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Stags' Leap
2018 Stags' Leap 125th Anniversary Napa Valley Petite Sirah Magnum
Tasting Notes
This 125th special anniversary bottling of Petite Sirah leaps from the glass with an exuberant bouquet of blackberry, blueberry, cherry liqueur and plum, alongside floral perfumed notes of wild violet and jasmine, supported by savory notes of pepper spice, earthy loam and crushed minerals. The palate is juicy, ripe and full, with crème de cassis, macerated blackberries, cherry kirsch, black licorice and dark spiced plum, layering the rich, saturated mouthfeel, followed by a subtle black gunpowder tea, allspice and black pepper note from the oak ageing, which integrates seamlessly. This wine is boisterous with robust velvety tannins and a strong generosity leading to a lengthy finish. Mouthwatering acidity supports throughout, inviting you to enjoy now, but has the depth and complexity to age for many years to come.Technical Information
| Varietal | Petite Sirah |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 2018 |
| Appellation | Napa Valley |
| Blend | 93% Petite Sirah, 7% Petit Verdot |
| Oak Treatment | 100% American oak (25% new) for 14 months |
| Alcohol % | 14.1% |
| Case Production | 713 |
Scores & Accolades
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97“A solid red with deep berry, dark-chocolate and hazelnut character. Some clove and mahogany, too. It’s full-bodied, dense and chewy with very polished, layered tannins. I like the energy and focus to this petite sirah. One of the best I have ever had. 125th Anniversary bottling. Only in magnum. Real old-vine character. Drink or hold.” - James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, June 2021
Winemaking
Continuing the same time-honored techniques that have made Petite Sirah one of our winery’s staples, Winemaker Christophe Paubert practiced simple and traditional methods to show the uniqueness of the Petite Sirah fruit. Avoiding over extraction, the wine went through a relatively short maceration period (9-12 days on average) that included fermentation. The wine aged for 14 months in American oak barrels (25% new), allowing the spiciness of the oak to complement the natural spice character of the varietal. The final blend includes a small amount of Petit Verdot to bring further complexity to the finished wine.Vintage
The Napa Valley region enjoyed a stunning, near picture-perfect 2018 growing season including good winter rains, mild spring weather and steady temperatures throughout that allowed for even flowering and bud break. These ideal growing conditions were followed by a cool, even and slow-paced harvest which allowed the winery to vinify wines at a gentle pace. The resulting 2018 wines are of very high quality with lower alcohol, concentrated flavors, color and excellent acidity.Vineyard
A tribute to our 125th anniversary, this 2018 vintage is bottled in magnum format only, to allow for optimal extended aging, and will be offered exclusively through the tasting room. For this special vintage, grapes were sourced entirely from the vineyards located on our Stags’ Leap estate’s deep, rocky soils, bringing forth a beautiful intensity, along with a profile to highlight the floral, spice and fruit characteristics of Petite Sirah. Seventy percent of the estate blocks in this blend are vines that are more than 40 years old, adding incredible richness, complexity, and depth.