Winemaker Notes
With a rich garnet color, this full-bodied wine opens with aromas of violets, Bing cherry, cranberry sauce, and chaparral, with a hint of dried rose petals and crisp linen. On the palate we find flavors of Luxardo cherries, Carpano vermouth, dark chocolate covered strawberries, red plums, and mint tea, with fine grained tannins and hints of freshly turned earth and mahogany on the long and persistent finish.
?Blend: 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
Acumen, which took over the personal property of Stagecoach Vineyards owner Jan Krupp two years ago, shows that lower alcohol Napa Cabernet can be produced without loss of palate weight or flavour. Woodsy, floral aromas lead to a crisp, fresh palate of blueberry and black cherry. It's a triumph in a lighter yet most enjoyable presentation. 72% new French oak.
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Wine & Spirits
A clean, violet-scented cabernet, this has a grapey richness, even as the structure holds it tight. The meaty tannins last with healthy, floral flavor detail. You could decant this now, to enjoy with roast quail or duck; or you could cellar it a year or two and allow it to open further.
One of the most prestigious wines of the world capable of great power and grace, Napa Valley Cabernet is a leading force in the world of fine, famous, collectible red wine. Today the Napa Valley and Cabernet Sauvignon are so intrinsically linked that it is difficult to discuss one without the other. But it wasn’t until the 1970s that this marriage came to light; sudden international recognition rained upon Napa with the victory of the Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon in the 1976 Judgement of Paris.
Cabernet Sauvignon undoubtedly dominates Napa Valley today, covering half of the land under vine, commanding the highest prices per ton and earning the most critical acclaim. Cabernet Sauvignon’s structure, acidity, capacity to thrive in multiple environs and ability to express nuances of vintage make it perfect for Napa Valley where incredible soil and geographical diversity are found and the climate is perfect for grape growing. Within the Napa Valley lie many smaller sub-AVAs that express specific characteristics based on situation, slope and soil—as a perfect example, Rutherford’s famous dust or Stags Leap District's tart cherry flavors.