Pinot Noir From Cakebread Cellars/Anderson Valley/Stephanie Jacobs/WinemakerHolidays with Stark's Steak and Seafood/New Feature

It's been a while since I drove into the great Napa Valley,and last week I had the pleasure to get up early and drive into this fabled wine paradise.As I went thru St.Helena and traveled down valley,I always love the complete wine and food paradise known as "The Napa Valley".Today we will visit Cakebread Cellars.My love for Pinot Noir has led me to Anderson Valley many years ago,and I'm very excited about the wines Cakebread Cellars has made from Anderson valley.We will take a look at the tasting notes and a little history,and then sit down and enjoy three different Pinot Noirs as we listen to a great new feature on these three wines. The 2013 Annahala Pinot Noir displays classic varietal aromas of bright black cherry and raspberry fruit complemented by a piquant spice-box scent. Its vibrantly delicious black cherry and raspberry flavors are supported by fine tannins and bright acidity, with mineral and spice tones enlivening the long finish. This varietally expressive, fruit-forward pinot noir is delightful now, on its own or with food (salmon, herb-roasted chicken, ham and lamb dishes), but it will develop greater nuance with another 2-3 years of bottle age. Planted in 2001, our Apple Barn Vineyard is located just north of the town of Boonville in the southern end of Mendocino County’s Anderson Valley, a small coastal appellation renowned for its world-class pinot noirs. Apple Barn is a generally cool site, but it warms considerably during summer afternoons. The vineyard’s open exposure, gravelly soils and half-dozen superior French clones yield ripe, intensely flavorful grapes that consistently produce deeply concentrated pinot noirs with lush fruit and round, supple tannins. The 2013 Apple Barn Pinot Noir displays a dark, saturated color and beautifully ripe dark cherry, black raspberry, blueberry and plum compote aromas accented by a fragrant sandalwood spice tone. Remarkably deep, dense and concentrated on the palate, the wine’s lush black cherry, red berry and black plum flavors are framed by silky-smooth tannins, leading to a long, sumptuous finish. While this opulent Pinot Noir is delightful to drink now with chicken, pork, lamb and beef dishes, it will develop greater complexity with another 3-5 years of bottle age. Our 2014 Two Creeks Pinot Noir displays fresh, fragrant aromas of ripe black cherry, raspberry and rose petal with background hints of sandalwood and oak toast. Rich and vibrant on the palate, its succulent Bing cherry, wild berry and plum fruit leads to a long, flavorful finish featuring enticing cherry, spice and mineral tones. Delicious now, this elegantly structured, cool-climate pinot noir will benefit from up to five more years of bottle aging. Two Creeks Pinot Noir is a blend of grapes from our Annahala and Apple Barn estate vineyards in Mendocino County’s Anderson Valley, a coastal appellation renowned for its superb pinots. The region’s close proximity to the Pacific Ocean has a dramatic cooling effect that promotes slow, even ripening. Annahala and Apple Barn share this marine-influenced climate and an overlapping mix of nine superior pinot noir clones, including the famed Joseph Swan and Pommard selections. Closer to the coast and sheltered by trees, Annahala is the cooler and foggier of the two sites, while Apple Barn is more exposed and enjoys warmer afternoons. Blending their fruit yields a beautifully aromatic, flavorful and balanced pinot noir.As I taste these wines,I must say this is one of the most incredible expressions of this grape,from this valley...that I have ever had the pleasure to taste.In fact,I will need to enjoy a glass of each of these with a number of great dishes.Care to join me? Cheers! Click here and join us as we enjoy great wines from Anderson valley and Cakebread Cellars. Click here and join us as we enjoy great wines and stories from Anderson Valley and Stark's Steakhouse and Seafood.