Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 'Cask 23' 2018
Introduction
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 'Cask 23' 2018 is a red wine from the United States, originating in the Napa Valley subregion of California. It is an exceptional blend of the famed S.L.V. (Stag's Leap Vineyard) and Fay Estate vineyards, which are located in the Stags Leap District appellation. Stag's Leap Wine Cellars is considered a 'first-growth estate' of Napa Valley, having gained international recognition after its 1973 S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon won the historic 1976 Judgment of Paris blind tasting, triumphing over top French wines.
The 'Cask 23' bottling began in 1974 when a lot of wine from S.L.V. was deemed so distinctive by the winemaking team that it was bottled separately and named for the large wooden cask it was aged in. The winery's philosophy revolves around achieving a delicate balance of ripeness and restraint, resulting in wines with complexity, harmony, and remarkable longevity. The wine is a highly regarded and collected blend that exhibits extraordinary depth and richness balanced by elegance.
Wine Description
The wine has a deep garnet-purple colour. It displays complex, stunning, and slightly lifted aromas of violets, cherries, cassis, dark-berry fruit, crushed rock, and fig. Further aromatic notes include plum reduction, blackberry puree, light alder, singed vanilla, tobacco leaf, beef drippings, dried Provence herbs, sandalwood, and wet stone.
'Cask 23' is a blend that, in the 2018 vintage, leans more heavily on the Fay Vineyard. The specific blend is 56.8% Fay and 43.2% S.L.V., and it is made from Cabernet Sauvignon, though the overall blend for the proprietary cuvée may include a small percentage of other Bordeaux varietals. The wine is medium to full-bodied, supple, silky, and elegantly styled. It offers juicy, bright, and effusive characteristics on the palate, with a cohesive, silky texture. Flavours include delicate black fruit layers, dark-berry fruit, cassis, fig, and plum. It features a line of finely grained tannins and possesses enough richness to evolve for the next two decades. The wine spent 21 months ageing in small French oak barrels. Stylistically, it is structured, expansive, and graceful, with ultra-fine tannins and flawless balance. The finish is long, dusty, minerally, and mouthwatering, exuding class all the way. The ABV is $15\%$. It is recommended for enjoyment from 2024 through 2040 or 2045.
Accolades
-
Wine Enthusiast - 98 points
-
The Wine Advocate - 97 points
-
Wine Spectator - 95 points
-
Decanter - 91 points
Food Pairing
While the search results for this specific vintage do not include tailored food pairings, CASK 23 is a profound Cabernet Sauvignon. Generally, wines of this style and structure from Stag's Leap Wine Cellars are recommended to pair with lamb, game (such as deer or venison), and mature or hard cheese.
Vintage Quality
The 2018 vintage in Napa Valley was near-perfect, with an idyllic growing season. It was a slightly cooler vintage with a moderate, benevolent-natured summer. Abundant rain in March and April ensured full soil profiles, and the mild summer, virtually uninterrupted by major heat spikes, allowed the fruit to accumulate flavour complexity gradually. A long growing season and extended hang-time contributed to excellent flavour development without overripeness. The vintage resulted in wines that are more medium-bodied, moderate-alcohol styles packed with vibrancy and energy, and possess balanced acidity and structure for long-term aging.
Introduction
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 'Cask 23' 2018 is a red wine from the United States, originating in the Napa Valley subregion of California. It is an exceptional blend of the famed S.L.V. (Stag's Leap Vineyard) and Fay Estate vineyards, which are located in the Stags Leap District appellation. Stag's Leap Wine Cellars is considered a 'first-growth estate' of Napa Valley, having gained international recognition after its 1973 S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon won the historic 1976 Judgment of Paris blind tasting, triumphing over top French wines.
The 'Cask 23' bottling began in 1974 when a lot of wine from S.L.V. was deemed so distinctive by the winemaking team that it was bottled separately and named for the large wooden cask it was aged in. The winery's philosophy revolves around achieving a delicate balance of ripeness and restraint, resulting in wines with complexity, harmony, and remarkable longevity. The wine is a highly regarded and collected blend that exhibits extraordinary depth and richness balanced by elegance.
Wine Description
The wine has a deep garnet-purple colour. It displays complex, stunning, and slightly lifted aromas of violets, cherries, cassis, dark-berry fruit, crushed rock, and fig. Further aromatic notes include plum reduction, blackberry puree, light alder, singed vanilla, tobacco leaf, beef drippings, dried Provence herbs, sandalwood, and wet stone.
