A touch less herbal and a little richer in sweet oak spice than its sibling from the Fay Vineyard, this bottling shares a certain familial plumpness and palatal suppleness nonetheless. It juxtaposes lots of ripe cherries and deep, cassis-like fruit with elements of milk chocolate, vanilla and cream-sweetened coffee in its very long and nicely layered flavors. It is bound to tempt early drinking owing to its obvious polish, but its stuffing and essential structure insure that it will hold up nicel...

Saturated ruby-red. Oaky aromas of cassis, plum, cola and dark chocolate. Very ripe and chocolatey, with supple, somewhat low-toned flavors of currant, dark plum, tobacco and earth. Finishes sweet and persistent, with slightly dry-edged, earthy flavors of sassafras and sweet tobacco. Very Stags Leap in character.

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