98pts Jeb Dunnuck
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Dancing Bear Ranch comes from a stunning estate vineyard on Howell Mountain with the plantings dating back to 1999. A blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, and a splash of Cabernet Franc, aged in 59% new oak, this beauty reminds me of a great Saint-Julien (Leoville Barton?) with its incredible purity and regal, structured style. Crème de cassis, lead pencil, violets, chalky minerality, and chocolaty oak all emerge on the nose, and it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a layered, multi-dimensional mouthfeel, ripe yet perfectly integrated tannins, and a gorgeous finish. It needs air if drinking any time soon and will ideally be given 4-6 years in the cellar. This beauty will have three decades of overall longevity.
97pts The Wine Independent
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Dancing Bear Ranch, with 8% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc in the blend, is deep garnet-purple in color. It needs a lot of swirling and shaking to bring out notes of creme de cassis, blackberry pie, and blueberry preserves followed by nuances of red roses, sauteed herbs, and iron ore. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers energetic, bright, crunchy black fruits, supported by firm, grainy tannins and bags of freshness, finishing long and savory.
95pts Wine Advocate
From the winery's estate vineyard on Howell Mountain, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Dancing Bear Ranch is a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, all aged 22 months in 59% new French oak. Scents of mocha, tree bark, black cherries, raspberries and cherries mark the nose, while the medium to full-bodied palate is supple, lush and long, with ample concentration and some nicely ripe, softly dusty tannins on the lingering finish.
92pts James Suckling
Ripe dark-fruited character with hazelnuts, pine wood, chocolate and ground cloves. Medium- to full-bodied, refined and polished, with dusty tannins and succulent fruit. Long finish. 90% cabernet sauvignon, 8% merlot and 2% cabernet franc. Try after year or two.
92pts Wine Spectator
Loganberry and black currant puree flavors stretch out nicely over this red's sleek iron spine, with hints of tar and apple wood. This is accessible now for its polish and fruit. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2034. 2,600 cases made.
Winemaker's Notes
Dancing Bear Ranch is an extraordinary blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc from the Dancing Bear Ranch Estate Vineyard on Howell Mountain. Divided into 24 separate blocks based on varietal type, sun exposure, soil profile, and clonal selection, the vineyard is planted in dry, rocky, volcanic soils between 1,400 and 1,900 feet of elevation and enjoys a near 360-degree exposure, offering a diverse range of growing conditions. The well-drained soils and position high above the fog line routinely stresses the vines, yielding small crops of intensely flavorful grapes. Fermentation and maceration are carefully managed to monitor tannin levels and limit over-extraction of the small berries with intense mountain character. Free-run component wines are aged in French oak barrels and subsequently blended, for a total of 18 months in 6-% new French oak prior to bottling.
The 2021 vintage commenced with a dry, mild winter followed by an even, temperate spring and summer, fostering optimal conditions for vine growth. These factors culminated in a small yet exceptional yield of grapes, distinguished by their rich color and intensely concentrated flavors.
Generous aromas of black currant, dried cherry, and raspberry jam flow from the glass, with dark chocolate, coffee, dried rosemary, and fig notes emerging over time. The palate is full-bodied and rich, offering concentrated flavors of ripe cherry and blackberry, along with hints of mocha, leather, baking spices, and rocky minerality. Firm yet opulent tannins drive the wine to a long, powerful finish.
