Cakebread Dancing Bear Ranch Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Our goal with Dancing Bear is to capture the intense mountain character of fruit from this unique site, perched high above northern Napa Valley on the steep, rugged slopes of Howell Mountain. Small-lot winemaking allows our winemaker to monitor extraction during fermentation so that each lot achieves just the right balance between fruit and tannin. Aging in French oak barrels-predominantly new oak-adds depth to this remarkable wine.

VINEYARDS& VINTAGE

From the rugged slopes of Howell Mountain, our Dancing Bear Ranch Vineyard yields powerful, opulent Cabernet Sauvignon. This site, where vineyards lie high above Napa Valley’s signature fog between 1,100 and 1,900 feet of elevation, is defined by iron-rich, volcanic soils. These soils force the vines to produce small, intense grapes which translate into powerful and intensely concentrated wines. The vines are separated into 24 separate blocks based on aspect, soil profile, clonal selection, and variety. The warm sunshine during the day and cool nights allow the fruit to develop a deep color and complex flavors while retaining acidic structure and aromatic depth.

WINEMAKING

We carefully monitor tannin levels in the juice and wine during maceration and fermentation. Each lot was allowed to macerate and ferment separately in the winery to gain optimum color, flavor, and aromatic complexity. After fermentation, the lots were aged for 22 months in 61% new French oak. Our barrels were selected and specifically toasted to highlight the nuances of Dancing Bear Cabernet Sauvignon in order to match and enhance the wine’s richness, roundness, and power.