Winemaker Notes
Our 1999 Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon is made exclusively from grapes grown in this renowned region of Napa Valley. We selected four vineyards, including our own, that yield exceptionally pure flavors and silky tannins, the signature of the district. Layers of black cherry, currant, violets and sandalwood are enveloped in the wines lush texture; spicy complexity from French chateau barrels lingers on the finish.
Professional Ratings
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Connoisseurs' Guide
It would be hard to ask for more from a Cabernet Sauvignon of its age, and this one has done splendidly with its years on the cork. It is spot-on in focus with surprisingly strong fruity drive, and its lovely, seamlessly combined mix of cassis, black cherries, creamy oak and light, loamy earth holds and holds through to an exceptionally long, tannin-firmed finish that is free of drying astringency. Its intensity and staying power ensures that it will easily last for another five to ten years, but it is so inviting right now as to beg the question of “why wait,” and, if there were another bottle or two stashed away in our cellars.
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.