Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Merlot, Napa Valley

Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Merlot 2008 is actually a blend of 95% Merlot with 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars was established by Warren Winiarski in 1970, located at the end of the Silverado Trail, in what is now known as the Stag’s Leap District. It remained in the Winiarski family when, in 2007, it was sold to Chateau Ste Michelle and Marchese Antinori Srl (famous for their joint ventures and wine-making in Washington State and Italy respectively). The majority of the grapes for Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Merlot come from their estate vineyard in the heart of the Oak Knoll District. Other Merlot grapes are sourced from the Coombsville AVA and Andy Beckstoffer’s Carneros Lake and Las Amigas vineyards in the Carneros region of the Napa Valley. This final Merlot component comes from the Lincoln Ranch situated in the Oakville AVA. The 5% Cabernet Sauvignon comes from SLWC’s famous FAY vineyard and adds a certain richness to the blend. The wine is fermented in stainless steel and undergoes malolactic fermentation, it is then aged for 19 months in medium-toast French oak barrels, 56% first fill. In 2010, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars received Napa Green Certified Land certification for their three estate vineyards – FAY, S.L.V. and Danika Ranch – and Napa Green Certified Winery for the winery.