In 1972, while shooting photographs for Nathan Chroman’s Treasury of American Wines, Jack and Delores Cakebread casually offered to buy the Sturdivant Ranch in Rutherford. The Sturdivants took them up on their offer and soon the first Cakebread Sauvignon Blanc was planted. Two years later, after a lot of evening and weekend work, the initial winery was built. Later that year, the first vintage of Sauvignon Blanc was released...all 157 cases.

With 40 harvests under their belt, the second generation of Cakebreads are now running the winery. Cakebread has become one of the most successful and respected wineries in America, renowned for its world-class vineyards, wines, and hospitality.

Today, continuity and stability are bedrock values for Cakebread Cellars. Bruce Cakebread, formerly winemaker and now president, is the guardian of the commitment to the quality his parents made at the dawn of Cakebread Cellars. Cakebread has enhanced wine quality through the adoption and implementation of innovative winegrowing strategies and technologies. Over the years, these have included night-harvesting to ensure the grapes arrive at the winery in pristine condition; whole-cluster-pressing of white grapes to enhance juice and wine freshness and varietal intensity; and aging Cakebread Cellars Chardonnay in barrel on its spent yeast lees – a traditional French practice known as sur lie which produces a very rich, creamy style of Chardonnay. The winemaking team has become experts at matching the right barrels with particular lots of wine to ensure a seamless blend of oak and fruit character.

Additionally, choosing just the right equipment is also important. In recent years, Cakebread Cellars has acquired a new, state-of-the-art destemmer, berry sorter and juice chemistry analyzer, and is investigating new techniques for generating and conserving energy. (Cakebread Cellars is a green-certified winery, and its vineyards are green certified and either farmed organically or sustainably.)

THE WINES

2012 Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley
The startlingly fresh, vivid aromas of the 2012 Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc literally leap out of the glass, redolent of just-cut white grapefruit, bracing gooseberry, lime and kiwi, and ripe honeydew melon, with subordinate spice and vanilla scents. On the medium-bodied palate, the wine’s ripe grapefruit, guava, melon, green apple and mineral flavors are remarkably rich, intense, concentrated and vibrant, with a long, full finish packed with fresh fruit and mineral/chalky (a la White Bordeaux) tones. This is the 38th vintage of Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc, and it’s a doozy, unquestionably one of their best. Savor it over the next 3-5 years as an ideal apèritif wine and with your favorite salad, seafood, poultry and pasta dishes.

2012 Chardonnay, Napa Valley
The 2012 Napa Valley Chardonnay offers delightfully fragrant, slightly yeasty aromas of ripe pear, apple and guava fruit complemented by hints of honeysuckle, mineral and toasted oak. It likewise hits the mark on the palate, delivering sensationally concentrated pear, spiced apple and melon flavors that culminate in a long finish lifted by zesty spice and mineral tones. Bold and beautifully balanced, with great depth and breadth of flavor, the 2012 Chardonnay is a delicious expression of a picture-perfect vintage. It will continue to please over the next 3-5 years.

2012 Pinot Noir, Two Creeks Vineyard, Anderson Valley
The 2012 Cakebread Cellars Two Creeks Pinot Noir boasts fragrant red and black cherry, red raspberry, strawberry and rose petal aromas. It has a smooth, mouth-coating texture, velvety tannins and delightfully silky red raspberry, cherry and strawberry flavors that take on a spicy tone in the long, juicy finish. Delicious now, it will age well in bottle for at least five years.

2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
The 2010 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon offers wonderfully fragrant, complex aromas of ripe blackberry and boysenberry fruit augmented by complementary scents of loam, spice-box, dark chocolate and toasty oak. Beautifully balanced and richly textured on the palate, its concentrated black cherry, wild berry, cassis and mocha flavors are supported by supple tannins and extend into a long, chocolaty finish. The product of a cool growing season, this rich, elegant Cabernet Sauvignon is delicious now, but will develop greater nuance with another 5-7 years of cellaring.

2011 Syrah, Napa Valley
The dark ruby, nearly opaque 2011 Napa Valley Syrah offers fascinatingly complex aromas of roasted earth and toasted blackberry, dark plum and cassis aromas, complemented by fragrant notes of violets, sage, white pepper and milk chocolate. Rich and dense on the palate with round, supple tannins, its concentrated black cherry, wild berry, plum, blackcurrant and baking spice flavors culminate in a long, savory finish with rich boysenberry and plum tones. Although this sumptuous Syrah is delicious now with hearty meals, it will develop beautifully in bottle for another 5-7 years.

BUILD YOUR OWN OFFER

A 10% discount will be given on six bottles and 15% on twelve bottles for all wines in this offer, except for the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon. Since the Cabernet is sold-out at the winery, I went in search of private sources so I could include this excellent wine in this offer. Please note that since I wasn't able to purchase the Cabernet from our Vintner Member, I will have to pass on the modest price increase I paid to procure it for your enjoyment.

2012 Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley $24

2012 Chardonnay, Napa Valley $36

2012 Pinot Noir, Two Creeks Vineyard, Anderson Valley $56

2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley $80

2011 Syrah, Napa Valley $57

HOW TO ORDER

Please contact Jeff McCarthy at 707 569 2906 or [email protected] to place your order. Prices do not include tax and shipping. Let us know if you would like your order shipped or placed in your wine locker. Allow 2-3 weeks from the wine offer expiration date for account processing and shipment. During extreme weather, wine orders are shipped 2-day air. In some cases, wine may be held until it is safe to ship.