2016 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, Cask 23, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California, USA
- Red
- Dry
- Full Bodied
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Antonio Galloni
- 95/100
- Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW
- 96-98/100
- Jonathan Cristaldi
- 97/100
Free standard delivery on orders over £125
In Bond purchases can be stored in our temperature-controlled warehouse
Covered by our quality guarantee
Critics reviews
The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Cask 23 is powerful and savory in the glass, with tons of both aromatic nuance and supporting structure that give the wine gravitas as well as a very clear sense of direction. The plum, blackberry jam, grilled herb, lavender and dark spice notes are all very finely drawn in this big but polished Cabernet Sauvignon from Stag's Leap Wine Cellars.
Drink 2024 - 2031
The deep purple-black coloured barrel sample of 2016 Cask 23 Cabernet Sauvignon features compelling, youthful notes of freshly crushed red and black currants, black cherries, kirsch and mocha with nuances of Marmite toast, roasted nuts, underbrush and truffles. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a very firm frame of super ripe tannins supporting the multilayered flavours, finishing on an epically long, lingering, fragrant earth note. Beautiful.
The first vintage of Cask 23 ever released was the 1974 vintage, with André Tchelistcheff as the consultant. While tasting all the barrels of S.L.V., Tchelistcheff came across one barrel so exceptional that they bottled it on its own, naming it after the barrel in which it was aged—Cask 23. Originally bottled only in the best vintages until 1990, when FAY was introduced as another single-vineyard expression, Cask 23 became a blend of the two single vineyards, FAY and S.L.V., aiming for a balanced, harmonious expression—a "sum greater than the parts" kind of wine.
The 2021 Cask 23 was aged 21 months in 100% new French oak barrels. It displays an opaque purple-ruby colour with a magenta rim. The wine offers super dark fruit aromatics, with notes of sagebrush, fig, dried lavender, and salted dark chocolate. Full-bodied, it boasts incredible tension and mineral-laced, muscular tannins that are fine-grained with tremendous staying power, finishing with cocoa powder and an extravagant flourish. This wine has impressive energy and remarkable tension. The winemaker is Marcus Notaro.
Drink 2024 - 2050
About this wine
Napa Valley
Napa Valley is synonymous with exceptional wine. From rich, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon to elegant, nuanced Chardonnay, the region’s Mediterranean climate, diverse soils, and masterful winemakers combine to create wines of unmistakable character. With vineyards that have achieved cult status and a reputation for meticulous craftsmanship, Napa Valley stands as California’s most celebrated viticultural area.