STAGS’ LEAP NAPA VALLEY MERLOT

Stags’ Leap Napa Valley Merlot 2019

With freshness exhibiting its southern Napa origins, the 2019 Merlot leaps from the glass with layers of ripe black cherry, blackberry, and dark raspberry, alongside baking spice notes of cinnamon spice, vanilla, and crème brûlée. Savory, chaparral notes of lavender, bay laurel, mint and thyme accompany succulent tones of cherry kirsch and bittersweet chocolate. Hints of anise and hazelnut play on the palate, a nod to the delicately interwoven oak integration. Opulent and plush with mouthwatering acidity, polished structure, and finesse, all framed by present, mouthcoating tannins, finishing with layers and depth, showcasing the balance, elegance, and grace of this exemplary Merlot.

VARIETIES: 94% Merlot, 5% Petite Sirah and 1% Malbec
REGION: United States / California / North Coast / Napa County / Napa Valley
AGEING: 100% French oak (32% new) for 19 months
GUARDING POTENTIAL: Enjoy now or will cellar well up to 15 years
SERVE: Serve at 16 – 18ºC
FITS TO: Brazilian-style flank steak with chimichurri sauce, rack of BBQ ribs, veal Porterhouse, grilled lamb, Tandoori-flavored dishes
CRITICS SCORES: JS/93
VIVINO: Average 4.1 ★★★★✰

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Napa Valley | Range | STAGS’ LEAP WINERY

FIRST-GROWTH NAPA VALLEY WINERY

An intimate valley within the greater Napa Valley, Stags’ Leap is a place of natural beauty, storied buildings, a lively history, and a reputation for elegant wines showing finesse and intensity.

With an enduring winemaking philosophy that honors traditional techniques while embracing modern capabilities, and by using the finest grapes from our own 80-acre vineyard and from quality-focused growers, Stags’ Leap Napa Valley wines embody a natural balance, exhibiting both intensity and finesse.

Winemaking
The grapes for this Napa Valley Merlot underwent a 2-3 week maceration period designed to extract ideal flavor, color and tannin from the skins. Using traditional winemaking techniques, Winemaker Christophe Paubert aged this Merlot in high quality French oak barrels (32% new) for 19 months. The new oak imparts structure, ageability, and a slight spice complexity that still allows the fresh fruit flavors to take center stage.

Vineyard
Our Napa Valley Merlot is crafted with grapes from vineyards in the southern part of Napa Valley. Fruit from Oak Knoll makes up most of the blend, with the remaining fruit is sourced from the Oakville appellation as well as our very own Stags Leap District. Merlot can lose its varietal identity when exposed to too much heat, but the fruit from these select southerly vineyards exhibit varietal expressions of fresh fruit character, structure, and bright acidity.