Stags Leap District Vertical
ABOUT STAGS LEAP DISTRICT
Nestled in the heart of Napa Valley, lies the bountiful region of Stags Leap District, where the legacy of Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars began. This premier wine-producing region, known for its unique terroir and exceptional wines, was made internationally renowned by our S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon at the famed Judgment of Paris Wine Tasting Competition.
2021 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 on 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, the 2021 vintage was fantastic for quality and will be regarded as a benchmark year for Napa Valley.
2021 TASTING NOTES
The 2021 Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon features inviting aromas of black cherries, licorice, red currants, and a hint of coriander. On the palate, bright and youthful fruit flavors emerge, offering a delightful mouthfeel complemented by a velvety texture. The finish is lingering and complex, revealing lasting berry notes intertwined with subtle hints of graham cracker pie crust and warm nutmeg.
2020 VINTAGE
A dry and hot growing season, coupled with a global pandemic, and multiple wildfires made 2020 a year we won’t forget. Due to the dry winter, we started more tillage than normal in February to preserve soil moisture and reduce competition. Rain right at bloom interrupted fruit set and provided a “natural fruit thinning” that brought the crop in balance relative to the dry soil conditions. We were excited during the heart of the growing season, as vines were in balance, and the timing of impactful viticulture practices (leafing, crop adjustment, etc.) was nearly perfect. Several heat events, including a three-day heat spike over Labor Day weekend, led to an early harvest. This was the year of the LNU Complex Wildfire and the Glass Fire Complex. As we do every vintage, we taste grapes daily in the vineyards and back up what we are tasting with lab analysis. We are fortunate to have ready access to our own lab as well as the tools necessary to make educated picking, winemaking and bottling decisions, ensuring overall wine quality. The warm weather during this vintage produced wines with a riper character. We are very pleased with the resulting wines from the 2020 vintage (although there won’t be as many bottles) to carry our legacy forward.
2020 TASTING NOTES
The 2020 Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon offers aromas of figs, raspberry preserves, cherries, and green tea with refined, lasting flavors. The wine has lush tannins and lingering, persistent flavors of black currants and cherries.
2019 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.
2019 TASTING NOTES
This vintage of 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.