Sourced from select and diverse parcels from across Napa Valley, this rich and exuberant Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is a showstopper. An intriguing bouquet opens with pronounced aromas of ripe blackberry and red cherry, underpinned by perfumed floral and savory herbal notes of dried rose petal, potpourri, sage, and mint. The wine is full-bodied with beautiful texture and depth on the palate, with multi-layered finesse and crowd-pleasing drinkability. On the palate, juicy cassis, blackberry, and red cherry are supported by notes of crushed red rose, tea leaf, and chocolate, giving this Cabernet a beguiling plushness and warmth. Finishing smooth and dry, with soft tannins and a lingering perfume of cassis, violet and dark chocolate. This dazzling Cabernet can easily pair alongside a variety of cuisines and culinary dishes.
Vintage:2019
Appellation:Napa Valley
Varietal:Cabernet Sauvignon
Blend:88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Malbec, 3% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc
Oak treatment:100% French oak barrels (54% new) for 21 months
The first several weeks of a wine’s life are crucial. While the grapes for this wine were undergoing fermentation and maceration, our winemaking team tasted and tested each lot daily to determine the pump overs regime, how much air the wine needed, and the best temperature to optimize maceration and extraction. After pressing off the skins for 3–4 weeks, 54% of the wine went into new French oak barrels while the remainder went to seasoned French oak; this combination preserves freshness and gives the fruit more room to express itself. The wine aged for 21 months prior to bottling.
Cabernet Sauvignon is synonymous with Napa Valley and has always been a mainstay in the winemaking program at Stags’ Leap Winery. Our Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a combination of grapes from select Napa Valley growers with a focus on sourcing from the valley floor. Our winemaker selects fruit that is similar in expression to the grapes from the Stags’ Leap estate, avoiding fruit from areas he considers to be too warm and instead sourcing grapes from the southern part of Napa Valley, where the climate is cooler. This strategic sourcing ensures the focus and character for which Stags’ Leap Cabernet Sauvignons are known.
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“This shows lots of perfumes, with blackcurrants, violets, licorice and tar. Full-bodied with chewy tannins and an underlying character of cedar, sandalwood and pine needles. The tannins are full and creamy, with a polished, velvety texture at the end. Delicious now, but better in three to five years, and beyond.” - James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, September, 2022
Our 2019 Vintage
The 2019 harvest started one to two weeks later than previous years, mostly due to February rains, but because the vines were in their winter dormancy, it did not affect the 2019 crop. Spring continued to be wet with some rain during flowering, followed by cool temperatures that allowed the grapes to mature gradually. Most grapes ripened at lower sugars, thanks to the extended, cool growing season, and winemakers were pleased with the full flavors, fresh acidity, and superb balance of the 2019 fruit. The resulting crop showed a modest yield with a slightly more compact structure and extract than in previous years.
