Winemaker Notes
95% Cab Sauv, 2% Cab Franc, 3% Merlot. Aged for 20 months in French oak barrels, 33% of which were new.
"This is the winery's basic appellation bottling, and while it's not as rich or ageable as their other two vineyard bottling, it's a fine Cabernet Sauvignon. Dry and tannic, the black currant flavors are accompanied by wilder tastes of nettles and pine."
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points
"The soft, super-ripe fruit and the tense, mineral tannins seem to stand apart for now, making this wine black and indecipherable. The tannins are compelling, their tough, mountain-grown character clarifying some of the structure as the wine takes on air. For the cellar, then for thick-cut lamb chops."- Wine & Spirits, 91 points
Professional Ratings
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.