Stags’ Leap Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Let’s be clear up front: this is a post about the Stags’ Leap winery in Napa, California, not the Stag’s Leap Winery in Napa, California. Whaaaat?
See that little apostrophe? Stag‘s Leap is the famous producer that shocked the wine world when they won the 1976 Judgement of Paris for their Cabernet Sauvignon. Stags‘ Leap is less well known, but considerably older. The similarity has caused confusion for decades, and it even led to a famous lawsuit.*
The Stags’ Leap estate was first worked when grapes were planted in 1872 by the “Grigsby family,” about whom there are no surviving details. 13 years later, the land was sold to W.W. Thompson and H.H. Harris. The next year, Harris conveyed his interest in the property to Thompson’s nephew, Horace Blanchard Chase. In 1893 Chase established a winery there. By the late 1890s it was producing wine commercially and became known for its picturesque setting.
The estate was purchased by Clarence and Frances Grange in 1913, who were prominent members of San Francisco society. The Granges wanted to have a country home in Napa so that they could entertain their socialite friends. The Granges occupied the Manor House until 1956. Although they did not make wine, the vineyards remained in production.
After a decade and a half of laying dormant, in 1970 Carl Doumani, a Los Angeles restaurateur, builder, and wholesaler, purchased a portion of the property. Doumani soon began an extensive nine-year restoration project. In addition to preserving most of the original stonework of the Manor House, Doumani restored the Stone Winery, the Cottage and the grounds.
During this time, the vineyards were also restored and winemaking resumed under the Stags’ Leap Winery label. The winery went from being a small operation to a fully-staffed 85,000 case facility.
In late 1996. Doumani sold the property to Beringer (now Treasury Wine Estates, the Australian-based global wine company that also owns Penfolds, Beringer, and Beaulieu Vineyard.). Shortly after, construction began on a 28,000 sq. ft. wine cave in the volcanic rhyolite rock of the Stags Leap (no apostrophe whatsoever) Palisades. The new cave is a companion to the original cave built in 1893, but it is much larger with room for 7,000 barrels.
Stags’ Leap is a 240-acre estate, of which 85 acres are planted with grape vines. The rock outcropping that forms the eastern boundary of the estate, the Stags Leap Palisades, sheds debris in the form of volcanic rhyolite and tuff, which is carried to the valley floor where it mingles with the deeper subsoil made up of Bale loam formed from ancient river sediment. Topographically, the slope of the palisades and its small valley are oriented to block early morning sun, retain afternoon heat, and funnel cooler marine air coming from the San Pablo Bay to the south. These conditions create wines that are often described as lush, plush, and approachable, compared to the more structured style of Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars across the valley.
Stags’ Leap Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from Oakville’s renowned Gamble Ranch Vineyard. The wine was aged for 21 months in 100% French oak, with 43% of the barrels being new.
The wine pours fairly light for a Cabernet, and is totally transparent. The nose offers a restrained bouquet of rich dark fruit, especially plum, and a bit of leather. The palette features blueberry, cocoa, cola, and soft tannins, all in excellent balance. A very approachable wine. The ABV is 14.0%.
*Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars was founded in 1970 by Warren Winiarski., and is located on the east side of Napa Valley’s Stags Leap District AVA. Stags’ Leap Winery was founded much earlier, in 1893 by Horace Chase, and is located on the west side of the same district, about a mile away.
In the 1970s, a legal battle, aka “The Judgment of the Apostrophe,” predictably arose over rights to the “Stag’s Leap” name. Finally, in 1986, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars (Winiarski) was awarded the singular possessive: Stag’s Leap. Stags’ Leap Winery (Beringer, later Treasury Wine Estates) was awarded the plural possessive: Stags’ Leap. Clears things right up, doesn’t it?
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