Cakebread Cellars Merlot 2021 is a rich and complex wine that showcases the best of Napa Valley's Merlot grapes. The Suscol Springs Estate vineyard, located in the southern end of the valley, provides the perfect terroir for this varietal. The vines grow in rocky Hambright outcrop soils on steep hillsides, which give the grapes a unique flavor profile, bright acidity, and a muscular structure that makes them ideal for aging.
The winemaking process for this Merlot is meticulous and precise. Each vineyard lot is harvested and processed separately, using a mix of small closed and open-top stainless steel tanks to fully extract color, flavor, and tannin from the skins. The wine is then aged for six to eight months in carefully selected French oak barrels, with approximately one-third of the barrels being new. The final blend is aged for an additional nine to eleven months in barrel, which imparts further complexity and depth to the wine.
