Wine Reviews

Ripe and polished, with juicy underlying energy to the mix of black currant and blackberry fruit flavors. Light hints of violet, apple wood and warm earth peek through as this red’s solid grip holds the finish.

Cakebread’s 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Benchland Select blends five clones from two different vineyards to yield bold scents of black cherries, cassis and mocha but also some redder berries. It’s medium to full-bodied, edging just past 14% alcohol while still seeming generous and silky in feel, finishing long and harmonious, with a dusting of fine-grained tannins.

Plush aromas of blackberry compote, potpourri, mocha and wild raspberries. The palate is full-bodied with soft tannins and balanced acidity, giving flavors of blueberries, walnuts, violets and graphite. Very fresh and generous, with underlying power.

A fresh, dark- and blue-fruited character with violets, walnuts, cedar and crushed stone on the nose. Full-bodied, intense and juicy with vivid acidity and chalky tannins. Lengthy and broad with tension and persistence

All Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Benchland Select comes from both Rutherford and Oakville fruit and spent 22 months in 56% new French oak. This brings another level of precision and focus compared to the Suscol Springs, and the wine has a stunning array of black raspberries, spicy oak, lead pencil shavings, and exotic baking spice and floral nuances. Medium to full-bodied, beautifully balanced, and elegant, it has ultra-fine tannins, perfectly integrated background oak, and a great finish. It has plenty of structure and will benefit from 3-4 years of bottle age and should still be going strong at age 20.