PnP From a magnum. No notes taken No real experience with Cakebread before; but loved this. Classic cassis nose with some licorice and leather notes. Tannins were soft and light acidity Fully extracted dark fruits. Great finish
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Very much as per my May '20 comments - really elegant with all the then noted elements firing in unison. For drinking over the next year or two while grip maintained.
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Some four years since last broached and now at its peak. Threw quite a fine sediment! Rounded dark stoned fruit with soft tannins and cedary nuances. Some dry spice. The earlier noted (2016) alcohol heat no longer present. Elegant and quite European in many ways. For drinking over the next couple of years.
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This 2010 Cakebread cabernet is in its prime drinking window right now.
The nose is filled with dark fruit, blackberries, and a hint of oak. The palate is medium bodied, rich, smooth and the tannins are nicely integrated. There is a decent finish.
Overall - good wine, but nothing too special. I did not know that Cakebread is made in Rutherford - but did not get the signature Rutherford dust you typically get with this AVA. This is probably a mix of Napa fruit and not from Rutherford exclusively.
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Good fruit, and still well balanced, but I just couldn't get over a slightly bitter, chalky after taste, but not a total loss. Most of the group had a higher opinion than I.
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Unbelievable Cab. Dark cherries, muddled berries, vanilla, oak, minerals. This wine is full of complexity and incredibly well balanced. No need for decanting at this point. The tannins have mellowed beautifully. Best wine I've had in a year or more.
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The wine looks garnet colored. The legs are medium. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like blackberry and blueberry. It tastes like raisin and blackberry. The body is medium/full. The wine has round texture. The wine finishes long. The wine has low acidity. As you can tell I like it a lot! Bought this in Worcester, MA and paid $75 for it! Should have gone on Wine Searcher Pro for the best price, however I was ready to buy when I saw it! I usually a Veneto region drinker with the Dried Grape Characteristics!
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Dusty black cherry, plum, dark chocolate, cigar box, and some stone minerality. The tannins have smoothed out quite a bit since the last bottle about a year ago. 1 hour decant.
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16 months since my Spectator Cakebread Lunch tasting note (after which I bought 6), and this wine has developed well. Concentrated juicy plum and dry cherry fruit, integrated cedar and smoke with a dash of liquorice/spice in the background. Racey, elegant and Bordeaux-like. Only a touch of heat at the back of the throat betrays the 14.5%. Drinking nicely now, but feel another couple of years will see yet further improvement. Excellent - 91+?+
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1 hour decant. Blackberry, mulberry, black cherry, dust, and quite a bit of cigar box. The tannins are still evident but are smooth and well integrated. This might pass for Bordeaux in a blind tasting.
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Garnet with medium viscosity in the glass. Fantastic nose of plum, strawberry, earth, toast, volcanic minerals, black fruit and muted flowers. Medium body and composed with plum, strawberry, wet earth, mulberry, toast and sweet spice. Secondary olive and mushroom. Fine chalky tannin. Med-long finish. Exceeded my expectations with harmonious balance.
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Winemaker's Lunch with Bruce Cakebread at The Spectator, Westminster. Limited notes. BC said this should ideally have had a 4 hour decant to show at its best. It only had 1-2 hours or so to breathe in bottle. Blended with small (<5% each) quantities of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot this wine has a very tight classical structure and in my view needs at least another 2-3 years to show well rather than extra breathing time! Unfair to mark in this state but should make 91++ with time.
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Over a year since I've tried this last and the improvement is remarkable. Very restrained style in comparison to others of this region/vintage but still unmistakably Napa.
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Just opened and let breath for half hour. Little acidic at first. Loamy berry nose. Some cherry and loamy taste. Tannic. Good but could use a few more years
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A luxurious and delicious wine! Aromas and flavors of chocolate, cherry and oak. It is tannic (which I enjoy) and certainly will benefit from aging. Still has incredible balance and a pleasing/long finish. Without a doubt, one of my favorite Napa Valley Cabs and Wineries, Cakebread is always certain to please. I have tried the 2011, 2010, 2009 & 2007 vintages, all were a bit different (of course) but had the same wonderful essence. Certainly worth the $!
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Flavors of blackberry, plum and raspberry along with damp earth, chocolate, anise with a hint of spice. This shows nice concentration of fruit with a medium-full body, silky texture and plush finish.
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Solid Napa Cab. A touch hot, but still tasted great the first and second day. Nice dry tannins and grapey-cherry flavor on a core of dusty Cabernet-bramble berry. Clean.
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12/25/2022 - Rbrooks1281 wrote: 80 Points
Probably a bit past it’s prime. Was good after an hour of decanting and then quickly trailed off. After a few hours it was brutal.
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8/13/2022 - IronChefCardio Likes this wine: 94 Points
Excellent! Deep color, peppery finish. It needed a long decant to open up the berries and other soft flavors, but it was well worth the wait!
