Stag's Leap Wine Cellars S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
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The 2018 S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon has generous aromas of violet, plum dark fruit, cocoa dust and graphite. On the palate the wine has a rich, gravelly structure with pure fruit, dusty tannins and a long, savory finish. The tannin structure, dark fruit, and pleasing minerality point to this wine’s ability to
age.
Enjoy with dirty rice and andouille sausage, birria beef tacos, or mushroom ravioli with arrabiata sauce.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This is one of the best SLVs I have tasted with total balance and structure that highlights what was possible in 2018. It’s full-bodied, yet tight and poised, with layer upon layer of fine tannins that give depth and beauty to this young red. Blackcurrant, blueberry and floral flavors. Tight at the end. Needs until 2025 to really show what it has.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
As usual, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon S.L.V. is a bit richer and sturdier than the Fay Vineyard bottling, while still retaining plenty of complexity. The nose offers scents of cassis, black cherries, star anise, cocoa and pencil shavings, while the medium to full-bodied palate adds dark, loamy notes. It's medium to full-bodied, with ample concentration and some dusty, dry tannins on the mocha-tinged finish. Best After 2024. Rating: 95+
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Wine Spectator
Polished and open at first, showing a fan-friendly set of creamed plum and warmed cassis flavors, laced with melted licorice and sweet toast accents. Features alder and warm earth hints that check in on the finish, adding extra range and length while giving the fruit a grounded feel in the end. Very solidly built.
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Considered one of the "first growths" of Napa Valley, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars produces renowned Cabernet Sauvignon from its historic Stags Leap District estate vineyards. Learn about Stags Leap history and estate-grown wines.
History of Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars was founded in 1970 with the purchase of a 40 acre property in the now famed Stag’s Leap District AVA in Napa Valley. The winery brought international recognition to California winemaking and the Napa Valley region when their 1973 S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon won the 1976 Paris Tasting, also known as the "Judgement of Paris."
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Estate-Grown Cabernet Sauvignon
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars' three estate-grown Cabernet Sauvignons - CASK 23, S.L.V. and Fay - are among the most highly regarded and collected Cabernet Sauvignons worldwide. The Cabernet wines are fashioned to express richness balanced by elegant restraint, an approach often described as "an iron fist in a velvet glove."
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.