| Vintage Updates |
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Vintage 2006
Flooding kicked off the New Year in Napa Valley, which made for great news headlines, but caused no damage to dormant vines. Cool, wet weather delayed bud break by a few weeks, but by early June, the sun came out and vines began to bloom and set fruit. In mid-July, a record-setting heat wave lasted about ten days, which helped the vines catch up to a “normal” place in the typical growing season. Seasonal and somewhat cooler weather returned in August, with a mild weather pattern continuing throughout the fall that allowed for moderately paced, deliberate ripening and a long harvest period. |
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Vintage 2005
The 2005 vintage was extraordinary in both the abundance of fruit and in the quality of fruit, and it has the potential to be among the best in the decade. Heavy rainfall after bud break and during fruit set caused some nervousness early in the growing season. Fortunately, temperatures rose following bloom, and remained moderate throughout summer. The late spring rains and moderate temperatures reduced the need for irrigation; in fact, some blocks on deeper soils were dry farmed throughout the season. Then, in September, warmer weather arrived with an Indian Summer that provided ideal ripening conditions. |
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Vintage 2004
The 2004 vintage was a good year in terms of climate, crop level, and potential wine quality. The vines broke dormancy early, with bud break coming in late February, approximately 15 days early. A warm, dry spring followed, marked by some record high temperatures in March which set the stage for an early harvest. However, summer ensued with cool, foggy mornings and warm, mild afternoons which allowed sugar levels, flavors, and acidity to come into balance. |
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Vintage 2003
The 2003 vintage started out as one of the more challenging in recent memory. High temperatures in early spring, followed by one of the rainiest Aprils in history, disturbed many vines’ ability to set fruit. Temperatures stayed low throughout much of the summer, and for a while it appeared that harvest would be much later than normal. Warm weather in September helped bring the grapes to full maturity, resulting in excellent quality of fruit. |
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Vintage 2002
Early summer heat on the heels of a cool spring accelerated vine development after a delayed bud break and flowering. A repeat of the pattern occurred with almost autumnal conditions in August followed by one of the sunniest, warmest Septembers in recent memory. During the harvest of 2002, we continued to pick selectively in our search for the perfect fruit. This was a vintage that highlighted the benefits of our careful vineyard management practices. |
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Vintage 2001
The usual morning fog was absent for the better part of spring, and a few days of very hot weather in May initiated an early, quick bloom. The summer started hot and dry, then turned mild as the fog returned. Warmer weather returned in August as we prepared for harvest, but fortunately fruit acidity remained high as the heat allowed the grapes to attain optimum sugar levels and physiological ripeness. Some rain fell during the last week of September, but light winds and the return of sunshine dried the clusters and harvest resumed after two days. |
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Vintage 2000
Late spring rains and two early periods of warm weather caused some crop loss, which allowed the vines to focus their energies on the remaining fruit, resulting in added complexity. Summer temperatures were uniform and moderate, without periods of excessive heat or unseasonable coolness, allowing for the steady progression of grape ripening. Initially, mild fall days built a foundation of good acidity. Scattered showers at harvest made selective picking necessary as we waited for the full development of fruit flavor and physiological ripeness. A short period of late-season heat completed maturation without dulling acidity. |
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Vintage 1999
Delayed vine development initiated by a cool spring continued throughout the summer and through the second week of September. Then storm clouds arrived to stir things up a bit. After ominous rolls of thunder, the clouds delivered only a light dusting of rain and then peeled away. Temperatures increased steadily, sometimes breaking the 100 Fahr enheit barrier. As the vine leaves folded away from the sun, they pulled water out of the berries, concentrating sugar and acid – but full flavor had not yet been achieved. Careful maintenance and irrigation nursed the clusters along to physiological ripeness, and acid levels held, supporting fruit and texture. Our vine-by-vine harvesting methods ensured that fruit was picked only when it was completely ready. |
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Vintage 1998
The transition year from El Niño to La Niña was marked by heavy rainfall. A spring that never was evolved into a summer that almost never was, bringing us to a harvest that finally was. Cool spring showers set a moderate crop which was to help in flavor development later on. Aside from one heat spike, the summer was cooler than normal. It was a year that tested winemakers' resolve not to panic in the anticipation of autumn rains. Fruit that had achieved sugar ripeness was left on the vine, allowing for the development of full fruit maturity. Two storm systems gave us little more than a light misting of moisture, leaving unaffected hardier varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Brilliantly clear days of moderate heat followed, turning berry skins uniformly black with concentrated richness. |
