Cakebread Cellars Merlot 2021 (750ml)
Product price
Description
Cakebread Cellars Merlot 2021 comes from Napa Valley, drawing fruit from multiple estate vineyards spanning the valley floor and the cooler southeast, with a traditional splash of Cabernet in the blend. Seventeen months in French oak (44% new) shapes the final character. Merlot from Napa Valley typically balances ripe dark fruit against structure and minerality, and this bottling sits comfortably in that tradition.
The nose opens with floral and ripe berry notes, along with subtle mineral undertones and hints of graphite. On the palate, expect redcurrant and blackcurrant with touches of black pepper and sweet tobacco, all supported by lively acidity and good structure. The oak aging adds plushness and toasty mocha character without overwhelming the wine's refinement. This is a wine that combines power and elegance, approachable now but built to age.
Product Details
| Category | Wine |
| Color | Red |
| Country | USA |
| Region | California |
| Subregion | Napa Valley |
| Varietal | Merlot |
| Producer | Cakebread Cellars |
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Size | 750 ML |
| Subtype | Still |
Expert Reviews
Founded in the early 1970s, Cakebread Cellars began with a land purchase in Rutherford and now owns 243ha of vines across 16 vineyards, mostly in Napa. Winemaker at the time Stephanie Jacobs usually included a dash of Cabernet in this bottling. Merlot from Suscol Springs Ranch in the valley’s cooler southeast joins fruit from warmer valley-floor sites in the Rutherford AVA. Ageing for 17 months in 44% new French oak gives this wine plushness. Ronan Sayburn MS: Nose is open, floral and ripe. Sweet summer berry fruit and a little graphite. Lean minerality on an elegant palate. A refined wine. Eugenio Egorov: Vibrant, fresh. Redcurrant and blackcurrant with notes of black pepper and sweet tobacco. Lively acidity and good structure. Ben Gubbins: Dark fruits, toasty mocha, blackberry jam, bramble leaf and vanilla on the nose. Refreshing acidity. Powerful, almost hedonistic.