By Cakebread Cellars
2021 Merlot Napa Valley

Tasting Notes
The soft and fruit-forward 2021 Merlot shows deep aromas of blackberry, black cherry, plum, and mocha with undertones of crushed stone minerality and flowers. On the palate, the wine is lush, silky, and elegant, with concentrated flavors of fresh blackberry and black plum that develop into notes of toast and oak. Bright acidity and refined tannins provide ample structure for the rich, mineral-driven, black cherry finish.

Vineyards and Vintage
The 2021 Merlot comes from vineyards across Napa Valley, including our Suscol Springs Ranch in the cool southeastern reaches of Napa and our warm valley-floor vineyard in Rutherford. Each vineyard contributes a layer of aromatic and flavor nuance to the final wine, allowing us to create a multi-dimensional Merlot highlighting the variety's best qualities: deep fruit flavors, a plush texture, bright acidity, and elegant tannins. The 2021 vintage in Napa began with a dry winter, creating a second year of drought conditions in the Valley. An even, mild spring and summer allowed the vines to slowly ripen a small, high-quality crop of grapes with exceptionally dense color and flavor concentration. The result is a dark and full-flavored Merlot capable of extended aging.

Winemaking
As each vineyard site reached perfect ripeness, it was harvested overnight to maintain the grapes' vibrant acidity and fresh fruit flavors. Each lot was fermented separately before aging in French oak barrels. In July 2022, the component lots were tasted and blended to create a Merlot offering a harmony of fruit flavor and refined structure. After blending, the final wine was returned to barrels to ensure an ideal integration of toast and oak structure with fruit flavor and rich aromatics. The Merlot spent 17 months in French oak, of which 44% was new.

Notes
Grape Variety: 99.4% Merlot, 0.6% Cabernet Sauvignon
Vineyards 100% Napa Valley
Harvest Dates: September 7 - October 6, 2021
Winemaker: Stephanie Jacobs
Alcohol: 14.30%
Acidity: 0.619 g/100 ml
pH: 3.57
Bottled: April 2023
Aging: Aged 17 months in 44% new French oak, 56% neutral French oak
[Information provided by Cakebread Cellars]

Cakebread Cellars, Merlot, Napa Valley, California, 2021
Tasted by: Ronan Sayburn MS, Eugenio Egorov, Ben Gubbins (at Decanter tasting suite, London, 02 Feb 2024)
Part of US Merlot: Panel tasting results
Drinking Window: 2024 - 2032
Points: 95
Producer: Cakebread Cellars
Brand: Merlot
Vintage: 2021
Wine Type: Still
Colour: Red
Country: USA
Region: California
Appellation: Napa Valley
Sweetness: Dry
Closure: Cork
Alcohol: 14.30%
Body: Full
Grapes: 100% Merlot
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.

Cakebread Merlot Napa Valley 2021
Score: 90
Price: $75
Wine Type and Color: Red Still
Reviewed By: Tim Fish
Drinkability: Drink now through 2032
Primary Grape: Merlot
Issue: Online Only Review - Published on August 26, 2024
Region: California / Napa / Napa Valley
Handsomely structured and precise, with cherry and currant flavors highlighted by tarragon and cedar notes that end with refined tannins. Drink now through 2032.