2021 Winemaker Series Red Blend

ABOUT WINEMAKER SERIES

Our Winemaker Series allows winemaker Marcus Notaro to select interesting lots and create unique blends. This is like taking a walk through the vineyard, experiencing the unique characteristics that define Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars’ world-class vineyards. These wines often spend more time in barrel and offer a great juxtaposition to our classic Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars offerings.

VINEYARDS & WINEMAKING

Our Winemaker Series highlights special lots of wine that demonstrate distinctive character. These limited bottlings are hand-selected by our winemaker and showcase the very best of Napa Valley’s finest growers. This Red Blend showcases how skillful blending creates a lively, complex wine that equally expresses our winemaker’s perspective and the vineyards’ characteristics.

VINTAGE

The 2021 growing season will be remembered for being the second consecutive year of very dry conditions during winter and spring and for challenging weather during bloom and heat, cold, wind, and rain during flowering. This resulted in a reduction in yield and more variability in the clusters themselves. We had classic Napa Valley weather during the heart of the growing season with moderate temperatures and cool sea breezes in the afternoon and evening all summer. Early September saw a mini heat wave that pushed ripeness along, then a return to beautiful weather for the remainder of harvest. Berries were a little smaller than usual with loose clusters. Overall, this may be the best vintage for quality.

TASTING NOTES

This wine opens with aromas of bright berry, strawberry, cherry, red fruits. On the palate, the wine has a soft structure with bright acidity; the finish has flavors of red fruits with a touch of oak spices - well integrated.

FOOD PAIRINGS

Try serving this Red Blend wine with roast duck with huckleberry sauce.