Wine Advisor
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, Cask 23 Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Joe Czerwinski
As the final blending of the 2021 Cask 23 Cabernet Sauvignon had not yet taken place at the time of my visit, I tasted two separate candidates for inclusion, one from Fay and one from S.L.V. The Fay element offered violets and cassis, harmony and elegance, while the S.L.V. barrel was richer and more structural, yet also floral, with more red-fruit notes. If these two barrels are representative of the final blend, it should be a stunning wine, with at least two decades of longevity.
Reviewed by: Joe Czerwinski
A blend of Fay and S.L.V. barrels—with the proportions favoring Fay this vintage—the 2021 Cask 23 Cabernet Sauvignon shows a bit more toasty oak at this stage of its development but also some attractive violet and herb shadings, cassis, cherries and blueberries. It's medium to full-bodied and silky textured across the mid-palate, then lingers elegantly on the finish. It's a super effort, one that nicely captures the overall feel of the Stags Leap District AVA.
About the Producer
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars was founded by Warren Winiarski, who bought an 18-hectare plot of land near the town of Yountville on the eastern slopes of Napa Valley, California, in 1972 and named it Stag's Leap. Stag's Leap" and later purchased neighbouring properties, which he merged with Stag's Leap to form a large wine estate known as Stag's Leap Cellars. Warren Winiarski, a Greek-American who taught Greek cultural history at the prestigious University of Chicago, left his old books behind for a career in winemaking through a variety of circumstances. Deer Leap Cellars began making wine in 1972 and produced a masterpiece the following year, the 1973 Cask 23. This cask won the first prize in a blind tasting in Paris, France, in 1976, ahead of the 1970 Mouton Rothschild, and has been a hit ever since. Of course, it may not be reasonable to compare these two vintages, and many people feel that Luyue has "failed to win" because of this, but nonetheless, it is a testament to the quality of Luyue's wines that they are among the best in the world. Thirty years later, the blind-tasting competition was repeated. In 1973 Luyue 23 was again put to the test and successfully defended its reputation, coming third in the London category, second in the California category and second overall. Since then, Luye 23 has been able to dispel all the doubts cast on it. Although a latecomer to the game, Deer Leap has been impressive and impressive from the start. After the initial vintage, the wines from the Luyue cellar go through a rigorous selection process to determine the winner for the 23rd cask. In 1985, when President Reagan hosted Mikhail Gorbachev at the White House, he drank from Barrel 23. Queen Elizabeth II also used it to celebrate President Reagan's anniversary on her private yacht. Deep red in colour, with complex flavours of roasted coffee, olives and chocolate, Deer Leap 23 has a fine, firm structure and a strong finish, which will develop in maturity over a period of 10 years, giving it an extremely harmonious and full-bodied appearance. The vineyards at Luyue are planted with red and white grapes, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Riesling and Chardonnay, depending on the soil and climate, so Luyue makes not only red wines but also some white wines, such as the sweet Riesling with a German character and the dry Chardonnay. Riesling and dry Chardonnay. Of course, Luye's best wine is the red wine Barrel 23.
