Description

Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon S.L.V. Stags Leap District 2019

96 pts – James Suckling

Deep yet floral nose with pure cassis, blackberry and blueberry concentrate, as well as hints of sandalwood and pine. Quite ample on the palate, laden with velvety tannins in a mealy form. Rich and primary, yet juicy and supple. Densely packed.

95 pts – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon S.L.V. features perfumed aromas of violets and cassis. It’s medium to full-bodied on the palate, nicely elegant while being powerful and sturdy at the same time. No, it’s not made in a modern, blockbuster style, but it’s true to its heritage, with subtle herb shadings and a long, silky finish. Best After 2024

S.L.V., also known as Stag’s Leap Vineyards, is the winery’s first vineyard.  Planted in 1970, this vineyard achieved international fame when three-yearold vines from the 1973 harvest produced a wine that stunned the wine world when it bested some of France’s greatest wines in a 1976 blind tasting known as the “Judgment of Paris.” Today, this history-making vineyard continues to produce wines with layers of complexity, spicy intensity and excellent structure—promising long life and ageability.

Vineyards & Winemaking

As most of the 1970s-era vines have aged past their grape-producing prime, they have been gradually replanted, perpetuating the life of this historic vineyard. All the vineyard blocks are represented in the 2017 offering, including S.L.V. Block 4 – the “grande dame” of the vineyard – which was planted in 1972. These vines along with blocks on the eastern side of S.L.V., characterized by their fire-borne volcanic soils, give this wine its structure and sense of minerality along with concentrated dark fruit flavors and ripe, elegant tannins. Vines in alluvial soils in the western part of the vineyard add vibrant fruit accent notes and heady aromatics. Each lot was vinified and aged separately in small French oak barrels for 21 months, allowing the characteristics of each block to develop. With this vintage, Winemaker Marcus Notaro used careful barrel selection to marry the unique graphite, dark fruit and cocoa characters of S.L.V. to the barrel type and toast level. In the latter stages of aging, the barrel lots were blended to create this 2017 offering.