Winemaker Notes
An excellent companion to pork, pheasant and veal.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
It is hard to find fault with a wine such as Cakebread Cellars’ 2012 Merlot. This gorgeous effort represents everything this grape can produce. It exhibits a dense purple color, lots of sweet black cherry and mocha-infused fruit, and caresses the palate with an opulence and richness that are hard to resist. The wine’s beautiful purity, stunning texture, and overall ripeness and sexiness are what Merlot is all about. Medium to full-bodied and beautifully balanced, it can be drunk now and over the next 7-8 years. Bravo!
As Napa Valley’s third most planted grape, Napa Valley Merlot shows time and time again its potential to produce exceptional results. Napa’s vaunted combination of climate, soil and the human factor of winemaking expertise lead to big, ripe, cellar-worthy and world-class versions.
Whether made by itself in single varietal bottlings or as an important role in Bordeaux Blends, Merlot continues a prominent role in this famous region. While Cabernet typically takes the lead role, Merlot’s contribution—even at 10% to 20% or so—is significant indeed. Often described as “the flesh on Cabernet’s bones,” Merlot lends a soft, round and plush character that beautifully complements Cabernet’s linear, full-throttle structure. Its flavors of plums plus subtle herbs and mint also dovetail nicely with Cabernet’s blackberry and cassis.