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Vintage 1997
Heavy rains fell through the winter of 1996/1997 primarily from December through April. Warm soil temperatures initiated early budbreak and flowering. The summer was relatively cool, allowing the generous crop to ripen slowly with a steady persistence for an early crush. Warmer temperatures toward summer’s end enriched fruit characteristic and harmonized acid balance. |
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Vintage 1996
The winter of 1995/1996 was warmer than usual with abundant rainfall from December through the spring. Early budbreak and late rains combined to reduce crop size. Sporadic periods of high temperatures throughout mush of the summer initiated an early harvest. Deep flavors intensity was attained in spite of the shorter hang time, since loose bunches and smaller berry size concentrated fruit character. Cooler temperatures toward the end of summer allowed the retention of fruit acidity. |
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Vintage 1995
Heavy rains fall throughout the winter of 1994/1995. Budbreak, flowering and veraison were delayed. Intense heat in the middle of summer temporarily slowed sugar accumulation. Dry, hot winds toward the end of harvest achieved sugar levels and flavor intensity earlier than usual. This was the year that associate Winemaker Michael Silacci began helping to make wine at Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars. Assistant Winemaker Julia Winiarski joined him in creating the blend. They continue the tradition along classic lines of balanced fruit with multilayered complexity. |
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Vintage 1994
After a winter of average rainfall, warm temperatures in the spring of 1994 induced early budbreak, bloom and veraison. Grape ripening was leisurely through a mild summer, developing bountiful, complex fruit character. Cool harvest days preserved bright acidity to freshen the richness. In general, for California, the 1994 Vintage is very good. For Cask23, 1994 is one of the great years. |
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Vintage 1993
Six years of low rainfall ended with the winter of 1992-1993. The exquisite perfume and lush flavors of the 1993 fruit seem indicative of the vines’ response to the drought’s end, rather than simply an effect of the short crop caused by late spring rains. Consistent warmth throughout the summer allowed uninterrupted and relatively early ripening. This preserved acidity and fruit flavor. Wines from this vintage possess lean, elegant textures. |
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Vintage 1992
The word “perfect” used by many Napa Valley winemakers to describe some vintages may not always mean what you think. In 1992, for example, it means that nature compensated for less than perfect conditions, and produced extraordinary quality in spite of or because of these conditions. The vines seemed to adjust to a sixth year of drought with fully developed bunches. Fullness of color and flavor were achieved despite somewhat high yields, and summer temperatures did not sap the resources needed for final ripening. August heat brought ripeness to quick resolution without flavor or acid diminishment. |
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Vintage 1991
Cool nights and mild day temperatures provided an exceptionally long growing season. Hot days in the late summer ended fears that the fruit would not ripen before fall rain, and provided richness to the fruit which is beautifully balanced by the delicacy produced by slow ripening. |
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Vintage 1990
Complexity of fruit was achieved by lowered yields caused by rain during bloom. In comparing notes from 1989, we found that 1990 brought longer periods of cooler temperatures between peaks and high heat, maintaining good acidity and depth of structure. A prolonged Indian summer allowed us to pick the fruit at optimum ripeness. |
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Vintage 1989
For us, the weather patterns during the 1989 vintage, although not poor or adverse, were not typical of the other vintages of the 1980’s. However, rain fell on much of the ripening grape crop in mid-September creating something like“Bordeaux vintage” in California.
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Vintage 1988
Challenging weather in the spring of 1988 resulted in an unusually small crop. The Fruit, responding to a warm summer, ripened quickly, allowing us to harvest fully mature fruit in mid-August and early September.
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Vintage 1987
One of the earliest harvests on record for the Napa Valley, 1987 was a mild drought year. A heat spell in the beginning of the growing season partially explains the early harvest as well as the year’s low yields of both red and white grapes. While frost protection was not necessary in the spring, temperatures were generally cooler than usual aside from the heat spell, and the grapes ripened uniformly without experiencing extreme changes in their growing environment. The smaller crop levels and the ripening conditions produced wines of great complexity and character with exuberant berry flavors supported by firm structure.
