Wine Reviews

From an estate vineyard on Howell Mountain, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Dancing Bear Ranch easily outshines Cakebread’s other Cabernets from this challenging vintage. Pencil shavings accent blackberries and black cherries in this medium- to full-bodied effort, which is nicely ripe and supple for a mountain wine, with a restrained dusting of soft tannins on the lingering finish. It should begin drinking well in several years, with at least two decades of positive evolution after that.

Ripe berries rolled in spice and Mediterranean herbs swirl into floral aromatics and an earthy finish. Gunmetal and graphite merge into supple tannins and up front fruit.

Aromas of black currants, dark cherries, violets, graphite and spices. The palate is full-bodied with firm, focused tannins, bright acidity and a long, structured finish.

Aromas of wild blackberries, baking spices, river stones and herbs. The palate is full-bodied with finely integrated tannins and bright acidity, giving flavors of mulberries, mocha, ferric earth and violets. Very bold, with a soft touch.

From a site on Howell Mountain, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Dancing Bear Ranch has a deep purple hue as well as beautiful notes of blackberry, darker plum, and currant fruits intermixed with spicy wood, chocolate, and savory flowers. It’s balanced, medium to full-bodied, has a round, layered mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a great finish.