Stag's Leap Wine Cellars
Fay Apologue Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley, California, USA
What a nose! From the straight pour into the decanter to later in the glass; ripe, slightly stewed/baked; mulberries, boysenberries, black plum, blackberries, blackberries raspberries, blueberries, dark cherries, incense, ambers, wood char, leather, saddle-wood, black turned earth, slightly, moist clay, dry top soil, beautiful, soft, smooth, dark spice, fresh tobacco with a little ash, dry stones, some licorice & dark berry cola, steeped fruit teas, a little Provence herbs, vanillin, understated; cinnamon, clove & nutmeg framed in fresh & withering; dark, blue, some red & purple flowers with interlaced violets.
The palate has excellent delineation. It’s seamless wire to wire. The body is rich, thick, lush & full. The tannins are round & nicely softened but, still have chewy, tarry, tannins. It’s a good look in on the 2009 but, will still ascend for another 7-8 years before peaking, hold a few years and start its slow decent over the next 8-10 years. Properly stored of course! The structure & tension still need to soften but, the length & balance have found their groove. Ripe, slightly stewed/baked, beautifully floral and a touch candied; mulberries, boysenberries, black plum, blackberries, blackberries raspberries, blueberries, dark cherries, haunting raspberries with strawberries pulling up the rear. Incense, ambers, wood char, dark expresso used grounds, sweet tarriness, leather, saddle-wood, black turned earth, slightly, moist clay, dry top soil, beautiful, soft, smooth, more pronounced dark spice than the nose with good, mid intensity palate heat, black pepper, shades of potpourri, fresh tobacco with a little ash, dry stones, some licorice & dark berry cola, steeped fruit teas, a little Provence herbs, mocha powder, vanillin, understated; cinnamon, clove & nutmeg framed in fresh & withering; dark, blue, some red & purple flowers with interlaced violets. The acidity is round & phat and holds the slightly elevated alcohol in check. The long finish is, rich, ripe, lush, smartly polished, well knitted balance of fruit & earth, sliding into dusty, yet velvety tannins with dark spice on the long set.
Photos of; Stag’s Leap Winery’s tasting room & Estate vines, Lake Fay and inside tasting bar/room.
What a nose! From the straight pour into the decanter to later in the glass; ripe, slightly stewed/baked; mulberries, boysenberries, black plum, blackberries, blackberries raspberries, blueberries, dark cherries, incense, ambers, wood char, leather, saddle-wood, black turned earth, slightly, moist clay, dry top soil, beautiful, soft, smooth, dark spice, fresh tobacco with a little ash, dry stones, some licorice & dark berry cola, steeped fruit teas, a little Provence herbs, vanillin, understated; cinnamon, clove & nutmeg framed in fresh & withering; dark, blue, some red & purple flowers with interlaced violets.
The palate has excellent delineation. It’s seamless wire to wire. The body is rich, thick, lush & full. The tannins are round & nicely softened but, still have chewy, tarry, tannins. It’s a good look in on the 2009 but, will still ascend for another 7-8 years before peaking, hold a few years and start its slow decent over the next 8-10 years. Properly stored of course! The structure & tension still need to soften but, the length & balance have found their groove. Ripe, slightly stewed/baked, beautifully floral and a touch candied; mulberries, boysenberries, black plum, blackberries, blackberries raspberries, blueberries, dark cherries, haunting raspberries with strawberries pulling up the rear. Incense, ambers, wood char, dark expresso used grounds, sweet tarriness, leather, saddle-wood, black turned earth, slightly, moist clay, dry top soil, beautiful, soft, smooth, more pronounced dark spice than the nose with good, mid intensity palate heat, black pepper, shades of potpourri, fresh tobacco with a little ash, dry stones, some licorice & dark berry cola, steeped fruit teas, a little Provence herbs, mocha powder, vanillin, understated; cinnamon, clove & nutmeg framed in fresh & withering; dark, blue, some red & purple flowers with interlaced violets. The acidity is round & phat and holds the slightly elevated alcohol in check. The long finish is, rich, ripe, lush, smartly polished, well knitted balance of fruit & earth, sliding into dusty, yet velvety tannins with dark spice on the long set.
Photos of; Stag’s Leap Winery’s tasting room & Estate vines, Lake Fay and inside tasting bar/room.
