- About This Wine
- Ratings & Reviews
- Tasting Notes
About This Wine
Ratings & Reviews
Tasting Notes
ABOUT THIS WINE
REVIEWS
WINEMAKER NOTES
The 2018 Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon from Stags' Leap is an opulent symphony of dark berry aromas and flavors. Blackberry, black cherry, and black currant take center stage, harmonizing with the subtle undertones of cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove. The wine's complexity unfolds with rustic notes of wild chaparral sage, lavender, and thyme, a testament to the well-integrated oak aging and the iconic terroir of Oakville. Velvety mouth-filling tannins provide a full and round structure, while the bright core of acidity ensures a long, balanced finish. This generous and concentrated Cabernet is a delight for any aficionado, promising the potential for graceful aging over many years.
Crafted as a small bottling, this Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon represents a meticulous selection of the most expressive lots from the appellation. Fermented separately in French oak barrels, 25% of which are new, for 19 months, the wine attains a level of nuance and complexity that defines Stags' Leap commitment to quality. Custom-toasted French oak barrels were chosen for their low impact, supporting maturation without overwhelming the wine with excessive flavors. Each lot was monitored individually throughout fermentation and aging, allowing Winemaker Christophe Paubert to coax out the maximum potential from each, culminating in a masterfully blended Cabernet.
The 2018 growing season in Napa Valley was a near-perfect canvas for winemaking. Winter rains, mild spring weather, and consistent temperatures led to even flowering and bud break. The cool, measured pace of the harvest further contributed to the exceptional quality of the vintage, resulting in wines with lower alcohol, concentrated flavors, rich color, and impeccable acidity. The Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon embodies the essence of this exceptional year.
Winemaker Christophe Paubert, with a deep appreciation for Oakville fruit, presents the inaugural release of this small-lot bottling in the 2018 vintage. Oakville's climate and soils, particularly those of Gamble Ranch, form the perfect canvas for Cabernet Sauvignon. The majority of the blend hails from this historic ranch, where rocky soils derived from volcanic, metamorphic, or sedimentary rock create a unique terroir. Paubert's careful selection and blending showcase the pure expression of Cabernet from Napa's renowned Oakville District. Geographically close to the Stags Leap estate, this wine is not just a testament to the craftsmanship but also a nod to the historical significance of the region.
In summary, the Stags' Leap 2018 Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon, a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in 100% French oak barrels for 21 months, is a masterpiece capturing the essence of Oakville's terroir and the exceptional 2018 vintage—a wine poised to age gracefully and delight discerning palates for years to come.
Alcohol: 14.3%
Crafted as a small bottling, this Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon represents a meticulous selection of the most expressive lots from the appellation. Fermented separately in French oak barrels, 25% of which are new, for 19 months, the wine attains a level of nuance and complexity that defines Stags' Leap commitment to quality. Custom-toasted French oak barrels were chosen for their low impact, supporting maturation without overwhelming the wine with excessive flavors. Each lot was monitored individually throughout fermentation and aging, allowing Winemaker Christophe Paubert to coax out the maximum potential from each, culminating in a masterfully blended Cabernet.
The 2018 growing season in Napa Valley was a near-perfect canvas for winemaking. Winter rains, mild spring weather, and consistent temperatures led to even flowering and bud break. The cool, measured pace of the harvest further contributed to the exceptional quality of the vintage, resulting in wines with lower alcohol, concentrated flavors, rich color, and impeccable acidity. The Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon embodies the essence of this exceptional year.
Winemaker Christophe Paubert, with a deep appreciation for Oakville fruit, presents the inaugural release of this small-lot bottling in the 2018 vintage. Oakville's climate and soils, particularly those of Gamble Ranch, form the perfect canvas for Cabernet Sauvignon. The majority of the blend hails from this historic ranch, where rocky soils derived from volcanic, metamorphic, or sedimentary rock create a unique terroir. Paubert's careful selection and blending showcase the pure expression of Cabernet from Napa's renowned Oakville District. Geographically close to the Stags Leap estate, this wine is not just a testament to the craftsmanship but also a nod to the historical significance of the region.
In summary, the Stags' Leap 2018 Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon, a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in 100% French oak barrels for 21 months, is a masterpiece capturing the essence of Oakville's terroir and the exceptional 2018 vintage—a wine poised to age gracefully and delight discerning palates for years to come.
Alcohol: 14.3%
95 POINTS - "A very pretty cabernet with very fine tannins that are polished and fresh. Beautiful currant, chocolate and walnut character. Medium to full body and a long, caressing finish. Builds beautifully at the end. So delicious now, but will develop nicely in bottle. Real 2018 character. Top vintage. Try after 2024." - James Suckling
91 POINTS - "This is reserved in personality but there's a solid core of cassis and warmed plum sauce flavors laced with gentle alder and mineral notes through the finish" - Wine Spectator
91 POINTS - "The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon 125th Anniversary is a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 4% Malbec, 2% Tannat and 2% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple in color, it skips out of the glass with bright, cheery blackberries, boysenberries and cassis scents, plus hints of wild sage, underbrush and iron ore. Medium to full-bodied, it has a firm and grainy texture with lovely freshness and an earthy finish." - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
91 POINTS - "This is reserved in personality but there's a solid core of cassis and warmed plum sauce flavors laced with gentle alder and mineral notes through the finish" - Wine Spectator
91 POINTS - "The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon 125th Anniversary is a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 4% Malbec, 2% Tannat and 2% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple in color, it skips out of the glass with bright, cheery blackberries, boysenberries and cassis scents, plus hints of wild sage, underbrush and iron ore. Medium to full-bodied, it has a firm and grainy texture with lovely freshness and an earthy finish." - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2018 Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon is bursting with dark berry aromas and flavors. Notes of blackberry, black cherry and black currant are evident alongside baking spice notes of cinnamon, nutmeg and clove. You’ll also find more rustic notes of wild chaparral sage, lavender and thyme, all hints from the well-integrated oak ageing and iconic terroir character. The structure is full and round, with velvety mouth-filling tannins, finishing long with incredible structure and balance. The wine is generous, concentrated and complex, unfolding with layers of nuance and a bright core of acidity. A mouthwatering and pleasing Cabernet, sure to entice any Cabernet lover, that has the potential to age for many years to come.