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4/2/2022 - Smcolivas wrote:
WOW...just sipping after in decanter for over an hour. Deep. Spicy and long finish. Berry flavors and slight peppery.
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1/1/2022 - jaumealaska Likes this wine: 93 Points
PnP From a magnum. No notes taken No real experience with Cakebread before; but loved this. Classic cassis nose with some licorice and leather notes. Tannins were soft and light acidity Fully extracted dark fruits. Great finish
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7/10/2021 - thunderfly Likes this wine: 89 Points
Still really good. Needed to be decanted, and within an hour was good. Still some tannins and plenty of dark fruit notes.
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2/16/2021 - NickBurwood Likes this wine: 91 Points
My last.
Elegant, ripe and focussed as per earlier notes. Will seek out again.
Fully ready and for drinking up over the next year or so.
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1/19/2021 - NickBurwood Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very much as per my May '20 comments - really elegant with all the then noted elements firing in unison.
For drinking over the next year or two while grip maintained.
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11/14/2020 - theoskay wrote:
Fantastic. Drink now.
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11/13/2020 - jmdickeyiv Likes this wine: 92 Points
Aged well. Drank in 2019.
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6/15/2020 - kyletrenholmdavis Likes this wine:
Heavy, jammy, decadent, full body yet smooth. Served with chipotle grilled shrimp.
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6/6/2020 - Skyla venture Likes this wine: 92 Points
Classic Cakebread cab. I would drink it now. Don’t wait. It’s at it’s prime.
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5/24/2020 - NickBurwood Likes this wine: 91 Points
Some four years since last broached and now at its peak.
Threw quite a fine sediment! Rounded dark stoned fruit with soft tannins and cedary nuances. Some dry spice. The earlier noted (2016) alcohol heat no longer present. Elegant and quite European in many ways.
For drinking over the next couple of years.
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5/24/2020 - pgrzesik Likes this wine: 90 Points
This 2010 Cakebread cabernet is in its prime drinking window right now.
The nose is filled with dark fruit, blackberries, and a hint of oak. The palate is medium bodied, rich, smooth and the tannins are nicely integrated. There is a decent finish.
Overall - good wine, but nothing too special. I did not know that Cakebread is made in Rutherford - but did not get the signature Rutherford dust you typically get with this AVA. This is probably a mix of Napa fruit and not from Rutherford exclusively.
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4/24/2020 - HonorAmerica Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice
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3/12/2020 - cbajustin Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking at its prime right now...everything has integrated well...a few more years left on this one!
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1/3/2020 - Motoheada1 wrote: 85 Points
Good fruit, and still well balanced, but I just couldn't get over a slightly bitter, chalky after taste, but not a total loss. Most of the group had a higher opinion than I.
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7/22/2019 - SCosgrove wrote: 89 Points
Not my favorite Cakebread Cab
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2/23/2019 - SCosgrove wrote: 89 Points
On it's last legs I think, a little washed out. Good start, no finish.
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1/4/2018 - StainedGlass wrote: 90 Points
Fits the typical premium Napa cab profile. Big, rich, jammy dark fruit, with oaky vanilla spice. Not over extracted. Tannins have mellowed with age.
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12/16/2017 - joet626 Likes this wine: 91 Points
very good. Dark with loads of blackberry fruit. Really liked this
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11/9/2017 - tcarter Likes this wine: 93 Points
Big red and black fruit.
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8/31/2017 - DorSa wrote: 97 Points
Medium tannins
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1/21/2017 - kmicho Likes this wine: 94 Points
Unbelievable Cab. Dark cherries, muddled berries, vanilla, oak, minerals. This wine is full of complexity and incredibly well balanced. No need for decanting at this point. The tannins have mellowed beautifully. Best wine I've had in a year or more.
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11/18/2016 - PaulStout Likes this wine:
Satin texture, more alcoholic. Blackberry, black cherry, berry, tannic, minerals. Fuller body. Decanted 2 hours. Garlic butter bagel, 4 cheese Mac and cheese pairing -- 4/5.
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11/7/2016 - Old Amarone wrote: 92 Points
The wine looks garnet colored. The legs are medium. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like blackberry and blueberry. It tastes like raisin and blackberry. The body is medium/full. The wine has round texture. The wine finishes long. The wine has low acidity. As you can tell I like it a lot! Bought this in Worcester, MA and paid $75 for it! Should have gone on Wine Searcher Pro for the best price, however I was ready to buy when I saw it! I usually a Veneto region drinker with the Dried Grape Characteristics!
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10/7/2016 - mgstull Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dusty black cherry, plum, dark chocolate, cigar box, and some stone minerality. The tannins have smoothed out quite a bit since the last bottle about a year ago. 1 hour decant.
