2023 Cabernet Sauvignon & Cabernet Franc
ABOUT CABERNET SAUVIGNON & CABERNET FRANC
The 2023 vintage is considered an exceptional vintage, shaped by a cool, extended growing season and ideal ripening conditions. The resulting Cabernets are deeply colored and highly expressive, with vibrant acidity, rich layered structure, and long, refined tannins. Remarkable in complexity and character, these wines show outstanding balance and aging potential.
VINEYARDS & WINEMAKING
This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc showcases the interplay between the two varieties. Winemaker Marcus Notaro has crafted Cabernet Sauvignon for more than two decades and uses Cabernet Franc to add depth and complexity.
S.L.V. (Stag’s Leap Vineyard) contributes 38% of the blend. Planted in 1970, it is the winery’s first vineyard. Merlot was removed from a portion of the vineyard and replaced with Cabernet Franc, which thrives in the site and brings added complexity to the blend.
Twin Creeks Vineyard contributes 61% of the blend and is farmed by the Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars team for exceptional quality. With yields limited to approximately one cluster per shoot, this warm site produces rich, concentrated fruit with robust tannins.
VINTAGE
The 2023 vintage stands out as a potential vintage of the decade. One of Napa Valley’s coolest growing seasons in more than ten years, 2023 began with abundant winter rainfall that replenished reservoirs and deeply saturated soils. A cool spring delayed bud break and bloom, while a warm, sunny summer with cool afternoon and evening breezes provided ideal conditions for slow, even ripening. The absence of significant heat spikes in late summer allowed the fruit to mature steadily and develop exceptional flavor and complexity. The resulting Cabernets are deeply colored and varietally expressive, with vibrant acidity, rich, layered structure, and long, refined tannins.
TASTING NOTES
The 2023 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon & Cabernet Franc wine opens with aromas of currants, blueberries, cedar, baking spices, and delicate floral notes. The palate reveals layered black fruit complemented by hints of tobacco and cocoa, leading to a rich texture and a savory, lingering finish.