Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cask 23 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, USA

鹿跃酒窖23号桶赤霞珠红葡萄酒

点击次数：81948

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.

Approximately 10% of the wine that went into the 2019 Cask 23 Cabernet Sauvignon was barrel fermented, so expect experimentation in that area to continue. The wine is a terrific example of this cuvée, offering tantalizing floral aromas set against a backdrop of ripe cherries and black cherries. It's medium to full-bodied, intense, rich and ripe, yet still silky and elegant, with a vibrant, mouthwatering finish.

Like the 2020, the terrific 2018 Cask 23 Cabernet Sauvignon leans a bit more heavily on the Fay Vineyard (the 2019 includes a bit more S.L.V.). It's medium to full-bodied, supple, silky and elegant yet still possesses enough richness to evolve for the next two decades. From the stunning, slightly lifted aromas of violets, cherries and cassis, to the long, dusty finish, this exudes class all the way.

A barrel sample, the 2017 Cask 23 Cabernet Sauvignon is very deep purple-black colored with pronounced notes of crème de cassis, mocha, plum preserves and unsmoked cigars with touches of dried herbs, fragrant soil and iron ore. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a great intensity of ripe black fruit and grainy tannins with just enough freshness and a long, slightly chewy finish.