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9/25/2016 - NickBurwood Likes this wine: 91 Points
16 months since my Spectator Cakebread Lunch tasting note (after which I bought 6), and this wine has developed well.
Concentrated juicy plum and dry cherry fruit, integrated cedar and smoke with a dash of liquorice/spice in the background. Racey, elegant and Bordeaux-like. Only a touch of heat at the back of the throat betrays the 14.5%.
Drinking nicely now, but feel another couple of years will see yet further improvement. Excellent - 91+?+
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5/21/2016 - Ceo wrote: 94 Points
Wow worth the wait
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4/15/2016 - IstidVin Likes this wine: 94 Points
On our Rushmore. Drank to celebrate my tenure. Very, very smooth
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4/3/2016 - Thepattees wrote: 87 Points
I definitely prefer their Chardonnays.
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4/1/2016 - dreamchaser wrote:
Didn't get any but I'll bet it was good.
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11/29/2015 - kiddoc wrote: 88 Points
Tannins are well integrated. Palate is smooth. Fruit is restrained enough. But I can't get over the amount of oak still lurking.
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11/10/2015 - mgstull Likes this wine: 91 Points
1 hour decant. Blackberry, mulberry, black cherry, dust, and quite a bit of cigar box. The tannins are still evident but are smooth and well integrated. This might pass for Bordeaux in a blind tasting.
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10/18/2015 - gabird wrote: 90 Points
- Brick color.
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10/16/2015 - Cgallivan Likes this wine: 90 Points
decent, not great for all the hype. This is a typical big named Amercian cab that simply gets by on its reputation.
Of note, this bottle was given to me so it was a nice treat. I dont' think I would sign up for their mailing list though.
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5/25/2015 - BigTex22 wrote: 88 Points
Decent cab, but overpriced. GOOD.
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5/18/2015 - mike l. Likes this wine: 92 Points
small blind sip at learn about wine tasting.
splendid nose. tobacco. very balanced.
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5/17/2015 - christophee Likes this wine: 91 Points
Garnet with medium viscosity in the glass. Fantastic nose of plum, strawberry, earth, toast, volcanic minerals, black fruit and muted flowers. Medium body and composed with plum, strawberry, wet earth, mulberry, toast and sweet spice. Secondary olive and mushroom. Fine chalky tannin. Med-long finish. Exceeded my expectations with harmonious balance.
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3/5/2015 - NickBurwood Likes this wine:
Winemaker's Lunch with Bruce Cakebread at The Spectator, Westminster. Limited notes.
BC said this should ideally have had a 4 hour decant to show at its best. It only had 1-2 hours or so to breathe in bottle. Blended with small (<5% each) quantities of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot this wine has a very tight classical structure and in my view needs at least another 2-3 years to show well rather than extra breathing time!
Unfair to mark in this state but should make 91++ with time.
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1/29/2015 - domestic_primate Likes this wine: 90 Points
Over a year since I've tried this last and the improvement is remarkable. Very restrained style in comparison to others of this region/vintage but still unmistakably Napa.
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10/25/2014 - Oenophile Rick Likes this wine: 91 Points
Just opened and let breath for half hour. Little acidic at first. Loamy berry nose. Some cherry and loamy taste. Tannic. Good but could use a few more years
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7/20/2014 - chelseaoliviaheaps wrote: 92 Points
A luxurious and delicious wine! Aromas and flavors of chocolate, cherry and oak. It is tannic (which I enjoy) and certainly will benefit from aging. Still has incredible balance and a pleasing/long finish. Without a doubt, one of my favorite Napa Valley Cabs and Wineries, Cakebread is always certain to please. I have tried the 2011, 2010, 2009 & 2007 vintages, all were a bit different (of course) but had the same wonderful essence. Certainly worth the $!
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5/11/2014 - Shabbywines Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wonderful wine. Bright notes of green bell pepper and blackberry. This could age a couple more years but great to drink now.
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2/26/2014 - InternationalWineReport wrote:
Flavors of blackberry, plum and raspberry along with damp earth, chocolate, anise with a hint of spice. This shows nice concentration of fruit with a medium-full body, silky texture and plush finish.
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1/15/2014 - Gator96 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Needs more time
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12/28/2013 - JP512 wrote: 80 Points
needed to open up, nose was tight. Taste was heavy jam, overripe.
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12/20/2013 - mktaken wrote: 87 Points
Very disappointed - doesn't resemble the 2007 - changing the blend was a mistake
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10/4/2013 - fanglangzhe wrote: 84 Points
Sweet dark fruits and lots of oak (too much oak).
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6/3/2013 - Wine4Blood Likes this wine: 93 Points
Solid Napa Cab. A touch hot, but still tasted great the first and second day. Nice dry tannins and grapey-cherry flavor on a core of dusty Cabernet-bramble berry. Clean.
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