Stags' Leap Napa Valley Petite Sirah 2018

Ken's Wine Guide

This midnight purple colored Petite Sirah opens with a gentle barnyard, mushroom, black currant, and licorice bouquet. On the palate, this wine is medium plus bodied with medium acidity. It is balanced, round, robust and nicely coats your mouth. The flavor profile is mild chocolate and black plum blend with notes of mild oak and black tea. We detected hints of blueberry. The finish is dry, and its bold tannins and tingly acidity build-up linger for a while. The Tasting Panel would pair this Petite Sirah with a homemade three meat Bolognese lasagna, with a pan-roasted duck breast with a red cherry reduction sauce, or with a prime rib. Enjoy – KWG

James Suckling

Lots of ripe plums and blueberries, together with smoked meat, licorice and dried flowers. Dark chocolate and wet forest floor, too. Tight and meaty with a dense, chewy tannin structure. Full-bodied, ripe and fruit-driven. Long, savory finish.

Natalie Maclean

Stags' Leap Winery 2018 Petite Sirah is a smoky and spicy Napa Valley red wine with a splash of Syrah and Grenache added to the mix. Dark purple in the glass, this full-bodied red is dry and intense with blackberry, blueberry, meaty, cocoa, dried wild herbs and spicy flavours on the palate.

Michael Godel

Stags’ Leap represents one of California’s elite petite sirah in that it combines full and substantial fruit with ample if also supple tannins. Not the bruising and iron fisted varietal examples that dot the landscape but instead something inviting and fair. This being 2018 is terrific because the extra year or two have helped to soften the grip and set this PS up for success. Rich and luxe, balanced and now set free.

Sara d'Amato

“Dense and peppery, with an appealing crunchiness, this petit verdot is sourced from both northern vineyards in Calistoga and St. Helena along with southern vineyards in Oakville, Oak Knoll and Coombsville giving the wine a rather complex profile with both floral spice and density of fruit. The alcohol is particularly well managed in this longer, slightly cooler growing season. Excellent length.”

David Lawrason

From old petit sirah (durif) vines on this Stags Leap estate, comes a deeply coloured, firm and well structured red for the cellar - or for those who like a certain edge and heft in young reds. The nose shows blueberry/mulberry fruit, violet and quite herbal notes, with a certain bloody, ferrous minerality typical of this variety. It is full bodied, dense and gritty with considerable tannin. The focus and length are excellent to outstanding.

VINTAGES Wine Picks & Reviews

Elegantly perfumed aromas of black and blue berry, dark plum, peppery spice, and cocoa, with some wood spice and reductive notes rise out of the glass. It's full-bodied and well-structured on the palate with juicy, ripe black and blue fruit, pepper, spices, and cocoa flavours with touches of smoky mineral and black raspberry adding further complexity. Acids are fresh, vibrant, and juicy, while the firm tannins are structured and grainy. Nicely balanced throughout with savoury, smoky mineral, and cocoa notes lingering on the very long finish. Enjoyable now, but will be better in a few years. Drink over the next 15 years. Highly recommended buy! Score: 93 pts

Vivino