Winemaker Notes
An impressively elegant wine from this rugged mountain top vineyard on the eastern slopes of Napa Valley. With black cherry and licorice flavors, flanked by firm yet lush tannins. A wine as special as this undeniably unique vineyard.
Blend: 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A fragrant nose of black fruits, chocolate, mint and bark. Some oyster shell. Full body with firm tannins and fresh acidity. Structured yet juicy leading to a chewy finish. Needs time. Drink after 2023.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Miner's 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Stagecoach Vineyard is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc that spent 21 months in 60% new French oak without being overly impacted by the wood. Scents of crushed stone, pencil shavings, cherries and sage mark the nose of this full-bodied effort, which comes across as tannic and even a bit rugged. It's a wine that appears to need time, yet it doesn't seem that rich or concentrated. Time will tell, but in the meantime, serve it alongside a rare hunk of red meat to help tame the tannins.
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Wine Spectator
Frankly ripe, with a broad swath of crushed plum, blackberry cobbler and black currant preserves moving through, flanked on both sides by a prominent roasted apple wood note. A licorice snap note adds some energy to the finish. For fans of the headier style. Best from 2023 through 2033.
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.