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Wine Details
Price:
$48.00 per bottle
Description:
The beautiful, ripe grape clusters that went into this Cabernet Sauvignon began arriving at the Winery in mid-October. As has become tradition at Stags’ Leap, the fruit for this wine was hand-picked in small bins and fermented separately in a combination of open and closed top fermentors. By doing this, Kevin was able to maximize the concentration and extraction of the juice for the final blending process. The wine was aged in 100 percent French oak barrels (50 percent new) for 24 months. A year into the aging process Kevin assembled the final blend so that the wine had time to become one with itself well before bottling. Rich ruby red in color, luscious aromatics of black cherry, blackberries, and plum greet the nose with a slight back note of earth, leather, and bittersweet chocolate. Flavors of plum compote, spice, green tea, and cocoa are the introduction to this wine as velvety, unctuous tannins blend with a juicy, naturally balanced mid-palate of complex structure. Layers of spice, coffee and cream integrate with fruit notes to the end.
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Varietal Definition
Cabernet Sauvignon:
Cabernet Sauvignon is the most widely planted and significant among the five dominant varieties in France’s Bordeaux region, as well as the most successful red wine produced in California. Though it was thought to be an ancient variety, recent genetic studies at U.C. Davis have determined that Cabernet Sauvignon is actually the hybrid offspring of Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc. Cabernet Sauvignon berries are small with black, thick and very tough skin. This toughness makes the grapes fairly resistant to disease and spoilage and able to withstand some autumn rains with little or no damage. It is a mid to late season ripener. These growth characteristics, along with its flavor appeal have made Cabernet Sauvignon one of the most popular red wine varieties worldwide.
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Cabernet Franc:
Cabernet Franc is an accessible, spicy, herbal, dark blue grape variety that is often compared to Cabernet Sauvignon. Cabernet Franc tends to be softer and has less tannin than Cabernet Sauvignon, although the two can be difficult to distinguish. Sometimes the French refer to Cabernets, which could mean either of the two grapes. Its typical aromas include an herbaceous and pronounced peppery nose, even in ripe fruit, and something eerily like tobacco. The Cabernet Franc ripens at an earlier stage, which gives it reason to exist in the Bordeaux area. In the Loire, where we find it a lot, it gives a clear red fresh and fruity wine.
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Merlot:
Merlot is known as a Noble Bordeaux varietal. Although it came to France in the first century, it was not named until the 1880s. Merlot was originally used only for blending, as it is soft and compliant, very useful in softening other Bordeaux wines like Cabernets. Recently in California and Chile it became popular as a 100% varietal wine. Merlot tends to be easier to grow in a variety of soil conditions and is harvested earlier in the year than Cabernet. Although most Merlots are made to be drunk earlier, there are many with complexities of a Cabernet. Flavors of plum, black cherry, violet, chocolate and orange pair well with rich, red pasta dishes, hearty chicken dishes, and any beef combination that you fancy. The perfect match of course is chocolate. Not only does the chocolate compliment the wine and vice-versa, but the essence of both flavors linger eternally.
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