Winemaker Notes
The 2020 Petite Sirah has lovely floral aromatic intensity showcasing notes of fresh violet, candied floral blossom and black raspberry. On the palate, these notes are echoed, with layers of creamy blueberry, ripe Bing cherry, raspberry gelato, and black cherry liquor. There is a richness and opulence to this wine, with intriguing power and intensity while the tannins come across fresh and chewy adding structure, finesse, and complexity. Secondary notes of roasted coffee bean, dark chocolate, and cocoa-nibs harken to the well-integrated subtle oak character that leads to a lengthy mouthwatering finish. This is a perfect example of classic Petite Sirah from Napa Valley, certain to age and provide enjoyment for many years to come.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A very fine-tannined red with blackberry, chocolate, dried chili, ink pot, and oyster shell aromas and flavors. Full-bodied and very structured, with a flavorful and lightly austere finish. Top petite sirah. Drink or hold.
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Wine Enthusiast
Oak char and black pepper aromas lead to drenching blackberry and blueberry flavors in this rich and intensely tannic wine. The color is black to a reddish rim, the texture is thick and a bit drying, and the body is full. This wine needs time and/or a good decanting to loosen up. Best from 2027.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Aged entirely in American oak (19% new), the 2020 Petite Sirah pairs an interesting mix of garrigue-like notions with mocha and cigar box, plus notes of blueberries, licorice and dark chocolate. It's full-bodied and a bit chewy on the palate but ripe, juicy and long.
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.
Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.