Pine Ridge Stags Leap Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

Drink it now or cellar for up to 20 years. It is recommended to decant it for 2 hours. Pine Ridge Vineyards dates back to 1978 when Gary Andrus planted the first vineyards here. Over the years the winery has been a key player in the birth of the Napa Valley wine scene, helping to establish Stags Leap District as a defined viticultural area. This particular AVA (American Viticultural Area) was the very first in the United States to be defined based on the impressive diversity of its soils. Now the region is famous around the world for punchy, structured Cabernet with great ageing potential. This cuvee is crafted from Cabernet grapes drawn from all four of Pine Ridge’s estate vineyards which range from gravely loam soils to volcanic rhyolitic tuff. Blending across these unique sites enables the winemakers to achieve a beautiful harmony and balance, creating something far greater than the sum of its parts. Small amounts of Petit Verdot, Tannat, Merlot and Cabernet Franc are also added for extra complexity, and 18 months of ageing in French and American oak adds polish. Ripe red cherry and crushed raspberry dominate on the nose, followed by subtle hints of chocolate and tobacco. The first sip reveals powerful tannins, a firm structure, and a solid core of bright red fruit and darker cassis and blackberry. The long finish is punctuated by notes of wintry spices and dried fruit, promising impressive evolution if cellared for a few more years.