It is my pleasure to share a famed Napa property whose legacy has been defined by the famed1976 Judgment of Paris. Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 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 wines show excellent poise and depth. I was particularly enamored by the 2021 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars ‘Lot No. 1’ Merlot (OB, 93) which has a soft mouthfeel and great underlying acidity from this warm vintage. 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.
2022 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars ‘Artemis’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 ‘Artemis’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes a range of sites throughout the Napa Valley. It is medium-boded and well-structured stuff with dark chocolate shavings, black licorice and coffee ground notes on the palate. Enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2033- 91
2019 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars ‘Surber Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2019 ‘Surber Vineyard’ comes from this location in Calistoga that is farmed by the Surber family. Inky in the glass, this delivers pencil lead, violets and tar aromatics that mingle well with loamy soils on the nose. The palate is plush and refined with a smooth mouthfeel and great depth and freshness. Gorgeous to consume now, watch this beauty evolved now and over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2025-2040- 94
2019 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars ‘Cellarius Series’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The really good 2019 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars ‘Cellarius Series’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a wine-club only bottling that is a blend of several vineyard sites. This comes off juicy and delicious with a great melange of black fruits that mingle well with chocolate, mocha, tar and loamy soils on the palate. Medium to full-bodied and delicious, enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2033- 92
2021 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars ‘Lot No. 1’ Merlot- The outstanding 2021 ‘Lot No. 1’ Merlot comes from the Arcadia Vineyard in Coomsville and has 8% Cabernet Franc, 1.5% Petit Verdot, and 1.5% Cabernet Sauvignon blended in. It is bold and layered, showing pencil lead and anise notes alongside black cherry compote and cocoa powder on the palate. Fresh and neatly textured, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2025-2037- 93