Patriarch Stags Leap District Red Blend

Part of Two bottle vertical, the ‘10 was very mellow and soft. Black berry, chocolate notes.

I like this producer and the Patriarch. However, as smooth, elegant and beautiful this 11 is tonight, It's short on body, a little concentration and a fair amount of structure from what this producer does in good years. It more the 2011 vintage (bad spring fruit set, cool summer temps and October rains for those producers that waited to pick) than the winemaker. On the nose; ripe plums, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, raspberries, strawberry liqueur notes, lots of baking spices, violets, volcanic minerals and dark & milk chocolate. The body is M with M-M+ tannins. Plums, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, raspberries, boysenberries, strawberry liqueur notes, lots of baking spices, violets, volcanic minerals and dark & milk chocolate, mocha, light caramel, crushed dry rock powder, suede style leather, light spice, nice acidity and a good ripe fruit driven finish that simply lacks the structure & some concentration that you normally get from this producer & vineyard. 2011 is definitely not a long-term cellar. 8-15 years in most cases...a little longer with the very high-end producers.

Fruits are creamed. Blackberries, black raspberries, raspberries, dark cherries, strawberries on the back palate, dark chocolate, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, anise, sweet spice, sweet minerals with a slight edge, rich wet dark earth, soft sweet leather, tobacco leaf and the finish is rich, lush and elegant.

It still has some years left but it’s tasting perfect to me right now. I love the stags leap terroir from Regusci!

Great pairing with short rib, has some life left

Steve had this 8 years ago

Andrew had this 8 years ago

Cecilia had this 9 years ago