Winemaker Notes
The block of our Estate Vineyard we call The Leap lays at the doorstep of the historic Stags Leap Manor House. This is the heart of the estate, with exceptionally well-drained volcanic soil that produces our most distinctive Cabernet Sauvignon . We created the wine to celebrate this block and to offer collectors a long-lived Cabernet, one that speaks to the unique terroir of the Stags Leap District.
As is tradition here at Stags' Leap, we put the Cabernet through an extended maceration to extract color and structure and fermented the fruit in a combination of open and closed tanks for maximum flavor development. Two years of ageing in French oak barrels completes the process. The nose shows elegant, dried herb aromatics, leading into ripe flavors of black fruits: blackberry, plum and cassis. That briary character, a Stags' Leap signature, is in evidence, as are notes of rhubarb, black pepper and licorice. A structure of finely grained tannin is the last major component here, binding the ripe, mature flavors together and ensuring that this wine will continue to evolve in the cellar for many years to come.
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.