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Stags' Leap
2021 Stags' Leap Winemakers Muse Red Blend
$50.00
Bottle
Price
$50.00
$600.00
Case
(12)
Price
$600.00
Member Pricing
Tasting Notes
A Bordeaux-inspired masterpiece reveals itself with a very dark, purple ruby hue, slightly staining the glass. Subtle floral notes, reminiscent of lilac, dance alongside dark tones of cocoa and roasting mocha, creating an aromatic experience. On the palate, the wine unfolds with classic Bordeaux elegance, presenting dark cherries and dark plums in a rich tapestry. Robust tannins contribute to the structure, bold, and spicy nature of this blend. The additional note of dark chocolate add layers of complexity to the finish. This red blend is a true embodiment of a Bordeaux style wine and can be enjoyed now or cellared for years to come.Technical Information
| Varietal | Red Wine |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Volume | 750mL |
| Appellation | Napa Valley |
| Alcohol % | 14.8% |
Winemaking
Our winemaking team practiced simple methods to highlight the Malbec grape’s unique characteristics in this wine. This approach brings forward the pleasing aromatics, color, and tannin profile for which this varietal is known. The grapes for this wine undergo a brief maceration period designed to gently extract flavor, color, and tannin from the skins. A small amount of Petit Verdot, Tannat, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Viognier is added to the blend to round out the flavor complexity and soften the tannin profile. The wine was aged in French Oak barrels (36% new) for 18 months to enhance the layers and complexity of the wine, as well as contribute a light spiced note. Then, the wine is bottled for further maturation in bottle to create the perfect balance and harmony for this vintage of the winemaker’s muse.Vintage
The 2021 season was joyous and welcomed after the challenges of previous vintages, producing exceptionally high- quality fruit, some of the best in recent years. Rain early in the year led to almost no notable precipitation for the rest of the season, providing an ideal environment for grapes to flower, bloom, and set in early spring, with budbreak early in April, followed by flowering and bloom in May. The summer saw early and even ripening throughout the valley, with veraison appearing in early July. Low yields (in part due to drought conditions), created fruit that is intensely flavored and smaller in berry size. One of the earliest starts, harvest began with white wine grapes coming in towards late July, while red wine grapes arrived about a month later, at the end of August. With optimal ripening and taste, our winemakers took their time bringing grapes in, crafting wines of fantastic character, with amazing color extraction, aromatic intensity, tremendous balance, and structure, that are equally lush and fruity. A tremendous year to taste the nuances and terroir distinction from around the valley.Vineyard
Malbec is the dominant varietal in this blend at just over fifty percent, coming primarily from our Gamble Ranch estate vineyards in the heart of Napa Valley’s Oakville district, with a small portion of Malbec coming from our St. Helena and Yountville estate vineyards. In Oakville and St. Helena, Malbec is especially well suited here as the soils are rocky and concentrated with varied soil types, coming from alluvium derived from volcanic, metamorphic, or sedimentary rock. This region captures the variety’s powerful fruit and spicy characteristics, crafting a wine that is bright and fresh with vibrant acidity, alongside the typical plush dark fruit characteristics. Although the vineyards are primarily flat on the valley floor, the views are spectacular, and this historical location within the valley and is geographically situated in close proximity to our Stags Leap estate. Petit Verdot is the next most dominant grape in the blend and was sourced from our estate vineyards in Rutherford and Oakville. The rest of the blend is rounded out with small percentages of Tannat, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Sirah and a very small dash of Viognier.