Merlot (1986)
SommeliAI Insights
A well-aged Merlot from Napa Valley's renowned Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, offering a complex bouquet of dark fruits, subtle spices, and a smooth, lingering finish.
About this wine
The 1986 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Merlot presents a deep ruby hue, indicative of its maturity. On the nose, it offers aromas of ripe plum, black cherry, and raspberry, with hints of vanilla and spice. The palate reveals a medium to full-bodied wine with flavors of dark fruit, including plum and blackberry, complemented by notes of cocoa and herbs. The finish is smooth and velvety, with soft tannins and a lingering, fruity finish. This vintage reflects the winery's commitment to producing high-quality Merlot that showcases the unique terroir of the Stags Leap District.
About the grape
Merlot, originally from Bordeaux, France, has been cultivated in Napa Valley since the early 1970s. Initially used to soften Cabernet Sauvignon blends, it later gained popularity as a standalone varietal. Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, established in 1970, began producing Merlot wines, including their 1986 vintage, showcasing the grape's adaptability to Napa's diverse terroir. This period marked a significant rise in Merlot's prominence in the region.
Quick facts
- 🍇 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars was founded in 1970 by Warren Winiarski, who was inspired by a homemade Cabernet Sauvignon from neighbor Nathan Fay's vineyard.
- 🏆 The winery gained international fame when its 1973 S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon won the 1976 Judgment of Paris, a blind tasting where it bested top French Bordeaux wines.
- 🌱 In 1986, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars purchased the Fay Vineyard, the first Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard planted in what is now the Stags Leap District AVA.
- 🍷 The winery's flagship wine, CASK 23, was first produced in 1974 from a particularly exceptional lot aged in cask number 23, and is only made in select vintages.
- 🌄 The Stags Leap District AVA, established in 1989, is renowned for its unique terroir that produces wines with distinctive elegance and structure.
Palate profile
Producer
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, founded in 1970 by Warren Winiarski in Napa Valley, California, gained international acclaim when its 1973 S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon won the 1976 Judgment of Paris, surpassing esteemed French wines. This victory was pivotal in establishing Napa Valley as a premier wine region. The winery's estate includes the S.L.V. and FAY vineyards, with the latter being the first Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard planted in the Stags Leap District. In 2007, the winery was acquired by Ste. Michelle Wine Estates and Marchesi Antinori, continuing its legacy of producing world-class wines.
