Cakebread’s Dancing Bear Ranch is one of Napa Valley’s standout mountain Cabernets, crafted from a rugged estate vineyard perched high on Howell Mountain. The name comes from the land’s contours, said to resemble a bear dancing across the slopes, but the wine itself is all about intensity and finesse. The vineyard’s elevation, thin volcanic soils, and cooler mountain climate yield grapes of exceptional concentration, with small berries packed with colour, flavour, and structure.
The blend is anchored by Cabernet Sauvignon, supported by Merlot and Cabernet Franc. In the glass, it opens with powerful aromas of blackberry, cassis, and blueberry, layered with graphite, crushed stone, and savoury herb notes. On the palate, dense dark fruit is framed by firm yet fine-grained tannins, lifted by mountain freshness that keeps the wine vibrant despite its depth. Oak ageing adds polish, bringing subtle spice, mocha, and cedar without overshadowing the fruit.
Dancing Bear Ranch is built for cellaring. While it shows impressive power and charm in youth, a decade or more of ageing reveals added complexity, softening the structure while developing nuances of tobacco, leather, and truffle. For collectors, it is one of Cakebread’s most coveted wines — a statement of what Napa’s mountain terroirs can achieve.
This is a Cabernet that captures both the wild energy of Howell Mountain and the precision of Cakebread’s winemaking. Rich, structured, and enduring, Dancing Bear Ranch stands as a modern classic in Napa Valley’s repertoire of elite mountain wines.