Cakebread's single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon's are hard to come by. On top of their production being much smaller than their other Cabernets, the scores from the critics will often approach the triple digit mark…which makes them highly collectable! Their Benchland Select bottling is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon crafted from two exceptional vineyards in Napa Valley's gently sloping western benchlands, including Jack Cakebread's Hill Ranch in the heart of the famed Rutherford appellation not far from the winery. These sites enjoy ideal eastern exposures, well-drained soils and mild afternoon temperatures, resulting in uniform fruit ripening and wines that are simultaneously opulent and elegant.
In order to maximize color extraction, tannin structure and vineyard expression, winemaker Julianne Laks uses a mixture of small and larger fermentation tanks, carefully tailored yeast strains, fermentation temperatures, and maceration techniques to the attributes of each lot of grapes, which vary by location, ripeness level and clonal type. Such specialized fermentations, combined with lot-specific barrel aging regimens, ensure that the finest attributes of each vineyard are reflected in the final blend.
JEB DUNNUCK 95 POINTS - "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."
ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE 93+ POINTS - "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."
In order to maximize color extraction, tannin structure and vineyard expression, winemaker Julianne Laks uses a mixture of small and larger fermentation tanks, carefully tailored yeast strains, fermentation temperatures, and maceration techniques to the attributes of each lot of grapes, which vary by location, ripeness level and clonal type. Such specialized fermentations, combined with lot-specific barrel aging regimens, ensure that the finest attributes of each vineyard are reflected in the final blend.
JEB DUNNUCK 95 POINTS - "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."
ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE 93+ POINTS - "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."
