6% Petit Verdot; 5% Malbec; 3% Cabernet Franc. Complexing touches of mint and herbs and lots of vanillin oak are layered atop curranty fruit in the nose, and the wine shows the same mix in its moderately deep and very well-formed flavors. Carefully structured and ever so slightly smooth on the palate, it is wine that speaks directly to classic Stags Leap refinement and is thus easy to taste even now

Good bright red-ruby. Deep, candied aromas of black fruit liqueur, licorice, mocha, mint and flowers. The slightly exotic candied character carries through onto the palate, which offers sweet, fat flavors of black raspberry, mocha and chocolatey oak. The texture is supple despite a bit of spiky acidity. Finishes with sweet tannins. Also tasted: 2002 Merlot Crimson Creek Napa Valley.

Rating for United States-California: 95 (slightly better than average year)<br/><br/>Drinkability: young, aging quickly, could be good now<br/>

Stags leap district