Stag's Leap Wine Cellars
Cask 23 Napa Valley Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley, California, USA
5/21/23 Tasting group. Group 1st, my 1st. Vestigial red fruit. Getting tired but lively in the group. Drink. Held up pretty well overnight.
5/21/23 Tasting group. Group 1st, my 1st. Vestigial red fruit. Getting tired but lively in the group. Drink. Held up pretty well overnight.
May 22nd, 2023
Capitol Region Wine Collectors Club (WCC), CA Cabernet Pre-2000; 20 April 2023 at Fort Orange Club, Albany, NY
Capitol Region Wine Collectors Club (WCC), CA Cabernet Pre-2000; 20 April 2023 at Fort Orange Club, Albany, NY
Apr 21st, 2023
Back when Cask 23 was only made in the best vintages. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged 11 months in French oak. Plenty of inviting tertiary notes. Opened up pretty quickly after opening.
Elegant, medium bodied. So different than the Napa Cabs of today.
Back when Cask 23 was only made in the best vintages. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged 11 months in French oak. Plenty of inviting tertiary notes. Opened up pretty quickly after opening.
Elegant, medium bodied. So different than the Napa Cabs of today.
Could be the bottle but a bit thin and lacking mid-palate. Beautiful aromatics reminiscent of a left bank Bordeaux. Drink now if you have them!
Could be the bottle but a bit thin and lacking mid-palate. Beautiful aromatics reminiscent of a left bank Bordeaux. Drink now if you have them!
Jun 25th, 2020
Last night, a buddy of mine who’s a Disabled Veteran and Registered Architect, announced that he was assuming control of a SDVOSB Architecture firm. He had spent the better part of a year of trying to reach a purchase agreement. So it was an evening of celebration. He’s been a Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars fan for some time and he planned to pull the cork on a few bottles. We had a couple of rando bottles too but all were California Cabernet Sauvignon. To my palate, this was clearly the WOTN. It was positively bursting with character. It reminded me of the Heart of Fay that we began the evening with but it was dialed up a couple notches and just had a richness and sophistication about it that indicated its pedigree. I’m still not positive that it’s worth the tariff but it is undeniably really freaking good wine. FWIW, this saw a 30-min decant.
Last night, a buddy of mine who’s a Disabled Veteran and Registered Architect, announced that he was assuming control of a SDVOSB Architecture firm. He had spent the better part of a year of trying to reach a purchase agreement. So it was an evening of celebration. He’s been a Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars fan for some time and he planned to pull the cork on a few bottles. We had a couple of rando bottles too but all were California Cabernet Sauvignon. To my palate, this was clearly the WOTN. It was positively bursting with character. It reminded me of the Heart of Fay that we began the evening with but it was dialed up a couple notches and just had a richness and sophistication about it that indicated its pedigree. I’m still not positive that it’s worth the tariff but it is undeniably really freaking good wine. FWIW, this saw a 30-min decant.
Oct 27th, 2019
Very focused and pretty. Dark with some leather and spice. Delicious.
Very focused and pretty. Dark with some leather and spice. Delicious.
Jun 5th, 2019
This shows a 2010 but had the the 2006 as my bud @David L stopped me from popping the 2010 or later vintage- thanks - not a pop n pour but after about 30 minutes it was singing - big bold beautiful and smiling
This shows a 2010 but had the the 2006 as my bud @David L stopped me from popping the 2010 or later vintage- thanks - not a pop n pour but after about 30 minutes it was singing - big bold beautiful and smiling
Jan 13th, 2019Sugar and spice and everything nice. Aged nicely. Black cherry, cinnamon, nutmeg, figs. Blackberry.
Sugar and spice and everything nice. Aged nicely. Black cherry, cinnamon, nutmeg, figs. Blackberry.
Dec 25th, 2018
On the nose, French roast coffee, dark currants, dark cherries, Kirsch cherries, blackberries, black raspberries, cherry cola with liqueur notes, blueberry hues, vanillin, cinnamon stick, light clove, toast, rich, dark soil, limestone minerals, sweet tarry notes, soft leather, hint of mint/eucalyptus, light graphite with bright red & dark florals.
The body is round, ripe and full. The tannins are nice rounded. The length, structure, tension and balance are coming into their own. Upon first pour, lots of French roast coffee, dark currants, dark cherries, Kirsch cherries, blackberries, black raspberries, strawberries, cherry cola with liqueur notes, blueberry hues, vanillin, cinnamon stick, light clove, cocoa powder, dark spice with just a touch of lifting heat, toast, rich, dark soil, dry stems, good presence of dry herbal notes (sage), limestone minerals, sweet tarry notes, soft leather, hint of mint/eucalyptus, light graphite with bright red & dark florals. The acidity is about as good as it gets. The finish is rich, ripe, well balance, very elegant as it opens and last several minutes.
While this is delicious tonight, it’s early on this wine. Give it another 5 and will cellar another 15 years plus.
Photos of, the newer Stag’s Leap Winery with the rock wall...all the stones used in the wall collected from the vineyards prior to planting. The cellar pendulum ball that never stops its motion once started, the newer tasting room and the twilight view from their tasting room.
On the nose, French roast coffee, dark currants, dark cherries, Kirsch cherries, blackberries, black raspberries, cherry cola with liqueur notes, blueberry hues, vanillin, cinnamon stick, light clove, toast, rich, dark soil, limestone minerals, sweet tarry notes, soft leather, hint of mint/eucalyptus, light graphite with bright red & dark florals.
The body is round, ripe and full. The tannins are nice rounded. The length, structure, tension and balance are coming into their own. Upon first pour, lots of French roast coffee, dark currants, dark cherries, Kirsch cherries, blackberries, black raspberries, strawberries, cherry cola with liqueur notes, blueberry hues, vanillin, cinnamon stick, light clove, cocoa powder, dark spice with just a touch of lifting heat, toast, rich, dark soil, dry stems, good presence of dry herbal notes (sage), limestone minerals, sweet tarry notes, soft leather, hint of mint/eucalyptus, light graphite with bright red & dark florals. The acidity is about as good as it gets. The finish is rich, ripe, well balance, very elegant as it opens and last several minutes.
While this is delicious tonight, it’s early on this wine. Give it another 5 and will cellar another 15 years plus.
Photos of, the newer Stag’s Leap Winery with the rock wall...all the stones used in the wall collected from the vineyards prior to planting. The cellar pendulum ball that never stops its motion once started, the newer tasting room and the twilight view from their tasting room.