Stag's Leap Wine Cellars
Fay Apologue Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley, California, USA
What a nose! From the straight pour into the decanter to later in the glass; ripe, slightly stewed/baked; mulberries, boysenberries, black plum, blackberries, blackberries raspberries, blueberries, dark cherries, incense, ambers, wood char, leather, saddle-wood, black turned earth, slightly, moist clay, dry top soil, beautiful, soft, smooth, dark spice, fresh tobacco with a little ash, dry stones, some licorice & dark berry cola, steeped fruit teas, a little Provence herbs, vanillin, understated; cinnamon, clove & nutmeg framed in fresh & withering; dark, blue, some red & purple flowers with interlaced violets.
The palate has excellent delineation. It’s seamless wire to wire. The body is rich, thick, lush & full. The tannins are round & nicely softened but, still have chewy, tarry, tannins. It’s a good look in on the 2009 but, will still ascend for another 7-8 years before peaking, hold a few years and start its slow decent over the next 8-10 years. Properly stored of course! The structure & tension still need to soften but, the length & balance have found their groove. Ripe, slightly stewed/baked, beautifully floral and a touch candied; mulberries, boysenberries, black plum, blackberries, blackberries raspberries, blueberries, dark cherries, haunting raspberries with strawberries pulling up the rear. Incense, ambers, wood char, dark expresso used grounds, sweet tarriness, leather, saddle-wood, black turned earth, slightly, moist clay, dry top soil, beautiful, soft, smooth, more pronounced dark spice than the nose with good, mid intensity palate heat, black pepper, shades of potpourri, fresh tobacco with a little ash, dry stones, some licorice & dark berry cola, steeped fruit teas, a little Provence herbs, mocha powder, vanillin, understated; cinnamon, clove & nutmeg framed in fresh & withering; dark, blue, some red & purple flowers with interlaced violets. The acidity is round & phat and holds the slightly elevated alcohol in check. The long finish is, rich, ripe, lush, smartly polished, well knitted balance of fruit & earth, sliding into dusty, yet velvety tannins with dark spice on the long set.
Photos of; Stag’s Leap Winery’s tasting room & Estate vines, Lake Fay and inside tasting bar/room.
What a nose! From the straight pour into the decanter to later in the glass; ripe, slightly stewed/baked; mulberries, boysenberries, black plum, blackberries, blackberries raspberries, blueberries, dark cherries, incense, ambers, wood char, leather, saddle-wood, black turned earth, slightly, moist clay, dry top soil, beautiful, soft, smooth, dark spice, fresh tobacco with a little ash, dry stones, some licorice & dark berry cola, steeped fruit teas, a little Provence herbs, vanillin, understated; cinnamon, clove & nutmeg framed in fresh & withering; dark, blue, some red & purple flowers with interlaced violets.
The palate has excellent delineation. It’s seamless wire to wire. The body is rich, thick, lush & full. The tannins are round & nicely softened but, still have chewy, tarry, tannins. It’s a good look in on the 2009 but, will still ascend for another 7-8 years before peaking, hold a few years and start its slow decent over the next 8-10 years. Properly stored of course! The structure & tension still need to soften but, the length & balance have found their groove. Ripe, slightly stewed/baked, beautifully floral and a touch candied; mulberries, boysenberries, black plum, blackberries, blackberries raspberries, blueberries, dark cherries, haunting raspberries with strawberries pulling up the rear. Incense, ambers, wood char, dark expresso used grounds, sweet tarriness, leather, saddle-wood, black turned earth, slightly, moist clay, dry top soil, beautiful, soft, smooth, more pronounced dark spice than the nose with good, mid intensity palate heat, black pepper, shades of potpourri, fresh tobacco with a little ash, dry stones, some licorice & dark berry cola, steeped fruit teas, a little Provence herbs, mocha powder, vanillin, understated; cinnamon, clove & nutmeg framed in fresh & withering; dark, blue, some red & purple flowers with interlaced violets. The acidity is round & phat and holds the slightly elevated alcohol in check. The long finish is, rich, ripe, lush, smartly polished, well knitted balance of fruit & earth, sliding into dusty, yet velvety tannins with dark spice on the long set.
Photos of; Stag’s Leap Winery’s tasting room & Estate vines, Lake Fay and inside tasting bar/room.
This wine still needs more time in the bottle to develop. Salted milk chocolate caramel nose and palate. Blackberries graham-crackers, an array of black & blue fruits, brambly, spicebox, minerals, black tar with an dark fruit liquor quality, heavy minerals (iron pan) & a Montecristro cigar finish. Better tomorrow night!!! Not the S.L.V. The 07 Fay Apologue. Members only allocation.
This wine still needs more time in the bottle to develop. Salted milk chocolate caramel nose and palate. Blackberries graham-crackers, an array of black & blue fruits, brambly, spicebox, minerals, black tar with an dark fruit liquor quality, heavy minerals (iron pan) & a Montecristro cigar finish. Better tomorrow night!!! Not the S.L.V. The 07 Fay Apologue. Members only allocation.
Aug 29th, 2015
Probably not the perfect choice with Indian food but hard to turn down when someone offers to open a bottle.
Probably not the perfect choice with Indian food but hard to turn down when someone offers to open a bottle.
Jul 9th, 2017
2010 vintage. Cherry and hints of leather on the nose. Perfect balance of cherry,oak, and tannins after decanting for an hour. Very smooth finish. Definitely the velvet glove SLV is famous for. Like it a lot.
2010 vintage. Cherry and hints of leather on the nose. Perfect balance of cherry,oak, and tannins after decanting for an hour. Very smooth finish. Definitely the velvet glove SLV is famous for. Like it a lot.
May 14th, 2016Super tannic at first with a lot of fruit. Over an hour it mellowed a bit and some acidity started to come out and balance things out. If you like fruity Napa cab with lots of tannin this is for you.
Super tannic at first with a lot of fruit. Over an hour it mellowed a bit and some acidity started to come out and balance things out. If you like fruity Napa cab with lots of tannin this is for you.
May 14th, 2016
Not up to par for SLWC. But a well made wine. 🍷
Not up to par for SLWC. But a well made wine. 🍷
Jul 20th, 20152011 vintage. Cedar and (maybe) a hint of raspberry on the nose. Burnt cherry and a touch of mineral on the palate. Very nice finish. Not a lot a tannins. Very nice.
2011 vintage. Cedar and (maybe) a hint of raspberry on the nose. Burnt cherry and a touch of mineral on the palate. Very nice finish. Not a lot a tannins. Very nice.
Jul 16th, 2015
Like straight Fay better, but you really get that volcanic soil all over. Classic nose.
Like straight Fay better, but you really get that volcanic soil all over. Classic nose.
Oct 17th, 2014
Yes we love the smoky cabs in the suburbs!
Yes we love the smoky cabs in the suburbs!
Aug 16th, 2014