2012 Cakebread Cellars Dancing Bear Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain Napa Valley

Winemaker Notes: Dancing Bear Ranch is located high on the slopes of Howell Mountain in northern Napa Valley, where vines struggle in rocky, shallow soils. Elevations range from 1450’ to over 1600’ above sea level, and offer a near 360 degree exposure, for great diversity in growing conditions. This isolated vineyard is home to turkeys, mountain lions, bobcats and of course, bear. To keep bears away from merlot grapes (their favorite) Dennis Cakebread once hooked up a motion detector to a boom box. It didn’t work, but the resulting videos of the bears in action inspired the name of the property and its signature wine. Cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and cabernet franc all thrive here.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM


Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - "The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Dancing Bear Ranch, a blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot from Howell Mountain, is a superstar of the vintage. Beautiful notes of graphite, mulberries, blueberries and blackberries jump from the glass of this dense purple-colored 2012. Its full-bodied opulence, luscious texture, 45+-second finish, purity, texture and uncanny integration of all the component parts are beautiful to behold."