Today we share the marvelous Cabernets of Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars. 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.
This year I have tried a range of vintages, and the 2021 ‘Rancho Chimiles’ (OB, 95) is up there with the best that I have tasted from this house this year. The wine has great nerve and balance. It is not overblown with plenty of fruit but good nuance. 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.
2018 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars ‘Rancho Chimiles’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Sourced from this location in the Wooden Valley northeast of the town of Napa, the Rancho Chimiles vineyard has a strong impact from the nearby San Pablo Bay. Stored for 20 months in all new French oak, this 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon comes off round and generous with tar and anise notes alongside dark chocolate shavings and sweet pipe tobacco on the palate. Bold and rich, yet showing excellent restraint with its firm tannins and minerality, this is really drinking well right now. Drink 2025-2038- 94
2021 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars ‘Rancho Chimiles’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Coming from this excellent vintage, the 2021 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars ‘Rancho Chimiles’ Cabernet Sauvignon offers pencil lead and violet rose petals on the nose alongside allspice dusted black currants. The palate has great power and poise with a terrific veil of tension that runs through the core of decadent dark fruits, with chocolate fudge and tobacco leaf accents. Glorious now in its heady youth, enjoy over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2025-2040- 95