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Stags' Leap
2020 Stags' Leap Twelve Falls Estate Grown Stags Leap District Napa Valley Red Wine
Description
Description
Every winter during the rainy season, small 'falls' cascade down the Stags Leap palisades, which are the backdrop to the estate. On any given winter day, the winery staff have counted up to twelve visible falls at one time. 'Twelve Falls' pays homage to the water source and natural erosion that result from these falls, and in the end nourish and feed the fruit that grows.
Awards & Accolades
Awards & Accolades
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94
JamesSuckling.com
“A tannin-driven red with blackcurrants and slate, with hazelnut and chocolate undertones. Medium to full body. Juicy finish. Tightness at the end suggests it needs time to open. Drink after 2025.” - James Suckling, February, 2023
Wine & Vintage Details
Wine & Vintage Details
Tasting
A proprietary blend representing our estate vineyards, the 2020 Twelve Falls is saturated, rich, and plush, with layers of intriguing dark berry fruits and savory spice. The nose and palate contribute notes of black cherry, blackberry, and red currant, alongside fresh, lifted, chaparral notes of wild violet, anise, mint, and maraschino cherry, backed up by baking spice notes of cinnamon, clove and roasted hazelnuts, piquing interest with the seamlessly integrated oak aging. Deep and full, the mouthfeel is nuanced with more velvety tannins, finishing with finesse and generosity, all harkening back to the estate’s ability to entwine depth of flavor with grace and elegance. An extraordinary wine from an exceptional vintage, drinking beautifully now, and will continue to develop and age gracefully over time when cellared properly.
Vintage
The 2020 season will be remembered for factors beyond the typical harvest season. It was a warm, dry winter and the rain and cooler weather didn’t arrive until the end of March. While the mild spring season was a great early start, summer brought very cool mornings and very warm days, but then harvest was interrupted by wildfires across California, which came as grapes started to be picked, and we were very fortunate that none of our vineyards were in the areas of the active fires. The white wine harvest started in mid to late August while the red wine harvest was smaller yielding and proved to be one of the most challenging in history, but our winemakers remained optimistic and very complimentary of the high quality achieved from this unprecedented vintage.
Vineyard & Winemaking Details
Vineyard & Winemaking Details
Named for the Stags Leap Palisades’ fleeting wateralls that surrour our estate after a winter rain, Twelve Falls Estate Red Wine blends Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Merlot, and Malbec in proportions equal to the plantings of these varieties in our estate vineyard. Complex and exquisitely balanced, this wine celebrates the nexus of vine, soil and water, reflecting the essence of our historic property.
Winemaking
Maceration followed suit for each of the varieties, which allowed our winemakers to monitor and evaluate each lot individually, coaxing each variety to its maximum potential. This wine was aged for an average of 17 months in a mix of new French and American oak barrels, as well as older seasoned oak barrels. The final assemblage was blended just prior to bottling.
| Alcohol % | 14.5% |
|---|---|
| Oak Treatment | 40% New French oak, 24% New American oak and 36% older seasoned oak, for 17 months |
| Blend | 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Petite Sirah, 8% Merlot and 4% Malbec |
| Case Production | 617 |