Today we share a great historic Napa property. Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars is probably most famous for producing the Cabernet Sauvignon that won the famous 1976 Judgment of Paris. The winery was initially founded in 1970 and today the vineyard team is led by Guillermo Perez who works alongside head winemaker Marcus Notaro.
Notaro comes from an Italian family that had wine around the dinner table. He decided to work initially in the industry as a tour guide at Chateau Ste. Michelle. The rest has been history as he formerly was winemaker at Col Solare before taking over as head winemaker at Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars. The new wines from him were beautiful and neatly-structured wines from the outstanding 2019 vintage. I was particularly enamored by the 2019 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars ‘ARMILLARY’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 95) which is deep and concentrated stuff with good tension. Learn more about this famed site at https://www.stagsleapwinecellars.com/ and here are my reviews of the 2019 Cabernets by Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars.
2019 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars ‘ARMILLARY’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2019 ‘ARMILLARY’ is composed of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon with the remainder Cabernet Franc mainly coming from the FAY vineyard as well as the S.L.V. vineyard. Stored for 18 months in 100% new French oak barrels, this inky-colored Cabernet opens with black licorice and anise on the nose, with violets and shades of Turkish coffee. The palate is dense and rich with a glorious mouthfeel and beautiful underlying tension. Full-bodied and delicious, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2025-2040- 95
2019 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars ‘Rancho Chimiles Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The outstanding 2019 ‘Rancho Chimiles Vineyard’ is sourced from this site in the Wooden Valley, just northeast of the town of Napa. Stored for 20 months in 100% new French oak, this offers bay leaf and pipe tobacco notes on the nose alongside cassis and graphite tones. The palate is elegant and well-structured with refined tannins that frame a beautiful core of black fruits, with chocolate and espresso grounds. Fabulous now, enjoy over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2025-2040- 93