Cakebread Cellars 2016 Cabernet Benchland Select Napa Valley

About This Wine

This blend of grapes comes from the benchlands of our vineyards in Oakville and Rutherford—including Hill Ranch, which surrounds the Rutherford home of Jack and Dolores Cakebread. Benchlands are the narrow regions that mark the transition from a valley’s floor to steeper mountain slopes. This geographic position offers distinctive soil profiles for good root development, as well as mountain shade that protects grapes from extreme conditions, allowing them to ripen slowly and steadily. Our Benchland Select is a classic Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon expression, with bright boysenberry, and delicate violets; flavors of ripe blackberry, fig, and hints of dried sage on the palate lead into rich notes of sweet blackberry and dark chocolate over a long finish. Elegant tension between its dense fruit, bright acidity, and firm, supple tannins gives this wine depth and dimension. Enjoy with hearty stews, steaks on the grill, or fire-roasted vegetables. Age for another 7 to 10 years.

Tasting Notes & Food Pairings

2016 Benchland Select Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

This blend of grapes comes from the benchlands of our vineyards in Oakville and Rutherford—including Hill Ranch, which surrounds the Rutherford home of Jack and Dolores Cakebread. Benchlands are the narrow regions that mark the transition from a valley’s floor to steeper mountain slopes. This geographic position offers distinctive soil profiles for good root development, as well as mountain shade that protects grapes from extreme conditions, allowing them to ripen slowly and steadily. Our Benchland Select is a classic Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon expression, with bright boysenberry, and delicate violets; flavors of ripe blackberry, fig, and hints of dried sage on the palate lead into rich notes of sweet blackberry and dark chocolate over a long finish. Elegant tension between its dense fruit, bright acidity, and firm, supple tannins gives this wine depth and dimension. Enjoy with hearty stews, steaks on the grill, or fire-roasted vegetables. Age for another 7 to 10 years.

Vineyards

We seek out grapes for our 2016 Benchland Select cabernet sauvignon from Vine Hill Vineyard in Oakville (65%) and Hill Ranch in Rutherford (35%), sites that lie along the gently sloping western foothills of these two renowned appellations. The vineyards receive bright eastern exposure in the morning and cool shade from the Mayacamas mountain range in the afternoon. Gravelly benchland “bale loam” soils provide good drainage but also retain good water in the root zone; this helps us understand exactly how much water is needed to bring grapes to peak ripeness. Slight differences in microclimate and soil structure—Rutherford sits just to the north of Oakville—give this blend of two appellations a distinctive, opulent complexity.

Vintage

In 2016, budbreak in Napa Valley was earlier-than-average, followed by a fairly steady growing season with even temperatures and no heat spikes. Fruit ripened steadily, with extended hangtimes in the cooler spots; a warm, dry September helped grapes develop to full maturity. Harvest was earlier than usual as well—which was fortuitous, since October brought us one of the wettest months in recent history! We were excited to bring in another standout cabernet sauvignon vintage, with smaller yields of exceptional quality.

Winemaking

After harvesting our Benchland Select grapes from multiple vineyard blocks containing five superior cabernet sauvignon clones, we gently destemmed the clusters and fermented each lot in small, stainless steel tanks that give us optimum color, flavor and tannin extraction. Our winemaker Stephanie Jacobs selected yeast strains, fermentation temperatures, maceration techniques and barrel aging regimens according to the unique personality of each lot, capturing the finest attributes of each in the final blend. Our 2016 Benchland Select spent 22 months aging in French oak barrels, 61% new, prior to bottling in July, 2018.

Grape Variety 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Vineyards 100% Napa Valley

Harvest Dates September 24 – October 6, 2019

Barrel Aging 22 Months Aging In French Oak Barrels, 61% new

Winemaker Stephanie Jacobs

Alcohol Content 14.9%

Total Acidity 0.64 G/100ml
PH 3.73
Bottled July 2018

News & Acclaim

WINE ADVOCATE - ROBERT PARKER - 2016 VINTAGE

September 30, 2019

95 points

The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Benchland Select is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, with 65% of the fruit coming from Vine Hill Ranch. It was aged 22 months in French oak, 61% new. Very deep garnet-purple colored, the nose features very dark, serious, broody fruit notions of blackcurrant cordial, boysenberries and mulberries with nuances of cigar box, fungi, fertile loam and pencil lead plus a touch of tar. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a wonderfully plush texture with beautifully integrated freshness and a generous black-fruit core, finishing long with some spicy layers coming through.