Stags Leap Cabernet Sauvignon: Best Vintages, Tasting Notes, Prices (2024)

Stags’ Leap Winery is one of Napa Valley’s oldest wine producers, with vineyards first planted in 1872. This California wine producer is best known for its bold, balanced Cabernet Sauvignon wines. 

Let’s explore Stags’ Leap Cabernet Sauvignon, including the best bottles to buy in 2024 and whether you should invest in them. 

We’ll also discover how Stags’ Leap Cabernet Sauvignon is made, the historic vineyards, and the difference between Stags’ Leap Winery and Stag’s Leap Wine Cellar. 

Stags' Leap Winery Legendary Cabernet Sauvignons

Stags' Leap winery is located in the Stags Leap District region of Napa Valley. 

Unlike nearby Sonoma County, Napa Valley and particularly The Stags Leap District appellation, is best known for its Cabernet Sauvignon. 

The earthiness and tannins in Stags' Leap Cabernet Sauvignon wines make them a great accompaniment to meat dishes like braised short ribs, grilled tri tip, prosciutto, and pasta with wild mushrooms. 

In addition to Cabernet Sauvignon, the Stags’ Leap winery also produces: 

• Sauvignon Blanc
• Rose
• Viognier
• Chardonnay
• Merlot
• Malbec
• Petite Sirah
• Petite Sirah Port
• Bordeaux red blend

The Best Stags’ Leap Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Bottles to Buy in 2024

These are some of the finest Stags’ Leap Cabernet Sauvignon wines:

1. Stags' Leap Winery Estate Audentia Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District, USA, 2012. ($248)
2. Stags' Leap Winery Coombsville Cabernet Sauvignon, California, USA, 2017 ($95)
3. Stags' Leap Winery The Leap Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon, 2015 ($118)
4. Stags' Leap Winery 'Twelve Falls' Red 2015 ($100)
5. Stags' Leap Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 ($131)
6. Stags' Leap Winery Nine Points Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 ($40)
7. Stags' Leap Winery Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 ($150)

1. Stags' Leap Winery Estate Audentia Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District, USA, 2012 ($248) 

This structured and bold vintage is among the top ten Cabs from the Stags Leap District. It’s a full-bodied wine with distinct red fruit flavors and oaky aromas.  

2. Stags' Leap Winery Coombsville Cabernet Sauvignon, California, USA, 2017 ($95)

Here we have a great wine with opulent, oaky aromas, lush fruit flavors, and incredible dusty tannins. 

3. Stags' Leap Winery The Leap Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon, 2015 ($118)

This luxurious red wine has dominant black cherry flavors and plush tannin mouthfeel with intense dark chocolate notes and a nice dry tobacco finish. 

4. Stags' Leap Winery 'Twelve Falls' Red 2015 ($100)

Here’s an extravagant, bold wine with a dark fruit nose and a flavorful palate of vanilla, oak, and cedar notes, with dusty tannins. 

5. Stags' Leap Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 ($131)

2013 was a good year for Californian wines, and this great wine is no exception. It’s well balanced with red fruit tasting notes, soft tannins, and a velvety leather finish. 

6. Stags' Leap Winery Nine Points Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 ($40)

This Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is bold with a thick, layered flavor. It has a distinct cocoa powder and cedar taste with subtle black cherry notes. 

7. Stags' Leap Winery Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 ($150) 

This wine is bold and structured with good acidity. It has distinct chocolate, black currant, and licorice notes, and a rich tannin mouthfeel. 

Should You Invest in Stags’ Leap Cabernet Sauvignon?

The best Stags’ Leap Cabernet Sauvignon vintages can be cellared for 7-10 years after their release.

Stags’ Leap Winery Cabernet wines are also consistently awarded high scores from wine critics:

• Cabernet Sauvignon 2016: Received 94 points from Wine Advocate in 2018
• Cabernet Sauvignon 2017: Scored 93 points from James Suckling in 2020

They enjoy stable price appreciation over time. For example:

• The Stags' Leap Winery Estate Audentia Cabernet Sauvignon's price increased by 44% from $171 in 2020 to $247 in 2021. 
• The Stags' Leap Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, 2013 jumped a 302% between 2019 and 2021, from $48 to $193.  

If you want to start investing in Stags Leap Cabernet Sauvignon or other fine wine from Napa Valley or around the globe, you should do it through a trusted wine investment company like Vinovest. It lets you invest with just a few clicks on the website!

Let’s also look at the vineyards and how the wines are made.

Stags’ Leap Cabernet Sauvignon Vineyards and Winemaking

The Stags’ Leap winery owns 240 acres of land, with 85 acres of vineyard plots.

The vineyard contains mostly volcanic rhyolite soil mixed with deeper Bale load subsoil and loose rock shards that hold the sun's heat after sunset. 

In addition to Cabernet Sauvignon, the winery also grows Petite Sirah and Merlot grape varieties. 

To achieve a fresh, balanced Cabernet wine, the Stags’ Leap winemaker Christophe Paubert uses traditional winemaking methods with minimal interference. 

Each grape is hand-picked and hand-sorted. The winemaker then ferments the wine and ages it in oak barrels sourced from the Stags Leap Palisades mountains.

What’s The Difference between Stags' Leap Winery and Stag's Leap Wine Cellar?

The prestigious appellation of Stags Leap has two wineries named after it - Stags' Leap Winery and the nearby Stag's Leap Wine Cellar. 

Both wineries were founded in the 1970s, have a proud winemaking heritage, and produce predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon wines. 

Here’s how they differ:

• Stags' Leap Winery: This producer is best known for it’s excellent Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah wines.
• Stag's Leap Wine Cellar: The Stag’s Leap winery (formerly known as The Fay Vineyard) won the Paris Wine Tasting of 1976, cementing its place as one of the finest Napa Cabernet Sauvignon producers. The Stag's Leap Wine Cellar was founded by Warren Winiarski, and also produces Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc wines.

The two estates were once embroiled in a legal battle over the name. It was decided that each winery would keep the Stags Leap name but with a distinctly different apostrophe placement.  

Stags' Leap Cabernet Sauvignon - A Napa Valley Legend

If you're looking for a bold, fruity bottle of California Cabernet Sauvignon wine, then the Stags' Leap winery has you covered. 

If you’re keen to build a portfolio of investment-grade wines, check out the Vinovest website to easily buy, store, and sell fine wine bottles from all over the world.