Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cask 23 Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Die Geschichte des Spitzenweins von Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars mit dem Namen CASK 23 begann 1974. Dem legendären Winemaker Andre Tchelstcheff ist ein besonders gutes, größeres Faß aufgefallen. Der Wein war so wunderschön und köstlich, dass entschieden wurde, das Faß separat abzufällen. Sie ahnen es schon, es war das Faß Nummer 23, also Cask 23. Noch heute wird der Wein aus den besten Chargen des S.L.V Vineyard und des Fay Vineyard vinifiziert, jedoch nur in den besten Jahrgängen. Cask 23 ist bis heute ein historischer, gesuchter Napa Valley Klassiker, der in keinem Sammler-Keller fehlen sollte.

- 96-98 Punkte Robert Parkers WINE ADVOCATE, Lisa Perrotti-Brown: "The deep purple-black colored 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 flavors, finishing on an epically long, lingering fragrant earth note. Beautiful."

- 95 Punkte und "Cellar Selection" WINE ENTHUSIAST, Virginie Boone: "This gorgeous wine combines the best of two historic vineyards—Fay and S.L.V.—into one cohesive, refined whole. A soft entry of woody spice and toasted oak leads the way to an expansive midpalate of currant, crushed rock, dried herb and elegant tannins begging for further time in the bottle. Enjoy 2026–2036."

- 95 Punkte WINESPECTATOR, James Molesworth: "Well-detailed, with a deep, solidly built core of currant, blackberry, bramble and apple wood notes, showing good energy through the richly layered finish. Youthful, but slowly takes on a more seductive feel as this airs in the glass. Best from 2022 through 2035. 3,000 cases made."

- 95+ Punkte VINOUS, Antonio Galloni: "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."

- 97 Punkte FALSTAFF, Peter Moser: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Pomerolartige Trüffel-Kirsch-Nuancen, sind mit reifen Feigen unterlegt, Nougat und Haselnussnoten, florale Nuancen von kandierten Veilchen. Stoffig, komplex und extraktsüß, opulente dunkle Beerenfrucht, reife Tannine, feinwürziger Touch im Abgang, mineralisch und anhaltend, verfügt über Entwicklungspotenzial für Jahrzehnte."

- 95 Punkte DECANTER Panel Tasting: "The grapes for this wine come from Stag’s Leap’s two esteemed estate vineyards, with 56% of the fruit sourced from Fay and 44% from SLV. Deriving perfumed notes from Fay and structural backbone from the SLV, the wine was then matured in new French oak for 20 months.
Stephen Brook - Delicate and floral, oaky nose, has charm and lift. Svelte and rounded, a touch soft and lacking in verve and acidity. Forward, but has some spice to pep up the finish. Yet it lacks drive and energy, staying power. 
James Doidge - Opaque purple colour, floral and intense aromas, very soft tannins with lush fruit, lithe acidity, lovely texture, great length.
Ronan Sayburn MS - Espresso coffee and rosemary nose, densely concentrated fruit.
Drinking Window 2020 – 2045"

- 97 Punkte INTERNATIONAL WINEREPORT: "A simply marvelous showing in this vintage is the ‘Cask 23’ Cabernet Sauvignon from Stags Leap Wine Cellars. The 2016 is composed from 56% FAY vineyard (blocks 7A&B, 8C2, 10A, 12A, 3A, 2A) and 44% is from S.L.V. (blocks 3B, 2B, 2A, 4) which all spent 20 months, 100% new French oak. This downright seductive wine begins with aromas of ripe blackberries, currants, mocha, spices and hints of herbs and floral nuances which all come together and burst from the glass. On the palate this is full-bodied and layered with beautiful round, polished tannins that lead up to the long voluptuous finish. Winemaker Marcus Notaro has crafted a sensational Cask 23 in this vintage, which is nearly impossible to resist today, but will surely have a long graceful evolution ahead."

- 95 Punkte JAMES SUCKLING: "Shows extremely complex aromas of blackberries and currants with pine needles and black olives. Subtle, yet complete on the nose. Full body, extremely fine tannins and good balance. Very long and caressing on the finish. Goes on for a long time. Better after 2021."