Cakebread Cellars Sauvignon Blanc 2020

Grape varietal & region: 99% Sauvignon Blanc, 1% blend of Viognier/Verdejo/Sémillon. The sauvignon blanc grapes were harvested during the cool nighttime hours to fully capture their pure flavors and vibrant acidity. 

The Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc is crafted from grapes grown in top vineyards throughout Napa Valley, including their very own estate ranches in Carneros, Suscol Springs, Rutherford, and Calistoga. The cooler, southern part of the valley allows the sauvignon blanc to have bright citrus characters, flinty minerality, and balanced acidity, while the warmer northern region brings out tropical notes. The team supplement this standout Napa Valley fruit with a small selection of grapes (8%) from high-quality Sonoma County vineyards.

The 2020 growing season started off warm and dry. Mild conditions in spring were ideal for budbreak and early growth, while steady summer temperatures, with cool mornings and warm, sunny days, ripened sauvignon blanc grapes to perfect flavor and balance.

Taste profile: This wine opens with aromas of pink grapefruit, ripe melon, sweet citrus, and appealing notes of hay. The citrus and melon characters carry over onto a bright fruit palate, supported by crisp acidity and elevated by a hint of mineral citrus on the finish.

Winemaking process: The grapes are then pressed as whole clusters under anaerobic—or oxygen-free—conditions. This maximizes varietal intensity while minimizing the extraction of astringency from the skins. The team fermented 90% of the juice in stainless steel tanks, 6% in concrete eggs to soften acidity, and 4% in neutral French oak barrels. Following fermentation, the wine aged five months in neutral French oak barrels, with a small amount aging in concrete.