Review: 2016 Stags’ Leap Winery Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon
Here’s a pair of wines from Stags’ Leap Winery — not to be confused with Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, its nearby neighbor — both luxe bottlings from the boutique producer.
2016 Stags’ Leap Winery Malbec Napa Valley – Rich and unctuous, this silky 100% malbec offers notes of dark chocolate, black raspberry, and currants, whipped together with a punch of pepper, Christmas spice, and spearmint. A violet note emerges with some time in glass, with the barrel’s woody influence peeking through on the finish. Delightfully immersive, this drinks well on its own but begs to be paired with a hefty meal to showcase its charms in their fullest. A / $60
2016 Stags’ Leap Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Coombsville – This is a silky and effusive bottling of cabernet, an iconic representation of the grape as Napa does it best. A bold punch of currants and chocolate sauce offer a fruity entree to an immersive and lush palate, which gently layers in notes of graphite and licorice. That said, those plump black berries remain the primary focus throughout, and well into the sultry yet only mildly tannic finish. A / $95
2016 Stags' Leap Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Coombsville
$95
