Winemaker Notes
Just looking at this wine you know you are in for something profound it is extremely dark all the way to the edge of the glass, opaque purple red dense color. As one would expect from this low yielding year it’s a bit tight at first, so it needs a couple of good swirls to get up speed. Then you get really intense aromas of Cabernet Sauvignon; rich black fruits, berry and plum. The nose carries on being very opulent and layered with lots of mineral and cedar. As we expect from this concentrated wine upon release, it is very big on the palate, it has massive spicy briary mouth-filling texture. Initially, it shows extremely intense cassis, which just expands and coats the mouth and goes on and on. This vineyard always expresses a spicy character like 5 spice, cardamom and cedar; but in this ’09 it’s incredibly concentrated. The finish is lengthy and returns to be dominated with the persistent cassis extract theme. The care with which we grew and made this wine is evident all the way through, from the distinctive vineyard character to the elegant stylish winemaking reflecting the mighty 2009 vintage.
Critical Acclaim
All Vintages
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.