Nose
Exhibiting an expansive bouquet of harmonious aromas, this
ruby wine bursts from the glass with notes of sweet red cherry and ripe blackcurrant
intertwined with touches of sweet vanilla, creamy mocha and spicy gingerbread.
Palate
The
wine enters elegantly and fills the palate with intense flavors of dark cherry, blackberry
preserves and cassis, backed by silken tannins and hints of espresso bean, brown
butter and cinnamon toast that linger on the lengthy, supple finish.
Growing Conditions
The mild 2011 vintage allowed for a long hang time,
resulting in evenly ripe, complex flavors in the berries.
Harvest
The fruit for this wine was harvested
at an optimal level of ripeness late September to October.
Winemaking
Fermentation took place at
a high temperature to ensure that maximum extraction was achieved
Aging
The wine
was racked to 60% new French oak barrels. The wine was aged in barrel for a total of 18
months before bottling
Food Pairing
Graceful and sumptuous, our Stags Leap District Cabernet would pair
gorgeously with a hearty, substantial dish like grilled leg of lamb marinated in garlic
confit, or even a wild mushroom risotto. This wine would also partner beautifully with a
hard, aged Gouda such as Saenkanter for a splendid cheese course.