Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
An intriguing quality of mulled spices emerges alongside suggestions of boysenberry, cigar smoke, cranberry, and compost. The round structure and savory grip integrate seamlessly accompanied by the essence of cured meat. There is an engaging slow build with a final flurry of lingering cooking spices, rosemary, and pine clusters.
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James Suckling
Concentrated and refined with aromas of blackberries, dark cherries, graphite, sweet spices and dried thyme. The palate is full-bodied and tightly wound, showing firm tannins and dark fruit with an herbal undertone. Balanced and persistent. Drink or hold.
Made with love in Napa Valley, the family behind Heir Apparent prides itself on cultivating a sustainable and responsible approach to viticulture. Like a vibrant family, fine wine is a living tale, nurtured with unwavering devotion. It's a journey of care, never hurried; a challenge that earns the sweetest rewards. From rugged soil, the vines burst forth with vigor, a tribute to the very essence of life.
One of the hallmarks of Heir Apparent is its commitment to showcasing the unique characteristics of various Napa Valley appellations. Napa Valley is known for its diverse microclimates and terroirs, which offer the team an incredible palate of flavors and aromas to work with. Heir Apparent seizes this opportunity by producing special releases of wines from different appellations, each with its distinct identity.
They firmly believe that the true heirs to the rich winemaking tradition are the extraordinary customers who have the privilege of experiencing the meticulously crafted wines. The winery's unwavering commitment to uncompromising quality and innate ability to capture the quintessence of Napa Valley in every bottle make Heir Apparent wines a cherished choice among discerning wine enthusiasts and collectors alike.
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.
Legend has it that quick and nimble stags would escape the indigenous hunters of southern Napa Valley through the landmark palisades that sit just northeast of the current city of Napa. As a result, the area was given the name, Stags Leap. While its grape-growing history dates back to the mid-1800s, winemaking didn’t really take off until the mid-1970s after a small but pivotal blind tasting called the Judgement of Paris.
When a 1973 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon won first place against its high-profile Bordeaux contenders, like Chateau Mouton Rothschild and Chateau Haut-Brion, international attention to the Stags Leap District of Napa Valley escalated rapidly.
The vineyards in this one-of-a-kind wine growing region receive hot afternoon air reflecting off of its eastern palisade formation. In combination with the cool evening breezes from the San Pablo Bay just south, this becomes an optimal environment for grape growing. While many varieties could thrive here, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot dominate with virtually no others, save for a spot or two of Syrah.
Stags Leap soils—eroded volcanic and old river sediments—encourage well established root systems and result in complex, terroir-driven wines. Stags Leap District reds have a distinct sour cherry and black berry character with baking spice and dried earth aromas, and supple tannins.