Tasting Notes: Cakebread 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 delight the palate, 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. The Cakebread Cellars Merlot 2019 comes from our estate vineyards throughout Napa Valley, including our Suscol Springs Ranch in the cooler southeastern reaches. Grapevines at our Suscol Springs Ranch have to struggle through rocky soils—beneficial stress that yields smaller berries of great concentration and supple tannins. Also included are grapes from the warm, nutrient-rich valley floor vineyard in Rutherford. The diversity of these Merlot vineyard sites enables Cakebread to craft a wine that highlights the best of the varietal; deep fruit flavors, silky mouthfeel, bright acidity, and refined elegant tannins. The grapes are picked during the cool night hours to ensure the fruit retained freshness, purity, and natural acidity. Keeping each vineyard lot separate, they are hand-sorted and destemmed the clusters and done again with the individual berries. After gentle crush, we let the grapes cold soak prior to fermentation in stainless steel; gentle pumpovers during fermentation extracted color, flavor, and tannins from the grape skins. The wines finished secondary fermentation in French oak barrels where they aged until blending in July 2019. Then reintroduced the final blend to barrel for full integration of toast and oak structure. This wine aged a total of 17 months in barrel. 99.9% Merlot,, 0.1% Cabernet Sauvignon, abc 14.9%. Aged 17 months in 48% new French oak, 52% neutral French oak. Cakebread Cellars Merlot FAQs What is Cakebread Cellars Merlot? It is a red wine made by Cakebread Cellars in Napa Valley, California. Cakebread is best known for their Chardonnay, but their Merlot is a respected example of the variety from one of California's most prestigious wine regions. Where do the grapes come from? The grapes are sourced from Napa Valley vineyards where the warm days and cool nights help build ripe fruit flavors while maintaining structure. Cakebread works with select growers to ensure consistent quality. What does it taste like? It offers flavors of ripe plum, black cherry, and dark chocolate with soft tannins and a smooth finish. The wine has a full body with just enough structure to complement food or stand on its own. What is the alcohol content? Cakebread Cellars Merlot is typically around 14% ABV, which is standard for a full-bodied Napa Valley red wine. How does Napa Valley Merlot compare to other regions? Napa Valley Merlot tends to be richer and more fruit-driven than Merlot from Washington State or Bordeaux. The warm California climate produces ripe tannins and dark fruit flavors that make for a plush, approachable wine. Can I personalize a bottle? Yes. Personal Wine can add a custom label to a bottle of Cakebread Cellars Merlot, which makes it a great choice for weddings, holidays, birthdays, or corporate gifts. Is it a good gift? It is an excellent gift for anyone who enjoys California red wines. The Cakebread name carries strong recognition among wine drinkers, and a personalized bottle adds a meaningful touch. What foods pair well with it? It pairs well with roasted lamb, grilled steak, mushroom risotto, pasta with meat sauce, and aged cheeses. The soft tannins make it flexible enough to work with a range of dishes. Where does Personal Wine ship Cakebread Cellars Merlot? Personal Wine ships to most US states. Liquor cannot be shipped to Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Mississippi, Texas, or Utah due to state regulations.
