, with a mouth-coating texture and a clean, mineral finish.

"The 1973 Napa Valley Cakebread Chardonnay was the very first wine we released, and we've been fine-tuning it ever since."– Jack Cakebread

Our Napa Valley Merlot displays deep aromas of blackberry and black cherry with a background of crushed stone and violet. Concentrated flavors of fresh blackberry and black plum are balanced by fine tannins and fresh acidity. A lingering rich black cherry finish with a note of minerality rounds out this complex and elegant Merlot.

This Merlot comes from our estate vineyards throughout Napa Valley, including our Suscol Springs Ranch in the cooler southeastern reaches. We also include grapes from our warm, nutrient-rich valley floor vineyard in Rutherford. The diversity of these Merlot vineyard sites enables us to craft a wine that highlights the best of the varietal; deep fruit flavors, silky mouthfeel, bright acidity, and refined elegant tannins.