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Vintage 1986
A mild winter was interrupted by a fierce storm in February which brought 20 to 30 inches of rain in three days. After the water receded, the vines which should have remained dormant 4 to 6 weeks longer, sprung to life. One of the earliest bud-breaks on record went unscathed by frost and the vines set a slightly above average crop. A mild summer did not waylay ripening, and harvest began in the middle of August. The wines exhibit lush concentrated flavors.
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Vintage 1985
The exceptionally early harvest and the fine weather in the fall of 1984 allowed the vines a long period of rest and “leisure” without the burden of fruit quality of 1985. After a year of normal rainfall, spring arrived hard on winter’s heels bringing the vines to flower early. Cool temperatures throughout the summer allowed the grapes to ripen in a leisurely way, which allowed richness and complexity to develop in the berries which were smaller than normal. Smaller grapes mean a higher skin to juice ratio and more concentrated flavors. Acid and pH figures were classical models for desirable proportions. One of Napa Valley’s greatest vintages.
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Vintage 1984
An early spring followed an unusually heavy rainfall in November and December. Mild weather brought the vines out of dormancy weeks ahead of schedule. Extremely warm summer days hastened ripening, and harvesting began the first week of September. The wines are richly voluptuous in fruit.
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Vintage 1983
In 1983, we again saw above-normal rainfall. The vines, however, seemed to adapt in a reverse fashion fro what they did in 1977 and restored a normal pattern for maturation after the large quantity of rainfall in 1982. The summer was cool and moderate, while the early fall brought enough heat to ripen the fruit before the autumn rains.
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Vintage 1982
Heavy rains, no frost damage and good weather during bloom set a record crop. Moderate summer temperatures did not hasten ripening and rains fell in mid September. The fruit which had not been picked before the rain was left to continue ripening on the vine. Selective picking saved the best fruit.
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Vintage 1981
The rains were short, only two-thirds of normal. June brought waves of heat. The growth of the vines was excessively accelerated. The rapid development compressed the normal evolution of vines and fruit. The grapes did not have long on the parent plant. Wines have moderate substance and structure to support lushness of fruit. Light, elegant and tender.
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Vintage 1980
Heavy winter and spring rainfall was followed by good bloom and set. The summer brought cooler than normal temperatures with no heat spells. Early October brought heat and fast ripening. High acids gave balance to the high sugar.
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Vintage 1979
This year gave ample opportunity for challenge to wine growers and winemakers in Napa Valley. It was a cool year, with very slow development of ripeness. This brought about a very late harvest. In fact, because Cabernet is a late variety in itself, the harvest was exceptionally late. Some grapes were thus caught by the rainfall at the end of harvest. It was a harvest more similar to Bordeaux that the Napa Valley. Our Cask 23, because of the early ripening location, escaped the rain entirely.
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Vintage 1978
Although this was a year of abundant rainfall, the vines had evidently prepared for another year of drought. The wines reflect this mixture of opposites. The wine possesses tannic structure from 1976 and 1977, while at the same time being fleshy and rich in body for 1978. A harmonious, yet tense combination provided beautiful flavor and texture.
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Vintage 1977
The second year of the drought brought also unexpected coolness. Amazingly, the dire predictions form the year before did not occur, and the fruit did not succumb to the stress conditions, but rather seemed to gain from them. The vines must have somehow adapted to prepare for the conditions they expected to be repeated. The wines are rich, yet graceful.
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Vintage 1976
Rainfall was down fifty percent and the lowest on record in recent time. Vine growth was short and berry size small. A warm spring ushered in a summer with some very hot days. In spite of the heat, acids were good and tannins were not overly extractive.
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Vintage 1974
This was a year which initially caused concern. The spring, summer an early fall were cool. Ripening was slow and even. Late fall brought days of heat and the vines responded to the heat as native desert flowers to moisture wit a rush of development. The long maturing time of the fruit produced wines of great complexity, while the late heat contributed richness.
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Vintage 1973
A warm spring with no frost damage was an auspicious beginning. Vines set a record crop (our youthful vines were only producing limited size crops). A cooler than normal summer provided good fruit development through slow ripening. Harvest was completed without the threat of rain, and the largest harvest in California grape growing history on record was safely fermenting. This was our first commercial vintage and the year that produced the Paris Tasting winner.
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