Stag's Leap Wine Cellars
Fay Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley, California, USA
For me, there is one Napa winery that was great in the pioneer days and lost their edge for a time but, has seriously reclaimed it. That winery is Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars. It is largely overlooked with so many modern quality producers rising in the Napa Valley.
This 09 Fay is outstanding in a way that is truly unique to Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars.
The nose reveals, dark currants/cassis, deeply extracted; blackberries, black raspberries, black raspberries, black plum, black cherries with faint, creamy raspberries on the high nose & glass edges. Dark expresso roast, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, mocha, caramel, nutmeg, clove, vanilla, black licorice to anise, medium intensity dark spice, limestone minerals, dark, rich earth, dry crushed rocks, volcanic minerals, steeped tea, fresh tobacco, graphite, dark liqueur notes, Provence herbs with dark, florals, fresh & withering, candied florals with bright violets.
The body is full, silky and velvety. The tannins are rounded, soft yet tarry and teethe, 40% resolved. There are 10-20 years of life ahead depending on how you enjoy & store wine. The tension, structure, length and balance are just starting to climb to its peak. Dark currants/cassis, deeply extracted; blackberries, black raspberries, black raspberries, black plum with skin, black cherries with faint, poached strawberries & creamy raspberries. Dark, well pressed, expresso roast, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, mocha, caramel, nutmeg, clove, vanilla, dark, Asian & India spices with heat, black licorice to anise, medium intensity dark spice, limestone minerals, dark, rich earth, moist clay, dry crushed rocks, volcanic minerals, steeped tea, fresh tobacco, touch of black pepper, graphite, dark liqueur notes, Provence herbs with dark, florals, fresh & withering, candied florals with bright violets and lavender. The acidity is phat, round and fountain drippy. The long finish is; big, round, elegant, ripe, ruby, well balanced and persists deeply for minutes.
Photos of, their tasting room & Estate vines, barrel room, non-stop swinging pendulum ball and aerial view of their Estate.
For me, there is one Napa winery that was great in the pioneer days and lost their edge for a time but, has seriously reclaimed it. That winery is Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars. It is largely overlooked with so many modern quality producers rising in the Napa Valley.
This 09 Fay is outstanding in a way that is truly unique to Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars.
The nose reveals, dark currants/cassis, deeply extracted; blackberries, black raspberries, black raspberries, black plum, black cherries with faint, creamy raspberries on the high nose & glass edges. Dark expresso roast, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, mocha, caramel, nutmeg, clove, vanilla, black licorice to anise, medium intensity dark spice, limestone minerals, dark, rich earth, dry crushed rocks, volcanic minerals, steeped tea, fresh tobacco, graphite, dark liqueur notes, Provence herbs with dark, florals, fresh & withering, candied florals with bright violets.
The body is full, silky and velvety. The tannins are rounded, soft yet tarry and teethe, 40% resolved. There are 10-20 years of life ahead depending on how you enjoy & store wine. The tension, structure, length and balance are just starting to climb to its peak. Dark currants/cassis, deeply extracted; blackberries, black raspberries, black raspberries, black plum with skin, black cherries with faint, poached strawberries & creamy raspberries. Dark, well pressed, expresso roast, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, mocha, caramel, nutmeg, clove, vanilla, dark, Asian & India spices with heat, black licorice to anise, medium intensity dark spice, limestone minerals, dark, rich earth, moist clay, dry crushed rocks, volcanic minerals, steeped tea, fresh tobacco, touch of black pepper, graphite, dark liqueur notes, Provence herbs with dark, florals, fresh & withering, candied florals with bright violets and lavender. The acidity is phat, round and fountain drippy. The long finish is; big, round, elegant, ripe, ruby, well balanced and persists deeply for minutes.
Photos of, their tasting room & Estate vines, barrel room, non-stop swinging pendulum ball and aerial view of their Estate.
Wow. Classic Napa. Flowers in the nose. Oak and cherry on the palate. Had a magnum with friends.
Wow. Classic Napa. Flowers in the nose. Oak and cherry on the palate. Had a magnum with friends.
1 person found it helpfulNov 9th, 2014
Never get tired of the classic style of FAY not overripe at all fresh and grainy
Never get tired of the classic style of FAY not overripe at all fresh and grainy
Nov 13th, 2013
Tons of fruit on the nose but not jammy. Delicious.
Tons of fruit on the nose but not jammy. Delicious.
Mar 14th, 2013
Very fruit forward on the nose. Soft tannin. Charamelized red fruit.
Very fruit forward on the nose. Soft tannin. Charamelized red fruit.
Nov 24th, 2012Black currants. Stony. Airy. Extracted. Firm. Elegant finish.
Black currants. Stony. Airy. Extracted. Firm. Elegant finish.
Nov 12th, 2012Another great wine from them. Consistent if nothing else. Fruity with acidity and medium heavy tannin. Post 2007 they have really upped their game
Another great wine from them. Consistent if nothing else. Fruity with acidity and medium heavy tannin. Post 2007 they have really upped their game
May 25th, 2017
The cork was perfectly preserved. The wine was allowed to decant for 45 minutes. The color is as opaque as any wine I've ever tried. Black gold with a hint of purple on the surface and around the rim of glorious vino. The legs are long and thick. The bouquet is reminiscent of blackberry and cloves. The initial palate is immediately very dry and tingly on the tip of the tongue. It is buttery and synonymous with blackberry raspberry and green apple. The finish is very very dry. My lips are even tight and sticky. It leaves the space between your teeth and lips dry. WOW. I need another sip!
There is absolutely no after taste! this is big, This is BOLD. This is lip smacking good. But what else would you expect from a 2009 California Cab? Oh my, 2/3 of the bottle is gone and I'm drinking alone... This is WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The cork was perfectly preserved. The wine was allowed to decant for 45 minutes. The color is as opaque as any wine I've ever tried. Black gold with a hint of purple on the surface and around the rim of glorious vino. The legs are long and thick. The bouquet is reminiscent of blackberry and cloves. The initial palate is immediately very dry and tingly on the tip of the tongue. It is buttery and synonymous with blackberry raspberry and green apple. The finish is very very dry. My lips are even tight and sticky. It leaves the space between your teeth and lips dry. WOW. I need another sip!
There is absolutely no after taste! this is big, This is BOLD. This is lip smacking good. But what else would you expect from a 2009 California Cab? Oh my, 2/3 of the bottle is gone and I'm drinking alone... This is WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
