2023
Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon
PTS Somm Journal
This wine is a pure and exquisite expression of the world-famous Stags Leap District AVA.
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2023
Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon
Allowing the 2023 Stags Leap District Cab to uncoil in the glass with a little air is a joy to witness.
This Cabernet reveals layers that move from graphite and slate to lush black cherry, huckleberry, and berry compote. Notes of fresh fennel, vanilla bean, and cinnamon spice add lift and intrigue. On the palate, bold tannins stride confidently across the mid-palate, leading to a juicy black cherry finish with a touch of youthful grip. Both fresh and structured, this wine showcases the balance of power and elegance that defines Stags Leap. Cellar-worthy for 10–15 years, it pairs beautifully with grilled portobello, arugula, and brie on ciabatta.
Vintage
2023
Varietal
Cabernet Sauvignon
Region
Stags Leap District
Alcohol
15.5%
Vintage Notes
Our 2023 Stags Leaps District Cabernet Sauvignon is a selection of grapes from all four of our estate vineyards, which total 47 vine-acres. This wine beautifully exhibits the complex terroir character and exquisite balance achieved by blending grapes grown in these vineyards’ different soils, ranging from gravely loam to volcanic rhyolitic tuff. Pine Ridge Vineyards, founded in 1978, was instrumental in establishing Stags Leap District as a distinct viticultural area within Napa Valley. This American Viticultural Area was the first to be defined by the unique diversity of its soil and is known the world round for its powerfully structured wines that exhibit a significant concentration of supple tannins.
Winemaker’s Notes
The 2023 vintage was harvested from October 5th to November 1st. The grapes were hand-harvested at night when temperatures often dip to 50°F to capture vibrant acidity and fruit expression in the wine.
We first cold-soaked the must (crushed grapes) for gentle extraction and then fermented in stainless steel, concrete and oak barrel fermenters at 88°F. Rigorous pump-overs, increasing during the peak of the fermentation, developed deep color, rich varietal character, and fine tannins in the wine. The wine was aged in 75% French oak barrels to meld the bright fruit expression with oak spice nuances. After three months of aging, we blended the vineyard components allowing them to marry for a total of 20 months of barrel élevage.
