Regusci

Estate Bottled Stags Leap District Merlot

9.1117 ratings
9.013 pro ratings
Stags Leap District, Napa Valley, California, USA
Merlot
Beef, Venison, Salami & Prosciutto, Chili & Hot Spicy, Potato, Exotic Spices, Lamb, White Rice, Baking Spices, Herbs, Pasta, Chicken, Mushrooms, Pungent Cheese, Turkey, Tomato-Based, Soft Cheese, Pork, Beans & Peas, Hard Cheese, Duck, Onion, Shallot, Garlic
Top Notes For
David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

If you are going to drink Napa Valley 100% Merlot, you can’t go wrong drinking one crafted by Charles Hendricks.

The nose shines brightly of, dark cherries, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum skin, poached/baked - strawberries & cherries, hints of blueberries, dark chocolate, limestone/clay minerals, dry crushed rocks, steeped black tea, touch mint, mocha, soft; cinnamon, clove & vanilla, understated, sweet tarriness, dark spice, used expresso grounds, whiff of black pepper, rich, black earthiness, light alcohol vapors, malt in malt balls with ruby, to candied, dark, red, blue and dominate purple florals that are fresh to withering and slightly candied.

The wine is somewhere around its peak with another 5-8 years of solid drinking ahead. Palate is; ripe, juicy, lush and full bodied. Fruits are; dark cherries, blackberries, black raspberries, baked, juicy black plum w/ skin, strawberries & cherries, much more blueberry than the nose, hovering raspberries around the rest of the more dominant fruits, dark chocolate, limestone/clay minerals, dry crushed rocks, steeped black tea, touch mint, light sage, mocha powder, soft; cinnamon, clove & vanilla, understated, sweet tarriness, dark spice bring heat to the mid tongue, used expresso grounds, hint of black pepper, rich, black earthiness, malt in malt balls with ruby, to candied, dark, red, blue and dominate purple florals framed in violets & lavender that are fresh to withering and slightly candied. The acidity is bright & fresh and holds the slightly elevated alcohol level. The long finish is; ripe, juicy, elegant, good balance of fruit & earth that falls into heated dark spices that linger minutes.

Photos of, the Regusci winery & Estate vines,
Tasting bar, pay by honor fruit & vegetable cart just outside their Estate (they were farmers long before they made wine) and the view of the Napa Valley floor viewed from their tasting terrace.

If you are going to drink Napa Valley 100% Merlot, you can’t go wrong drinking one crafted by Charles Hendricks.

The nose shines brightly of, dark cherries, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum skin, poached/baked - strawberries & cherries, hints of blueberries, dark chocolate, limestone/clay minerals, dry crushed rocks, steeped black tea, touch mint, mocha, soft; cinnamon, clove & vanilla, understated, sweet tarriness, dark spice, used expresso grounds, whiff of black pepper, rich, black earthiness, light alcohol vapors, malt in malt balls with ruby, to candied, dark, red, blue and dominate purple florals that are fresh to withering and slightly candied.

The wine is somewhere around its peak with another 5-8 years of solid drinking ahead. Palate is; ripe, juicy, lush and full bodied. Fruits are; dark cherries, blackberries, black raspberries, baked, juicy black plum w/ skin, strawberries & cherries, much more blueberry than the nose, hovering raspberries around the rest of the more dominant fruits, dark chocolate, limestone/clay minerals, dry crushed rocks, steeped black tea, touch mint, light sage, mocha powder, soft; cinnamon, clove & vanilla, understated, sweet tarriness, dark spice bring heat to the mid tongue, used expresso grounds, hint of black pepper, rich, black earthiness, malt in malt balls with ruby, to candied, dark, red, blue and dominate purple florals framed in violets & lavender that are fresh to withering and slightly candied. The acidity is bright & fresh and holds the slightly elevated alcohol level. The long finish is; ripe, juicy, elegant, good balance of fruit & earth that falls into heated dark spices that linger minutes.

Photos of, the Regusci winery & Estate vines,
Tasting bar, pay by honor fruit & vegetable cart just outside their Estate (they were farmers long before they made wine) and the view of the Napa Valley floor viewed from their tasting terrace.

Jan 5th, 2020
Tobin Trevarthen

Dark garnet. Initial nose reminded me of old books, with some air the aromatics opened up. Big cherry, toffee, butterscotch and smooth almost non-existent tannins. Yum.

Dark garnet. Initial nose reminded me of old books, with some air the aromatics opened up. Big cherry, toffee, butterscotch and smooth almost non-existent tannins. Yum.

Dec 27th, 2018
Tobin Trevarthen

A nice medium bottle Merlot. Black cherry dominates. Perfumed nose.

A nice medium bottle Merlot. Black cherry dominates. Perfumed nose.

May 23rd, 2018
Jake Hajer

Classic stags leap, which is like a baby Pauillac. This is merlot however. And is dark and savory plum. Good!

Classic stags leap, which is like a baby Pauillac. This is merlot however. And is dark and savory plum. Good!

Oct 27th, 2017
Mono Head

At regusci, medium body, a little bit of a sourness. Dry with fruit flavor Cherry. 2009 estate merlot. Decent only.

At regusci, medium body, a little bit of a sourness. Dry with fruit flavor Cherry. 2009 estate merlot. Decent only.

1 person found it helpfulNov 23rd, 2016
Chrissy Elles

Big, bold Napa Valley Merlot. Took a bit to open up. Tasted excellent with chocolate, really brought the fruit notes forward.

Big, bold Napa Valley Merlot. Took a bit to open up. Tasted excellent with chocolate, really brought the fruit notes forward.

1 person found it helpfulJun 19th, 2016
Turd Ferguson

Dusty like driving down a gravel road with the windows open. Acid keeping it super fresh. Complex. Finish for days. Best bottle of the four I had, wish I had another case. Outstanding.

Dusty like driving down a gravel road with the windows open. Acid keeping it super fresh. Complex. Finish for days. Best bottle of the four I had, wish I had another case. Outstanding.

1 person found it helpfulMay 20th, 2016
Kim Stanbro

Should have let it decant. Dug right in. This makes me wish we had more Merlots.

Should have let it decant. Dug right in. This makes me wish we had more Merlots.

1 person found it helpfulAug 1st, 2015
Bill Mowry

92% merlot and 8% Cab Sav and more like a Cab than a Merlor

92% merlot and 8% Cab Sav and more like a Cab than a Merlor

1 person found it helpfulMar 15th, 2015
David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

8.8

Dark cherries, cherries, tomatoes, getting a little fig/date quality, muddy minerals. Drink it soon as this wine is fading.

Dark cherries, cherries, tomatoes, getting a little fig/date quality, muddy minerals. Drink it soon as this wine is fading.

Aug 14th, 2016