10 Fantastic Stags Leap Chardonnay Wines To Buy In 2024

The famous Stags Leap winery is situated in the Stags Leap District of Southern Napa Valley, California. 

It produces a range of critically acclaimed Chardonnay white wines that perfectly showcase the natural beauty of the grape.

Which are the best Stags Leap Chardonnay wines?

Let’s explore everything about this Chardonnay - its characteristics and tasting notes, 10 delicious bottles to buy, some food pairings, and winemaking practices.

Stags Leap Chardonnay: Styles, Characteristics, And Tasting Notes

The Stags’ Leap Winery produces three types of Chardonnay wines which range from sweet to dry.

• Stags Leap Chardonnay: It is a dry wine with delicate Meyer lemon, orange blossom, and fresh white peach aromas and green apple, fresh pear, and guava flavors.
• Stags Leap Late Harvest Chardonnay: Sweet stone fruit, orange peel, and delicate honeysuckle flavors fill the palate. This wine has bright acidity and balanced sweetness with a viscous mouthfeel.
• Stags Leap Barrel Selection Chardonnay: This wine has zesty citrus and tart melon flavors with a hint of aged notes. Aromas of green apple, crisp pear, and vanilla permeate the nose.

10 Delicious Stags Leap Chardonnay Bottles To Buy In 2024

Here’s a list of some exceptional Stags Leap Chardonnay vintages to buy now:

• 2010 Stags' Leap Winery Chardonnay
• 2015 Stags' Leap Winery Chardonnay
• 2012 Stags' Leap Winery Chardonnay
• 2007 Stags' Leap Winery Nine Points Chardonnay
• 2012 Stags' Leap Winery Late Harvest White
• 2013 Stags' Leap Winery Late Harvest White
• 2011 Stags' Leap Winery Barrel Selection Chardonnay
• 2014 Stags' Leap Winery Barrel Selection Chardonnay
• 2010 Stags' Leap Winery Winemaker's Reserve Chardonnay
• 2008 Stags' Leap Winery Winemaker's Reserve Chardonnay

1. 2010 Stags' Leap Winery Chardonnay, Napa Valley, USA ($45) 

This beautiful Napa wine has soft tannins with citrus and green apple aromas. It boasts a delicate palate of fresh fruit flavor with a lemon minerality from the vineyards.

2. 2015 Stags' Leap Winery Chardonnay, Napa Valley, USA ($34)

Here’s a 2015 Napa vintage wine with vibrant citrus fruit and subtle elderflower aromas. You’ll find refreshing lemon curd notes with a spicy white pepper finish on the palate.

3. 2012 Stags' Leap Winery Chardonnay, Napa Valley, USA ($32)

This bold wine has notes of oak, grapefruit, and vanilla. There’s a fresh bouquet of stone fruit and tropical aromas. 

4. 2007 Stags' Leap Winery Nine Points Chardonnay, Napa Valley, USA ($16)

This 2007 Napa Chard exhibits orange blossom and delicate honeysuckle notes. It has a lovely complexity with citrus and tropical fruit flavors.

5. 2012 Stags' Leap Winery Late Harvest White, Napa Valley, USA ($60)

This stunning Napa wine has smooth buttery notes with a honey and apricot kick. On the nose, expect tart white peach and floral honeysuckle aromas.

6. 2013 Stags' Leap Winery Late Harvest White, Napa Valley, USA ($65)

Here’s a Napa wine with a floral and fresh fruit bouquet. It has a velvety mouthfeel followed by apricot, persimmon, and a slight minerality.

7. 2011 Stags' Leap Winery Barrel Selection Chardonnay, Carneros, USA ($44)

With a golden straw color, this wine provides butter, toasted marshmallow, and corn aromas. The palate expresses fresh pear and zesty grapefruit.

8. 2014 Stags' Leap Winery Barrel Selection Chardonnay, Carneros, USA ($55)

This acidic Napa wine has bright notes of green apple and brioche toast. There’s a lingering finish with white flower aromas on the nose.

9. 2010 Stags' Leap Winery Winemaker's Reserve Chardonnay, Napa Valley, USA ($40)

Freshly grated nutmeg, orange blossom, and baked pear aromas spring up from this 2010 Napa wine. There’s a lovely freshness from the fruit flavors with pleasant undertones of flintiness.

10. 2008 Stags' Leap Winery Winemaker's Reserve Chardonnay, Napa Valley, USA ($40)

The luscious aroma of honeysuckle greets the nose, followed by green apple and orange peel flavors. It boasts a creamy mouthfeel and slight acidity.

Food Pairings with Stags Leap Chardonnay

Pair these elegant wines with veal, chicken, pork, and vegetarian dishes. Rich fish and artisanal foods also taste lovely with a Stags Leap Chardonnay.

For dessert, you can pair it with fresh lemon meringue pie or baked tarte tatine.

Now, let’s look at how Stags Leap Chardonnay gets made.

Stags Leap Chardonnay Winemaking

The Stags Leap Winery is one of California’s earliest wine estates. Here’s how they make their  Chards.

• Stags Leap Chardonnay: Classic Stags Leap Chardonnay is made by pressing 100% whole clusters of Chardonnay grapes. Unlike many Chardonnay producers, the winery does not utilize malolactic fermentation. Instead, the wine is aged on lees and stirred weekly to increase the mouthfeel.

The winery ferments 25% of the wine in stainless steel barrels, 25% in new oak barrels, and 50% in French oak. This unique barrel treatment helps the winery preserve fruitiness while adding an oaky complexity.

• Stags Leap Late Harvest Chardonnay: This wine is a Viognier-Chardonnay blend. The winery leaves the grapes on the vines for longer than usual, allowing for on-the-vine-dehydration. 

It concentrates the grape juice, creating a sweeter, fuller-bodied wine. Like other Stags Leap Chards, it does not undergo malolactic fermentation and is aged in neutral French oak.

• Stags Leap Barrel Selection Chardonnay: For this wine, the winemaker choosesthe most expensive Chardonnay barrels in a given vintage. 

The winery ferments 50% of the wine in aged French oak barrels and the rest in neutral French oak. This adds subtle oak notes while preserving fruitiness.

Get Your Hands On A Delicious Bottle Of Stags Leap Chardonnay!

If you’re looking for a crisp, zesty, and delicious bottle of Chardonnay, look no further than the easy-drinking Stags Leap Chardonnay.

But if you’re looking to build an investment-worthy wine portfolio of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, or other wines, visit the Vinovest website for expert help with buying, selling, and investing in rare and authentic wines from around the world.