2019 Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon

ABOUT STAGS LEAP DISTRICT CABERNET SAUVIGNON

This 2019 Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon offers bright, perfumed aromas with notes of boysenberry and blueberry and a hint of nutmeg. The wine has lush tannins and lingering, persistent flavors of milk chocolate, red licorice, and black currants.

VINEYARDS & WINEMAKING

Winemaker Marcus Notaro crafted this wine exclusively for the tasting room. The wine is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, primarily from Vicassa Vineyard (65%) and FAY Vineyard (35%) both in the Stags Leap District. The wine was aged for 19 months in 100% new French oak.

VINTAGE

Spring in Napa Valley was wet with significant rain that increased canopy growth and caused some shatter during bloom in the vineyards. Our vineyard team worked diligently to balance canopies and fruit load, and to expose the fruit to the sun at the right time. Following this wet and cool start to the year that resulted in a lot of vigor, the summer gave way to near ideal growing conditions. Like 2018, a long growing season allowed for grapes to reach optimal ripeness. Yields were less than 2018 and harvest was later than usual.  The main challenge this harvest was powering wineries with generators, as the power company shut off electricity to mitigate any potential fires due to high winds. Fires in upper Sonoma did not affect northern Napa Valley vineyards, and winds kept smoke out of the valley. Overall quality is quite high, and Cabernet has beautiful dark fruit aromas, nice complexity, and more richness than 2018.