2014 Dancing Bear Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain, Napa Valley
Our goal with Dancing Bear is to capture the intense mountain character of fruit from this unique site; small-lot winemaking allows our winemaker to monitor extraction during fermentation, so that each lot achieves just the right balance between fruit and tannin. Aging in French oak barrels—predominantly new oak—adds depth to this remarkable wine.September 30, 2017 – Jazzy oak plays the first stanza and then eases into a tasty flow of anise, dark berry, mocha and espresso notes, coming together nicely on the finish, where all the flavors combine for a focused, complex effort. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2030. 2,000 cases made.October 31, 2017 – Cabernet Sauvignon with an 8% splash of Cabernet Franc, the deep purple-black colored 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Dancing Bear Ranch offers a nose of crushed blackberries, blueberries and crème de cassis with cigar box, underbrush and Indian spices plus wafts of lavender and sage. Quite elegant and sophisticated in the medium to full-bodied mouth, it shows delicate flavor layers, finely crafted with a firm frame and a long finish with mineral and spice layers.
This big, dramatic wine has become a cult classic among lovers of Howell Mountain cabernet sauvignon, including the bears who call this high-elevation estate home. This top-rated cab offers generous aromas of black cherry and fig that carry over onto a concentrated, fleshy palate.
