2002 Cakebread Cabernet Sauvignon Dancing Bear Ranch

The riper, more showy 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Dancing Bear Ranch is gorgeous. Nearly 100% Cabernet Sauvignon with a tiny dollop of Cabernet Franc, it boasts an inky/purple color as well as copious notes of bay leaf, espresso, blackberry liqueur, vanilla, flowers and crushed rocks. Rich, full-bodied, exuberant and opulent, this sensational Howell Mountain effort should improve even more over the next 5-10 years and last for two more decades. Two contrasting styles from Cakebread Cellars, the Benchland Select possesses 14.1% alcohol and the Dancing Bear Ranch came in at 14.4%. The latter wine is clearly riper, even though it is from a cooler, high elevation vineyard on Howell Mountain. Tel. (800) 588-0298; Fax (707) 967-8620