2016 Dancing Bear Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain, Napa Valley

We’re delighted to release our much anticipated, high-scoring cult classic: 2016 Dancing Bear Ranch cabernet sauvignon. Blended with cabernet franc and just a touch of merlot—this unique offering displays generous aromas of boysenberry, black cherry, and fig with appealing hints of forest floor. The boysenberry character extends over a concentrated, fleshy palate, joined by notes of blackberry and laced with a distinctive minerality. Opulent mountain tannins support the intense fruit through a powerful, elegant, lengthy finish. Enjoy with rosemary braised lamb shanks, filet mignon, grilled portabello mushrooms, or decadent flourless chocolate cake. This remarkable wine will continue to evolve its complexity in the bottle for another decade.December 14, 2018 – Cakebread’s 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Dancing Bear Ranch is a powerful, explosive wine. Beams of tannin add grip to play off the super-ripe concentrated black fruit. Hints of bittersweet chocolate, espresso, new leather, cloves and licorice emerge, but only with some reluctance. The 2016 is impressive, but it also needs time for the aromatics to fully develop. There is plenty to look forward to.September 30, 2019 – A blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc and 3% Merlot, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Dancing Bear Ranch was aged for 22 months in French oak, 60% new. Very deep purple-black colored, it is profoundly scented of crushed blackcurrants, warm blueberries, plum preserves, Black Forest cake and charcoal with nuances of unsmoked cigars, forest floor, truffles and star anise plus wafts of violets and stewed tea. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is super intense and yet wonderfully graceful, featuring a beautiful frame of very fine-grained, very firm tannins and bold freshness supporting layer upon layer of black fruit and earthy flavors, finishing with epic length and depth. This is simply a stunning expression of one of Napa’s great, great sites—it should age incredibly!


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2016 Dancing Bear Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain, Napa Valley

Dense and deeply concentrated on the palate, the wine offers intense black fruit flavors that segue into an extremely long, lush, dark-fruit finish laced with invigorating spice and mineral tones.

— Julianne Laks