VINTAGE NOTES
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.
 WINEMAKING NOTES
Harvested
between 9/26 and 10/26 at 23.6° Brix. Tank fermented and 100%
malolactic fermented. Aged for 15 months in French and American
oak barrels.
"For quite a few makers of Cabernet Sauvignon, 1980 produced
a more forward and a more complete wine than 1981. The contrary
is true for Stag's Leap Wine Cellars … The wine shows more
structure and more flavor interest than counterparts from a year
earlier, although they do exhibit a lighter texture than some of
the wines of the late '70's. With this exceptional wine we return
to the series of the superb wines, the last bottling of which was
the now famous 1978 Lot #2 bottling. This 1981, because of its beauty
and complexity, thus takes its place in the company of that wine.
A deep color with a plum-hued edge gives the wine an immediate appeal,
and the complex, subtle intertwining of aromas adds further interest
to that appeal. This is a wine to delight the various senses. It
has flavors at once delicate and robust, near and far-reaching with
tannin and structure for long life and current appreciation. The
wine finishes with great unity and overall balance.”
- Warren Winiarski, Release Letters
|
