Dear Friends,

When it came down to choosing the wine for the third “centennial” Lot offering, Lot 300, it was a choice between two wines, the 2009 Napa Valley Cabernet from the same producer as Lot 200 and the wine we are releasing today, or a “Reserve” designated 2009 Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon. Both wines suit the bill perfectly though it made more sense to us to continue the Lot 300 tradition with the same producer as Lot 200. Today’s release, Lot 303 2009 Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon is, in my opinion, every bit as good at Lot 300 and, in fact, the crowds were evenly split between the two wines at our Customer Appreciation events last week in NYC. Hold onto your hats for our best Stags Leap Cabernet to date…

Lot 303 2009 Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon comes directly out of the $100+ “Reserve” programs from one of the pioneers of the Stags Leap District. The vineyards are located in both the volcanic hillsides and alluvial soils of the eastern edge of the Napa Valley. The wine is sourced from their best sites, terraced just below the palisades of Stags Leap on both hillsides and alluvial fans. This classic Stags Leap District Cabernet shows blackberry, crushed plum, tellicherry peppercorn and cassis with loads of dark chocolate, pencil lead and a profound minerality suggestive of great Bordeaux (this estate was founded shortly after the famous 1976 Judgment of Paris tasting with an eye to competing with the best of Bordeaux). Silky texture and black fruit essence play out on a foundation of fine-grained tannins. Although primary and un-evolved, the finish is a tease of what is to come. Like Lot 300, Lot 303 has just two months in the bottle now and is just now coming out to play. Be sure to decant in the near term but know that the best of this wine is out ahead of it.

There is less than half the quantity with Lot 303 versus Lot 300, so we expect this wine to disappear quickly. If Stags Leap Cabernet is your thing, you’ll want to claim your share of the best Stags Leap Cabernet we have ever offered.

If you have any questions about this wine, Lot 300, or any of our other wines, please email us, or give us a call at 1-800-805-1971.

Cheers,


Cameron Hughes


*Free shipping on 12 bottles in increments of 6 e.g. 12, 18, 24, etc.