2021 Benchland Select Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Our goal with Dancing Bear is to capture the intense mountain character of fruit from this unique site, perched high above northern Napa Valley on the steep, rugged slopes of Howell Mountain. 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.
"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 wine offers generous aromas of black cherry and fig that carry over onto a concentrated, fleshy palate." — Dennis Cakebread
Production Notes
2021 Benchland
Blend
Harvest Dates
Aging
Bottled
You May Also Like…
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.
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.
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.
