Winemaker Notes
True to its southern Napa origins, the 2020 Merlot exhibits fresh, expressive aromas and flavors with notes of ripe black cherry, red currant, and black plum. These mingle with spiced notes of cinnamon, clove, Madagascar vanilla, and caramel from the delicately interwoven oak aging. Lively, lifted chaparral notes of lavender, fresh mint, and sage, dance alongside riper tones of blueberry preserves and bittersweet dark chocolate, while hints of anise and black tea add savory complexity. This sumptuous wine is creamy and round with a backbone of fresh acidity. The tannin profile is polished and firm, adding richness and balance. The finish is deep and nuanced, demonstrating grace and finesse.
Blend: 96% Merlot, 2% Malbec, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A merlot with chocolate, black olive, and walnut aromas and flavors. Full-bodied and layered. Chewy tannins. Juicy at the same time. Give it two or three years to soften.
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Wine Enthusiast
Beautiful red and black fruits meld with dark chocolate and cinnamon accents in this well-oaked, nicely concentrated wine. A full body is backed by moderate tannins, giving it more structure and mouthfeel than a typical Merlot.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The untrendiness of Merlot is really reflected by this wine. With only one-third as many cases produced as the Cabernet Sauvignon and a higher proportion of new French oak (38% versus 27%), the 2020 Merlot sells for just two-thirds the price. Yet it's a solid effort, with classy hints of pencil shavings framing black cherry fruit. Juicy, fun and easy to drink, it's medium to full-bodied and velvety-textured, with ample length on the finish.
A fashionable country resort in the mid-twentieth century, popular with Hollywood due to its 1892 stone Manor House and historic gardens, legends of bootleggers and gangsters, ghosts and gypsies, Stags' Leap has been home to three major family groups up through the modern revitalization of the winery that began in the 1970s.
Stags Leap Manor, as it was called in the 1920s, was known as one of the prominent country retreats in the Napa Valley at a time when resort and spa business was big. In addition to lodging and dining, amenities included lawn tennis, swimming, horseback riding, children's activities, golf, music, cards, a library, and Napa Valley wines and liquors (prior to and after Prohibition).
An intimate valley within the greater Napa Valley, Stags Leap is a place of natural beauty, storied buildings and gardens, a lively history, and a reputation for elegant wines showing finesse and intensity.
As Napa Valley’s third most planted grape, Napa Valley Merlot shows time and time again its potential to produce exceptional results. Napa’s vaunted combination of climate, soil and the human factor of winemaking expertise lead to big, ripe, cellar-worthy and world-class versions.
Whether made by itself in single varietal bottlings or as an important role in Bordeaux Blends, Merlot continues a prominent role in this famous region. While Cabernet typically takes the lead role, Merlot’s contribution—even at 10% to 20% or so—is significant indeed. Often described as “the flesh on Cabernet’s bones,” Merlot lends a soft, round and plush character that beautifully complements Cabernet’s linear, full-throttle structure. Its flavors of plums plus subtle herbs and mint also dovetail nicely with Cabernet’s blackberry and cassis.