Stags' Leap Winery, Merlot, Napa Valley

Big and chewy. Perfect with a beautifully prepared steak.

2016 vintage

I really like California merlot from the old school producers. I think they age well and after a few years in the bottle, they can show some good secondary and tertiary characteristics. This wine is very good now and should drink well for another 3-5 years. Color. Dark red. Nose. Cherries, currants, bran, cedar, undergrowth, earth. Palate. Black Cherries, kirsch, cocoa, decent tannic structure, and nice acidity.

2016 vintage

Nice juicy and rich fruit leaning towards blackberry, a hint of vanillia from nicely integrated oak, attractive tannins on the finish that are not overbearing. Something a little savoury developing too, olive?

2016 vintage

For the hype and cost of Stags' Leap's cabs, I expected more I guess. Fruit didn't stand out, lacked boldness, zero complexity. I was just left wanting more. I guess I just shouldn't build any expectations for one label's varietals based on their other varietals.

2016 vintage

Medium bodied merlot with plum, vanilla spice and nice hint of oak in the background. This was enjoyable to drink.

2016 vintage

No theme "grab bag" double-blind family tasting (The homestead) : This was part of a double-blind tasting with some family members, among six other red wines with no specified theme. After the first sip, I immediately identified this as a Napa red. I had previous knowledge of my oldest brother having been gifted a set of 2016 Stags' Leap Merlot/Malbec package, plus he has a very limited cellar, so I knew exactly what this was, so I guessed that this …

2016 vintage

Solid, restrained, ok but not exciting

2016 vintage

Gifted this bottle. Very good. Concentrated fruit . Good balance.

2016 vintage

Agree with Ortiz Brown's 11/21/20 note.

2016 vintage

Bouquet of black cherry, spice and clay pot. Initially on the palate of ripe black plumb and punch of spice that overtakes the rest of the journey. Not exciting in comparison to previous Duckhorn Merlot but gets better the longer it breathes. Yes better after an hour, finishes with vanilla and chocoalate. Maybe more cellar time.

2016 vintage

Deep, dark fruit with a long finish. Aging very well. Makes all red meats special.

2016 vintage

Buy again.

2016 vintage

Very smooth, light for a Merlot, good nose

2016 vintage

Liked

2016 vintage

A straightforward, uncomplicated wine. Very much muted dark fruit. A suggestion of earthiness and of vininess, Some pretty stiff tannin,

2016 vintage

For a 19 year old Merlot, this was surprisingly good. Tannins were round and supple, the red fruits peeking through after an hour of air time. Probably should've opened it a few years ago, but still enjoyable on a cold weekday evening.

2001 vintage

wow! just wow! we both LOVED this wine! very smooth so tasty and just all around really really good. for sure one of our favorites

2016 vintage

This wine is why people should age merlot. Chocolate covered cherries with dried figs. A sort of woody cigar box character with toasted coffee notes. Tannic structure and acid still holding strong. Still slightly out of balance with the 14.5 al in my opinion. All in all a beautiful wine

2005 vintage

This merlot is deep garnet in the glass with a nose that shows blueberry, baking spices, and oak. On the palate we find dark blueberry, luxardo cherry, cocoa, vanilla, and oak. All of these flavors are nicely balanced. Mild tannins with a medium finish. Very nice wine but we expected a bit more complexity.

2016 vintage

Aroma: Blackberry and Currant flavors on pine/woody with herbal undertones. (Might be a touch young) Taste: smooth, dry with good acidity. Nice velvety texture.

2016 vintage

Black currant and light pepper notes, balanced and quaffable but little in the way of structure or character.

2016 vintage

dark ruby colored, with sweet cherry , berry and leafy nose. moderate tannins, well balanced with short finish. Went well with our grilled pork chops.

2016 vintage

You have to give this an hour decant in order to give it a decent shot. Nose is light vanilla and oak. The wine swirls around on the palate with some raspy fruit, a lot of chewy tannins, a decent amount of acidity, and dark effervescent notes. I feel this wine is thinner than I can like and seems to lack the depth I like in a Bordeaux varietal. This is an adequate wine; not great and not bad. It's …

2016 vintage

A bit hot, but nice fruit.

