Stags Leap Napa Valley Merlot 2022

Category:
 
Red Wines
Sub-Category:  
 
Red Wines
Producer:
 
Stags Leap
Label Name:
 
Napa Valley Merlot
Vintage:
 
2022
Country:
 
United States
Region:
 
Napa Valley
Volume:
 
750ml
ABV:
 
14.4%
Grape(s):
 
91% Merlot, 5% Petite Sirah, 4% Malbec.
Acidity:
 
3
Tannins:
 
3
Sweetness:
 
1
Body:
 
4
Length:
 
4
Aroma Intensity:
 
4
Best Temperature:
 
16-18°C

Awards/Ratings
James Suckling 95 points; Named #61 on James Suckling’s Top 100 Wines of the USA 2025. 4% by Wine. com

Tasting Note
Plush dark-plum and blackberry fruit with violet, tea-leaf and dried herb notes. Mocha, espresso and dark chocolate underpin a round, full-bodied palate with glossy tannins and a long, refined finish.

Food Pairing
Western: grilled ribeye, roast lamb, braised short ribs, mushroom risotto, aged cheddar. Asian: Peking duck, char siu (Cantonese BBQ pork), Korean bulgogi/BBQ beef, hoisin-glazed pork, umami mushroom dishes.

Production Method
Two- to three-week maceration with traditional fermentation; aged 19 months in 100% French oak (25% new).

Vineyard Info
Stags' Leap Winery (est. 1893) sources grapes from Oak Knoll, Oakville and Stags Leap District; noted Napa producer with heritage vineyards and a Napa Valley collection.