Winemaker Notes
Compared to the classically structured S.L.V., FAY wines are typically more extroverted and voluptuous, and that holds true for this vintage. The nose is filled with cassis, black cherry, and vanilla. But any expectation that this is just another fruity Cabernet is dispelled when your lips touch the glass and you encounter the wine's full statement of cassis ringed by dried cranberry, raspberry and plum, woven through with a ribbon of rich caramel. Taste again, and the cassis switches into a different key as your mouth fills with jammy fruit and anise, followed by a long finish perfumed with sandalwood and spice. FAY has worked its seductive powers yet again. Pair it with a traditional duck civet: duck slowly braised in red wine with shallots and root vegetables.
Critical Acclaim
All Vintages
Considered one of the "first growths" of Napa Valley, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars produces renowned Cabernet Sauvignon from its historic Stags Leap District estate vineyards. Learn about Stags Leap history and estate-grown wines.
History of Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars was founded in 1970 with the purchase of a 40 acre property in the now famed Stag’s Leap District AVA in Napa Valley. The winery brought international recognition to California winemaking and the Napa Valley region when their 1973 S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon won the 1976 Paris Tasting, also known as the "Judgement of Paris."
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Estate-Grown Cabernet Sauvignon
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars' three estate-grown Cabernet Sauvignons - CASK 23, S.L.V. and Fay - are among the most highly regarded and collected Cabernet Sauvignons worldwide. The Cabernet wines are fashioned to express richness balanced by elegant restraint, an approach often described as "an iron fist in a velvet glove."