Name: Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon S.L.V. 2018 750ml
Brand: Stag's Leap Wine Cellars
SKU: 991091
Price: 276.43 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 95.7 (6 reviews)

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Winery

Stag's Leap Wine Cellars

Shop all from Stag's Leap Wine Cellars

Varietal

Cabernet Sauvignon

By far and away the most recognized and widely grown red wine grape varietal in the world is the Cabernet Sauvignon. First cultivated in the 18th century in France, this wonderful cross of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc grapes has long since been the most important varietal for red wines across the globe. Now grown everywhere from its native France to the furthest reaches of the New World, Cabernet Sauvignon is adored and prized by wineries for its hardiness and resistance to rot, as well as its large and sharp flavors and wonderful capability for fine aging Indeed, many of the finest wines of history and the modern age would be simply unimaginable without Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, with the famed wineries of Bordeaux and other important regions using it as the primary grape in their oak aged produce. High tannin levels, acidity and powerful flavors are the characteristics most commonly associated with this varietal, however, when blended and slowly aged, it is capable of a world of flavors and aromas unmatched by any other grape.

Country

United States

Of all the New World wine countries, perhaps the one which has demonstrated the most flair for producing high quality wines - using a combination of traditional and forward-thinking contemporary methods - has been the United States of America. For the past couple of centuries, the United States has set about transforming much of its suitable land into vast vineyards, capable of supporting a wide variety of world-class grape varietals which thrive on both the Atlantic and the Pacific coastlines. Of course, we immediately think of sun-drenched California in regards to American wines, with its enormous vineyards responsible for the New World's finest examples of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot based wines, but many other states have taken to viticulture in a big way, with impressive results. Oregon, Washington State and New York have all developed sophisticated and technologically advanced wine cultures of their own, and the output of U.S wineries is increasing each year as more and more people are converted to their produce.

Region

California

California as a wine producing region has grown in size and importance considerably over the past couple of centuries, and today is the proud producer of more than ninety percent of the United States' wines. Indeed, if California was a country, it would be the fourth largest producer of wine in the world, with a vast range of vineyards covering almost half a million acres. The secret to California's success as a wine region has a lot to do with the high quality of its soils, and the fact that it has an extensive Pacific coastline which perfectly tempers the blazing sunshine it experiences all year round. The winds coming off the ocean cool the vines, and the natural valleys and mountainsides which make up most of the state's wine regions make for ideal areas in which to cultivate a variety of high quality grapes.

Appellation

Napa Valley

When it comes to New World wines, and especially wines from the United States of America, Napa Valley is something of a standard bearer. Over its relatively short history, it has managed to transform itself from being a fairly insignificant region, to becoming one of the most important and highly regarding wine locations on earth. With an ideal climate for viticulture, blazing sunshine and a low level of rainfall, this valley is shielded on many sides by mountain ranges which help it maintain a consistent level of heat, light and moisture throughout the year. Today, Napa Valley is a home of innovation and quality, with dozens of grape varietals thriving in the fertile soils. However, the main varietals grown there have always been Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Zinfandel, and the wines they produce are constantly lauded by critics and competitions across the globe.

WA 97pts

Wine Advocate

95-97 The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon S.L.V., a barrel sample, reveals a deep garnet-purple color and expressive notions of blackberry preserves, black cherry coulis and warm cassis with suggestions of eucalyptus, dark chocolate, lavender and tobacco leaf. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is tightly wound with black fruit and savory layers, supported by a rock-solid frame of grainy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long and lifted.

JS 97pts

James Suckling

This is one of the best SLVs I have tasted with total balance and structure that highlights what was possible in 2018. It’s full-bodied, yet tight and poised, with layer upon layer of fine tannins that give depth and beauty to this young red. Blackcurrant, blueberry and floral flavors. Tight at the end. Needs until 2025 to really show what it has.

WE 97pts

Wine Enthusiast

Another outstanding vintage for this vineyard-designate standout from the famously historic producer, the estate-grown wine is herbal and elegantly fruity in dark cherry, dried herb and cocoa dust. An earthy under current of dusty tannin and toasted oak add contours of savory complexity that will withstand further aging; enjoy best from 2028 through 2038. (Cellar Selection)

VM 95pts

Vinous Media

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon S.L.V. is powerful, dense and explosive right out of the gate. Dark-toned fruit and plush contours give the 2018 tons of immediacy. Like so many wines in this cool, late-ripening vintage, the S.L.V. is aging quite well. I would not dream of opening this right now.

WS 94pts

Wine Spectator

Polished and open at first, showing a fan-friendly set of creamed plum and warmed cassis flavors, laced with melted licorice and sweet toast accents. Features alder and warm earth hints that check in on the finish, adding extra range and length while giving the fruit a grounded feel in the end. Very solidly built. Drink now through 2038. 2,750 cases made.

DC 94pts

Decanter

A ‘classic Napa Cabernet’, says winemaker Marcus Notaro, given the growing conditions that allowed for a long, slow ripening with cooler weather just when needed, giving a luminous brightness of flavour to the fruit. It's primary now: cassis on the nose and a red berry cornucopia on the palate, still chewy in terms of texture. A complex wine and a lovely expression of new world Cabernet: rich and plush, with just enough hedonism to make it immensely pleasurable young but not enough to limit its considerable ageing potential. Drinking Window 2023 - 2060.