Tasting Notes In 2007, 90% of the grapes for our Napa Valley Merlot came from vineyards in the Oakville, Rutherford and Calistoga districts of upper Napa Valley, with 10% from the cooler Carneros district in the southern end of the valley. As a result, our 2007 Merlot is especially ripe and mouth-filling, dominated by the ripe dark plum and berry flavors characteristic of northern Napa Valley Merlot, with a touch of the bright cherry and spice notes typical of Carneros Merlot fruit.

Wine Maker Notes Cakebread Cellars' winemaker, Julianne Laks, has sniffed, smelled and tasted her way through more wines than she can count during her 25 plus-year career in the wine industry. Fortunately for us, the last 20 of those years have been at Cakebread Cellars, first as an enologist and later as assistant winemaker under head winemaker, Bruce Cakebread. Julianne was promoted to winemaker when Bruce Cakebread, took the reins from his father as president of the winery in 2002.