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 20 months. This is a classic Stags' Leap Merlot with a complex mid-palate and a bold, elegant, and very terroir-expressive tannin structure.
The Stags' Leap Napa Valley Merlot opens with aromas of black currant, fennel, leather
and cassis. The palate reveals a dense, full-bodied wine with layers of plum, espresso, brambles and licorice. Firm tannins carry through to a finish of velvety bittersweet chocolate.

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Stags' Leap Winery Napa Valley Merlot 2006 Wine Review

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