2016 vintage

Seemed a bit past its prime, but after an hour of air time, it was quite tasty. Earthy, and a little shy with the fruit. Tannis were round, but still able to hold the wine together. Paired with a Tbone steak off the grille. Purchased this back in 2004, so it's been quietly resting in the cellar for a few years!!

2001 vintage

Held up well. Very tasty.

2005 vintage

Hour decant. Jammy rich style of Merlot, not bad if you’re into that. Nice perfume. Leathery cherry, plum, cola. Faint cocoa notes on the finish.

2016 vintage

This was great, medium bodied, dark fruit and jammy with nice brightness...exquisite balance and easy to drink with nice length and finish...

2016 vintage

Notes of chocolate and berries. Tannic finish. Better with food.

2016 vintage

Bright red fruits, dried herbs, hints of graphite and smoked vanilla pod on the nose. Not fruit forward at all, showing more of the secondary and earthy notes. Palate is more forward and open, with lots of gooseberries blackcurrant, just a touch of tobacco in an elegant mid-palate, extending to a clean and stony red fruit finish. Nice freshness in the rounded structure. The strong gooseberries note in the palate is very similar to a cool climate Cabernet from Chile, …

2011 vintage

Nice wine had with Mediterranean Lima beans

2011 vintage

This was stunning. Very much in the style of Pomerol, plummy and dark cherry fruit with hints of cocoa dust and an earthy savoriness. Fruit is mature, but very present. Fine tannins and acid, this is graceful, well-knitted, and generous. Really good stuff.

2001 vintage

surprisingly good

2011 vintage

With parents memorial day. Good but duck horn better

2011 vintage

Plums, vanilla, cream slight chocolate. Round mouthfeel, generous and fleshy without being abundantly over the top or flabby. A rather pleasant surprise!

2011 vintage

Clear deep garnet. Green pepper, onion, celery. Low acids, medium to low tannins. Chocolate, cinnamon. Short balance finish.

2011 vintage

This wine was decanted for about 8 hours before being served. Had a great nose to it - raspberry and jasmine. The notes were all cherry cordial on the front, full bodied openning, luscious. Dark chocolate and raspberry in the middle were very well represented, and this is where you just wanted to let this one dance on the tongue for as long as possible! The finish was limestone, wet rock, raspberry, and dirty raspberry pie. This wine is drinking …

2005 vintage

Ok. My taste might be off.

2011 vintage

Thin

2002 vintage

Decanted for 2 hours. First thing you notice is the big nose of dark fruits and oak. Very nice deep garnet color. Well structured, with oak, cherries, cassis, a touch of earthy tobacco. Finish is dry. Overall, very enjoyable. Paired well with a grilled rib eye.

2007 vintage

With duck pond. Not as good. Greg and de agree

2011 vintage

Mom and Jason Like this wine. No good with beef steel or Vietnamese Pork

2011 vintage

Nicely made wine, good balance and complexity, although lacks more depth.

2011 vintage

A well rounded merlot, time in the bottle really helped. Wish I had some more as this will go further.

2007 vintage

Not much in the way of nose, graphite and alcohol mostly. But on the palate it is very nice, plush red fruit and fine tannins and oak, with a great acid finish. Goes great with my swordfish and pesto tonight.

2011 vintage

i thought it was nice too. i was looking for something under 14% alcohol and the 2011 artemis from sL wine cellars was all gone, so tried this. not as good as the prior but okay.

2011 vintage

Very nice Merlot. Dark fruits, good minerality, great structure. I agree that this is a great buy for the $.

2011 vintage

Decent enough Merlot. Decanted this 30 minutes before pouring, which could've been longer. Definite oak up front, but tamed a bit as the evening progressed. Had with T-Bone steak on the grille, which was a good match. Plenty of dark fruit, medium body, medium finish.

2007 vintage

for $28, offers a nice value

2011 vintage

It seems like there's a really good wine in there somewhere, but it's hard to see it through all the oak. Beautiful nose of cherries mint and chocolate though.

2007 vintage

Are you sure?

Stags' Leap Winery, Merlot, Napa Valley

Vintages

No vintages

Community Reviews