The Stag North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon

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The irony here is that Delectable actually first recognized this as another wine named "The Stag" produced by Nice Wines (and that wine has the best label out of all of them... http://del.ec/1kk8Q)

From winebusiness.com:
Courtwatch: Stag's Leap versus Treasury Wine Estates Could Go to Trial in April or May
"Imagery of The Stag has been associated with the historic St Huberts winery in Victoria, Australia for more than 150 years. We remain absolutely committed to defending our lawful right to market and sell The Stag brand in the US."
by Kerana Todorov
February 06, 2017

A trademark infringement dispute between Australia-based Treasury Wine Estates and one of Napa Valley’s most iconic winery is moving forward with no resolution in sight.

A federal judge in San Francisco on Jan. 27 refused to dismiss the trademark dispute that Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars and its owner, Ste. Michelle Winery, Washington State, brought last year against Treasury Wine Estates over a new Treasury wine, “The Stag.”

Lawyers working on behalf of all parties have asked the court to schedule the trial either in April or May 2018, according to court documents filed Thursday. “The Stag” hit the shelves late January.

The legal battle began last summer when Ste. Michelle Wine Estates Ltd. learned that Treasury Wine Estates planned to launch a wine called “The Stag.” The cabernet sauvignon is produced with fruit from the North Coast, a less prestigious wine appellation than that of Stags Leap. The plaintiffs alleged in court filings that the label and logo for “The Stag” create confusion among consumers.

The first label design included the name of the winemaker at Treasury’s Stags Leap Winery, a winery Treasury Wine Estates near Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, according to Ste. Michelle Winery and Stag’s Leap Cellars.

Treasury Wine Estates, which owns a winery in the Stags Leap District, Stags’ Leap, has denied all the allegations, saying the label clearly indicates “The Stag” is a North Coast wine. The company has surrendered the original labels.

However, U.S. District Court Judge Richard Seeborg denied Treasury Wine Estates’ motion. Citing federal law, the judge wrote that “courts look to in determining the likelihood of confusion in trademark cases is the defendant’s intent in selecting the mark. Here, a reasonable inference arises that when (Treasury Wine Estates) first began preparing to market The Stag, it had every intention of trying to evoke associations with the Stags Leap AVA. In response to complaints from Ste. Michelle and others, (Treasury Wine Estates) subsequently revised its labels to minimize those associations,” according to the order.

“Under all the circumstances, however, that issue is not suitable for resolution at the pleading stage,” Seeborg wrote.

Seeborg also denied Ste. Michelle Wine Estates’ motion to dismiss a counter claim Treasury Wine Estates filed this fall. Ste. Michelle Wine Estates argued Treasury Wine Estates should not have been allowed to file a separate lawsuit.

“The gamesmanship accusations the parties are trading are not useful,” Seeborg wrote in his order.

“At this juncture, the two cases have been related, and will proceed in tandem. Arguments as to whether there should be two cases or only one put form over substance and do not advance the ultimate resolution of the litigation,” Seeborg stated.

Both the Stags Leap District Winegrowers Association and Stag’s Leap founder Warren Winiarski formarlly have opposed Treasury Wine Estates’ plans to launch “The Stag” in the United States.

One of Treasury Wine Estates wineries in Australia, St. Huberts, produces Victorian wines under the brand “The Stag.” St Huberts, which was founded in 1862, was named after the patron saint of the hunt, St. Hubert. According to the legend, the nobleman met a magnificent stag that carried a shining cross between its antlers, according to a court filing.

The final design for the label of “The Stag” in California is the same as the design for the wine produced in Australia at the exception of the bottling location statement and the addition of St Hubert’s “The Stag” logo on the back, according to a court filing Treasury Wine Estates filed Thursday. “These labels have been approved by the TTB and reflect the wine’s connection to the historic Australian St Huberts brand and have no indication of, or inference to, the Stags’ Leap brand or winery.”

Both parties issued statements after Seeborg signed his order. Treasury Wine Estates said it was pleased with the order, calling it “procedural in nature.”

“While the decision handed down by the Court is procedural in nature, we are pleased that it completely rejected (Ste. Michelle Wine Estates’) motion to dismiss (Treasury Wine Estate’s) lawsuit, which seeks a ruling that “Treasury Wine Estates') St Huberts The Stag wine does not violate any laws.”

“(Treasury Wine Estates) looks forward to continuing to pursue that lawsuit, and will vigorously defend itself against (“Ste. Michelle Wine Estates’) case, which is premised on early label designs that were never brought to market. We maintain our position – we strongly deny the accusations that have been made, and as we made clear before (Ste. Michelle Wine Estates) filed this lawsuit, there is absolutely no connection between St Hubert’s The Stag brand and Stags’ Leap Winery or the Stags Leap District.”

“(Treasury Wine Estates) is confident that it will vindicate its position in Court and was encouraged that the Court recognized, even at this early stage of the case when it has to assume the truth of (Ste. Michelle Wine Estates’) allegations, that (Treasury Wine Estates’) current label may well be ‘no longer capable of causing confusion.’"

“The hypocrisy of “Ste. Michelle Wine Estates’) position is remarkable, as Stag's Leap Wine Cellars has, for decades, linked its brand to "Hawk Crest" wine, which is from outside of Napa Valley. And, to this day, (Ste. Michelle Wine Estates) sells "Red Diamond" wine, which is not sourced from the Diamond Mountain District in Napa Valley.

“The fact remains that imagery of The Stag has been associated with the historic St Huberts winery in Victoria, Australia for more than 150 years. We remain absolutely committed to defending our lawful right to market and sell The Stag brand in the US.”

Ste. Michelle Wine Estates said it is happy the case is moving forward. And in a statement, the company reiterated its allegations.

"As has been clear from the beginning, Treasury launched The Stag for the purpose of associating a North Coast product with the prestige and reputation of the renowned Stags Leap District appellation and its legendary wineries. As the Court noted, ‘a reasonable inference arises that when (Treasury Wine Estates) first began preparing to market The Stag, it had every intention of trying to evoke associations with the Stags Leap AVA.”

“The marketplace is already showing signs of confusion as to the origin of The Stag. As members of the Stags Leap District continue to convey to Treasury, this product represents a threat not only to the Stags Leap District but to all wineries and grape growers throughout the Napa Valley."

Low acidity, fruit on the nose. The longer it breathes the better it is. For the price, great wine. Very approachable.

Full bodied lovely fruity cab

Martha's Vineyard tasting with RI Think Tank.

A Treasury employee store find. This was the only bottle I could find and it was only $3. I liked this better than the Paso Robles Cab and would buy again, if available.

First opened, tasted too fruity. Then opened up, more balanced and went well with meat.

Kinda crappy, no nose to speak of. Cant identify earth, fruit, berries, funk, or any flavor. Dumped the bottle after first 1/2 glass.

Worth the hunt? I think so. On point with dark berries and a hint of spice.
Now bring on the cowboys.....

Featured cab from Hy-Vee. Dark berries, spice, and hint of oak.