2018 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon ‘SLV’ Napa Valley

JS97 This is one of the best SLVs I have tasted with total balance and structure that highlights what was possible in 2018. It’s full-bodied, yet tight and poised, with layer upon layer of fine tannins that give depth and beauty to this young red. Blackcurrant, blueberry and floral flavors. Tight at the end. Needs until 2025 to really show what it has.
WA95-97 The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon S.L.V., a barrel sample, reveals a deep garnet-purple color and expressive notions of blackberry preserves, black cherry coulis and warm cassis with suggestions of eucalyptus, dark chocolate, lavender and tobacco leaf. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is tightly wound with black fruit and savory layers, supported by a rock-solid frame of grainy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long and lifted.
Estate Notes: The 2018 S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon has generous aromas of violet, plum dark fruit, cocoa dust and graphite. On the palate the wine has a rich, gravelly structure with pure fruit, dusty tannins and a long, savory finish. The tannin structure, dark fruit, and pleasing minerality point to this wine’s ability to age. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged for 21 months in 100% new French oak