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1992 Stag's Leap Cabernet Sauvignon Cask 23

1992 Stag's Leap Cabernet Sauvignon Cask 23

96 RP

Featured Review
All of the other current and up-coming releases are outstanding. The 1992 Cask 23 (as of November 16, there were still magnums and 750 ml. formats available at the winery) boasts a dense, black/ruby/purple color, and a knock-out bouquet of black fruits, smoke, chocolate, and licorice. Like all Cask 23's, it is exceedingly easy to drink, with a voluptuous texture, fabulously rich, expansive, sweet (from extract not sugar) flavors, and silky tannin in the finish. It is not as concentrated as the 1991, but at this level, who cares? Tel. (707) 944-2020; Fax (707) 257-7501 Robert Parker

Robert Parker | 96 RP

Critic Reviews

All of the other current and up-coming releases are outstanding. The 1992 Cask 23 (as of November 16, there were still magnums and 750 ml. formats available at the winery) boasts a dense, black/ruby/purple color, and a knock-out bouquet of black fruits, smoke, chocolate, and licorice. Like all Cask 23's, it is exceedingly easy to drink, with a voluptuous texture, fabulously rich, expansive, sweet (from extract not sugar) flavors, and silky tannin in the finish. It is not as concentrated as the 1991, but at this level, who cares? Tel. (707) 944-2020; Fax (707) 257-7501

Robert Parker | 96 RP
Mature, dark red garnet color, with mature herb and currant aromas. Smooth and supple in texture, a graceful, elegant style that slowly unfolds to reveal a deep core of earthy currant, olive, cherry, coffee and tobacco flavors. Intensity builds on the long, complex finish. --'92 California Cabernet retrospective. Drink now through 2008. 2,000 cases made.

Wine Spectator | 92 WS

Wine Details for 1992 Stag's Leap Cabernet Sauvignon Cask 23

Type of Wine California Red : Whether it's Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah or Zinfandel, Californian red wine producers have a lovely habit of taking a varietal and expressing its essence in a unique, never before seen way. From Napa Valley to the regions south of Los Angeles, there's a red for everyone - and it's never too late to start exploring.
Varietal Cabernet Sauvignon : It is recognized worldwide, referred to as “king of grapes” and has easily become the most popular grape variety in the world. Cabernet Sauvignon has seemingly taken the world by storm. It has seen exponential growth and popularity in American and around the world over the past thirty years. The phrase “Cabernet is king,” is a common maxim in the world of wine. Cabernet Sauvignon wine has become so popular that when being referred to can be recognized by simple slang, such as “Cab” or “Cabernet. It might appear simple, straightforward and easily understood; yet, interestingly remains an enigma, which has both baffled and excited oenologists since its discovery.

The exact origin and circumstances of this world-altering event are still enigmatic; however, at the end of the 20th century, UC Davis Scientists (John Bowers and Carole Meredith) were able to solve part of the mystery using DNA fingerprinting technology that proved Cabernet Sauvignon to be the offspring of a surprising spontaneous crossing of Bordeaux varietals, Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. By the 18th century there were already records of Cabernet Sauvignon being well-established on the west side of the Gironde Estuary (Left Bank) in the Medoc and Graves.

Although tremendously popular in California and what seems to have become the identity of Napa Valley winemaking, Cabernet Sauvignon’s birth took place in the Bordeaux region of southwest France by fortuitous unification. Whereas Napa Valley experienced a winemaking renaissance during the 1970’s and 1980s (greatly due to the 1976 Judgement of Paris) quality wine from the Cabernet Sauvignon grape has been produced in the Medoc, on the Left Bank of Bordeaux for over 400 years.

Cabernet Sauvignon’s first recorded plantings in California can be traced back to the 1850’s when Antoine Delmas, a French nurseryman, brought French vines (including one called ‘Cabrunet’) to the Santa Clara Valley. Early cultivation suffered due to obscurity of the varietal and improper planting in inhospitable soil. It wasn’t until pioneers such as Robert Mondavi, Randy Dunn and Warren Winiarski with their amazing foresight and understanding of terroir, would the grape variety finally find its niche in California winemaking.

Cabernet Sauvignon thrives in warm climates moderated by a cooling marine influence. It is perfectly attuned to gravel-based soils with good drainage. Whether on flat land or a hillside, the Cabernet Sauvignon grape flourishes in proper climates and terroir, producing incredible yields. The thick grapevine is extremely vigorous allowing it to exploit its natural host. Its distinctive small, black berries (reminiscent of blueberries) adhere firmly to the stalk and are capable of a very long “hang time.” These berries are extremely concentrated, producing intensely flavored fruit. The thick skins of the grape are characterized as having highly astringent flavor, high tannin, acidity and dark color. Coincidentally, the variety has a special affinity for oak, which helps soften the bitterness.