'Cask 23' is a blend that, in the 2018 vintage, leans more heavily on the Fay Vineyard. The specific blend is 56.8% Fay and 43.2% S.L.V., and it is made from Cabernet Sauvignon, though the overall blend for the proprietary cuvée may include a small percentage of other Bordeaux varietals. The wine is medium to full-bodied, supple, silky, and elegantly styled. It offers juicy, bright, and effusive characteristics on the palate, with a cohesive, silky texture. Flavours include delicate black fruit layers, dark-berry fruit, cassis, fig, and plum. It features a line of finely grained tannins and possesses enough richness to evolve for the next two decades. The wine spent 21 months ageing in small French oak barrels. Stylistically, it is structured, expansive, and graceful, with ultra-fine tannins and flawless balance. The finish is long, dusty, minerally, and mouthwatering, exuding class all the way. The ABV is $15\%$. It is recommended for enjoyment from 2024 through 2040 or 2045.
Accolades
-
Wine Enthusiast - 98 points
-
The Wine Advocate - 97 points
-
Wine Spectator - 95 points
-
Decanter - 91 points
Food Pairing
While the search results for this specific vintage do not include tailored food pairings, CASK 23 is a profound Cabernet Sauvignon. Generally, wines of this style and structure from Stag's Leap Wine Cellars are recommended to pair with lamb, game (such as deer or venison), and mature or hard cheese.
Vintage Quality
The 2018 vintage in Napa Valley was near-perfect, with an idyllic growing season. It was a slightly cooler vintage with a moderate, benevolent-natured summer. Abundant rain in March and April ensured full soil profiles, and the mild summer, virtually uninterrupted by major heat spikes, allowed the fruit to accumulate flavour complexity gradually. A long growing season and extended hang-time contributed to excellent flavour development without overripeness. The vintage resulted in wines that are more medium-bodied, moderate-alcohol styles packed with vibrancy and energy, and possess balanced acidity and structure for long-term aging.
Description
Introduction
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 'Cask 23' 2018 is a red wine from the United States, originating in the Napa Valley subregion of California. It is an exceptional blend of the famed S.L.V. (Stag's Leap Vineyard) and Fay Estate vineyards, which are located in the Stags Leap District appellation. Stag's Leap Wine Cellars is considered a 'first-growth estate' of Napa Valley, having gained international recognition after its 1973 S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon won the historic 1976 Judgment of Paris blind tasting, triumphing over top French wines.
The 'Cask 23' bottling began in 1974 when a lot of wine from S.L.V. was deemed so distinctive by the winemaking team that it was bottled separately and named for the large wooden cask it was aged in. The winery's philosophy revolves around achieving a delicate balance of ripeness and restraint, resulting in wines with complexity, harmony, and remarkable longevity. The wine is a highly regarded and collected blend that exhibits extraordinary depth and richness balanced by elegance.
Wine Description
The wine has a deep garnet-purple colour. It displays complex, stunning, and slightly lifted aromas of violets, cherries, cassis, dark-berry fruit, crushed rock, and fig. Further aromatic notes include plum reduction, blackberry puree, light alder, singed vanilla, tobacco leaf, beef drippings, dried Provence herbs, sandalwood, and wet stone.
'Cask 23' is a blend that, in the 2018 vintage, leans more heavily on the Fay Vineyard. The specific blend is 56.8% Fay and 43.2% S.L.V., and it is made from Cabernet Sauvignon, though the overall blend for the proprietary cuvée may include a small percentage of other Bordeaux varietals. The wine is medium to full-bodied, supple, silky, and elegantly styled. It offers juicy, bright, and effusive characteristics on the palate, with a cohesive, silky texture. Flavours include delicate black fruit layers, dark-berry fruit, cassis, fig, and plum. It features a line of finely grained tannins and possesses enough richness to evolve for the next two decades. The wine spent 21 months ageing in small French oak barrels. Stylistically, it is structured, expansive, and graceful, with ultra-fine tannins and flawless balance. The finish is long, dusty, minerally, and mouthwatering, exuding class all the way. The ABV is $15\%$. It is recommended for enjoyment from 2024 through 2040 or 2045.
Accolades
-
Wine Enthusiast - 98 points
-
The Wine Advocate - 97 points
-
Wine Spectator - 95 points
-
Decanter - 91 points
Food Pairing
While the search results for this specific vintage do not include tailored food pairings, CASK 23 is a profound Cabernet Sauvignon. Generally, wines of this style and structure from Stag's Leap Wine Cellars are recommended to pair with lamb, game (such as deer or venison), and mature or hard cheese.
Vintage Quality
The 2018 vintage in Napa Valley was near-perfect, with an idyllic growing season. It was a slightly cooler vintage with a moderate, benevolent-natured summer. Abundant rain in March and April ensured full soil profiles, and the mild summer, virtually uninterrupted by major heat spikes, allowed the fruit to accumulate flavour complexity gradually. A long growing season and extended hang-time contributed to excellent flavour development without overripeness. The vintage resulted in wines that are more medium-bodied, moderate-alcohol styles packed with vibrancy and energy, and possess balanced acidity and structure for long-term aging.
