"A classic wine from a great vineyard." - James Suckling
There's no more important event in the history of American wine than the 1976 Judgment of Paris, at which a Cabernet Sauvignon from a little known Napa Valley winery bested the titans of Bordeaux in a blind tasting and officially put Napa Valley on the global wine map. That winery was Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, and the wine was the 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon. Now, fifty years on, Stag's Leap is an American wine icon, and they're celebrating their historic road to stardom with a special 50th anniversary release of their flagship SLV Cabernet Sauvignon.
The vintage itself is shaping up to be an epic campaign of classic Napa brilliance, which coincides perfectly with the new stylistic direction that the estate is undertaking since Antinori assumed majority control in early 2023. What was once a modern, commercially focused style is now returning to the golden age of Napa Cabernet. As Galloni states, "this is a brilliant set of wines from Head Winemaker Marcus Notaro and his team." The 98-point 2023 SLV is a worthy ode to the Stag's Leap legacy, with real "gravitas" including "a long, sturdy finish that bodes well for the cellar."
What's more, you'll also find the 97-point 2021 SLV Cabernet, "a firm but refined, elegant wine that shows great balance, tension and a wonderful bouquet." Like 2023, the 2021 campaign is being hailed as modern classic for Napa, with a cool, long growing season that plays perfectly to estates like Stag's Leap, who represent Napa's golden age.
A firm but refined, elegant wine that shows great balance, tension and a wonderful bouquet of floral, savory and black-fruited flavors. Creme de cassis, dried cherry, cigar box, bay leaf and black olive notes fill the aromas and flavors, while snug, fine-grained tannins light up the texture. Full-bodied. It's a vintage worth aging. Drinkable now, but best from 2029.
97 points, Jim Gordon, James Suckling (Sep 2024)
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon S.L.V. is upfront and perfumed yet still plays in the more inward, structured style of the vintage. Red and black currants, spicy oak, graphite, and smoked tobacco are just some of its nuances, and this remarkable effort is full-bodied on the palate, with ripe, velvety tannins, a great mid-palate, and fabulous length on the finish.
96 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Jan 2025)
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon S.L.V. is a dark, virile wine. Black cherry, plum, leather, tobacco, incense, graphite and dried herbs lend tons of savory/mineral nuance to this powerhouse Cabernet. Big, sweeping tannins wrap it all together in style. This muscular, deep Cabernet Sauvignon hits all the right notes.
96 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Dec 2023)
Rich and well-fruited, but with a touch of restraint, as boysenberry, blackberry and cassis notes move slowly and steadily, flanked by suave hints of alder and warm earth and backed by subtle echoes of violet and savory on the finish, with a gorgeous mouthfeel. Drink now through 2040. 2,250 cases made.
96 points, James Molesworth, Wine Spectator (Nov 2024)
Savory flavors and a pleasing richness are well matched with succulent while abundant tannins and juicy length. This iconic wine features flavors of blackberry and refreshing dried herbs spun through with spices. Attractive and satisfying.
96 points, Elaine Chukan Brown, Wine Enthusiast (Nov 2024)
You land squarely in the heights of Napa from the opening aromatics, with juicy, powerful and concentrated cassis, blackberry and bilberry fruits, along with cocoa bean, espresso, cloves, and fresher greengage plum that reflects the pattern of sourcing from the cooler southern stretches of the valley. All the same, don't expect low alcohols but this is grippy, beautifully balanced and hard to argue with. First time distributed through the Bordeaux négociant system, and an exciting addition to the lineup, with its Judgement of Paris history (now Antinori owned).
96 points, Jane Anson (Feb 2024)
The 2021 SLV is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged 21 months, in 100% new French oak. It's a concentrated, opulent vintage of this wine. Bright nose of violets, blackberry and blueberry compote. Full-bodied with plush velvet tannins that are ripe, powerful and super granular. An undercurrent of huckleberry fruit mingles with graphite minerality. Natural acidity is present and juicy. The long finish is bright and floral and resolves with more ripe black fruit, salted dark chocolate, and toasty oak.
96 points, Jonathan Cristaldi, Decanter (May 2024)
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon S.L.V. comes across as darker-fruited than the Fay, more concentrated and tannic. Hints of pencil shavings and dark chocolate accent black cherries and cassis on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is rich and velvety, finishing long.
95 points, Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate (Oct 2024)
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