Today, the Noble Bordeaux varietal of Cabernet Sauvignon is planted on 340,000 hectares (741,300 acres) of vineyards across the earth’s surface. From Sicily to Sonoma, Chile to Bordeaux, South Africa to Napa. It has found symbiosis in terroir hotspots that mimic that of the Medoc and Napa Valley. Cabernet Sauvignon’s globetrotting has allowed the grape variety to take root all over the world, captivating its inhabitants and influencing winemaking. This serendipitous marriage between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc centuries ago, which offered to the world its progeny, has changed the landscape of winegrowing, winemaking and the face of the entire wine market forever. It has influenced blending, changed civilization and has cultivated a place for itself in today’s world… the very pinnacle.

Country US : As one of the most prolific and innovative wine regions in the world, America is a joy to explore. Most wine connoisseurs will agree that the nation's finest and most compelling wines are being produced today, which means that we have front-row seats to one of the most inspirational stories in wine history. While other regions tend to focus on specific wine styles and have somewhat strict rules as to which varietals you could grow, areas like California have few such restrictions in place. As a result, creative visionaries behind America's most reputable estates have been able to develop compelling, unique, and innovative styles, with a level of terroir expression that rivals even France's largest giants.
Region California : With a history of wine production that dates back to the 18th century, California currently sits as one of the world's most prolific and reputable wine regions. With an area as vast as California, you can expect a colorful collage of terroir profiles, a series of microclimates, and micro-environments that give the wine a unique, memorable appeal. The region's produce is far from homogenized in that sense, and it would take you countless hours to sample all of it. While the region boasts scars from the Prohibition era, it went through what can only be described as a viticultural Renaissance sometime after the 1960s. At that point, California went from a port-style, sweet wine region to a versatile and compelling competitor on the world market. Today, no matter which way your taste in wine leans, you can find a new favorite producer among California's most talented.

Notable sub-regions include legendary names like Napa Valley and Sonoma County, places that any wine lover would die to visit. California's quintessential warm climate allows for incredibly ripe fruit expressions, a style that provides a stark contrast to Old World-inspired, earthy classics. Even where inspiration was clearly taken from staple French appellations, Californian winemakers put their own unique spin on the wine.

Overview

Producer Stags' Leap : It started with a taste of the infamous, winemaking pioneer Nathan Fay’s 1968 Cabernet Sauvignon, which birthed the true identity of Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars.  True, Warren Winiarski had obtained 15 acres at the bottom of Howell Mountain in 1965, which was quickly ripped out and replaced with Left Bank Bordeaux Varietals; however, the tasting with Fay had become an epiphany for Winiarski. 

At that time, it was uncommon for vintners to keep vineyard-designated lots of wine separate.  With the help of friends who engaged in wine production, he was able to taste Cabernet from a variety of areas and sites before being blended together.  Winiarski developed a sense of the valley’s Cabernet geography.  He returned to the land with a renewed vision of producing great California Cabernet Sauvignon. 

In 1970, Winiarski purchased 44 acres of land in the Stag’s Leap Palisade adjacent to the famous Fay Vineyard.  The land was mostly planted with fruit trees which were removed and then cultivated for growing grapes.  The first vintage arrived in 1972 and in the following year, Winiarski completed construction on his winery allowing for the now historic 1973 bottling of Cabernet Sauvignon to be its first vintage made under the new roof.

This incredible 1973 Stag’s Leap Cabernet Sauvignon (S.L.V) would go on to make history and help change the world’s view on California wines.  On May 24th, 1976 the famous blind tasting named the Judgement of Paris, took place which pitted red Bordeaux first and classified growths and white Burgundy against California Cabernet and Chardonnay.  The unthinkable happened when the 1973 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars S.L.V was awarded first placed and bested the likes of Chateau Mouton Rothschild and Chateau Haut Brion.  Winiarski would later state that the pivotal tasting of Fay’s 1968 Cabernet was the first step on the road to Paris ’76.

The tasting changed everything for the estate and for Napa Valley. In a few, short years Stag’s Leap had become the hottest brand in California.  Stag’s Leap was clearly on the track for greatness; the inception of Cask 23 (1974), the purchasing of Fay Vineyard from Nathan Fay (1986), the completion of the Napa wine caves, which marks the passing of time and the aging of wine (2000) and the debut vintage of Artemis (2001) were all mighty achievements by Winiarski.  

The three main grape sources for Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars remains Danika Ranch, Fay Vineyard and S.L.V. each with their own unique terroir.  S.L.V. (Stag’s Leap Vineyard) consists of volcanic soils, Danika Ranch is mostly loam soils and on flatter land, while Fay has a terroir of rocks, stones, gravel and loam.  The wines produced today are S.L.V Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon, Aveta Sauvignon Blanc, Kairia Sauvignon Blanc, Cask 23, and Fay Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon.

Though Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars was sold in 2007, Warren Winiarski’s legacy lives on.  Much of the estate’s success as well as its international recognition to Napa Valley is due to his many accomplishments.  It is fitting as he credits the initial steps towards the success of Stag’s Leap and its journey to accomplishing history in 1976 to the infamous Nathan Fay.  History was made at Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars and history always repeats itself.

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