Experience the Depth of Cakebread Red Wines

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.

We call our family's Annahala and Apple Barn estate vineyards the 'Two Creek Vineyards,' since these former apple orchards sit on the banks of Anderson Creek, not far from the Pacific Ocean. Here, the soils and weather patterns are ideal for cultivating Pinot Noir, which thrives in the chilly, maritime climate due to the proximity of the Pacific. This climate promotes slow and even ripening, which results in grapes with maximum fruit flavors and a precise balance of opulence and structure. 

Opening with vibrant aromas of strawberry jam and tart cherry, a swirl of the glass hints at fennel seed, dried fig, chamomile, mocha, and baking spices. Notes of rose petal and boysenberry emerge over time, harmonizing with the wine’s gentle tannins. Light-bodied and fresh, red berry flavors eventually segue to spicy, toasty oak notes leaving a long, berry-tinged finish. Once a prosperous apple grove, the Annahala Estate's closeness to the Pacific Ocean ensures frequent ocean mists wash over the vines, creating a cool microclimate where Pinot Noir slowly ripens to perfection. The vines thrive in the area’s fertile, loamy terrain, which allows us to cultivate several renowned Dijon clones of Pinot Noir. Utilizing a range of clones adds complexity to the wine, since each cultivar adds unique flavor and aromatic intricacies to the final wine. The site’s cool climate and forested border yield fully ripened grapes known for their bright red fruit character, delicate tannins, and exceptional balance.

Napa Valley is known the world over for fine cabernet sauvignon. Vineyards here are blessed with a great diversity of soils and microclimates and express their distinct personalities through remarkable wines. We blend our Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from special spots throughout the region, including the renowned cab appellations of Rutherford and Oakville, which impart classic Napa Valley bold fruit intensity, as well as the warmer Calistoga area to the north and the cooler southern reaches of the Suscol watershed, which contribute layers of complexity and depth of flavor.

This wine reveals a fragrant, complex bouquet of ripe blackberry and boysenberry complemented by notes of dark chocolate and toasty oak. Rich and smooth on the palate, the sumptuous dark fruit is balanced by fresh acidity and lush tannins with a lingering, elegant finish and a hint of minerality.