Tasting Notes
The Stags' Leap Napa Valley Merlot signature brambly character is evident among black fruit that is enhanced by a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. On the nose, clove, spice and chocolate prevail over black plum aromas. Balanced and complex, Malbec adds structure to this wine featuring a juicy mid palate and rich mouthfeel.

Winemaker Notes
Grapes from the older plantings of Merlot from our Estate Vineyard form the backbone of this wine. Here, the cooler conditions and the exceptionally well-drained loamy soils bring out the best that Merlot has to offer. The balance of the fruit is from select hillside and benchland vineyards up and down the Napa Valley where our grower-partners have been farming for generations. All of the grapes were hand picked and kept separate throughout harvest and fermentation. A tiny fraction of Cabernet Sauvignon from the estate was incorporated into the blend before aging in French oak barrels (50 percent new) for 18 months. This is a classic Stags' Leap Merlot with a complex mid-palate and a bold, elegant, and very terroir-expressive tannin structure.