2018 Kukeri Proprietary Red Blend, Stags Leap District, Napa Valley
Divvy-Up
80 Points
Tasting Notes
Bold and balanced the 2018 Kukeri Stags Leap Red Blend, exhibiting aromas of dark fruit, cherry, pepper, and smokiness accented with spice herbal notes. A hint of black currant and cranberry, light cedary oak and dusty baking cocoa combine these aromatics to create this rich full-bodied Bordeaux red blend with great acidity, which makes a perfect accompaniment to any grilled meat dishes.
Winemaking
The grapes were handpicked, destemmed and allowed to cold soak for 3 days to help stabilize the color and enhance flavor. It was fermented for 15 days and punched down 2 times a day, with an additional 3 days extended maceration to increase extraction of color and phenolic compounds. The wine is then gently pressed and aged on fine lees for 18 months in mixture of 80% French and 20% American oak barrels with 30% new French oak to preserve the delicate notes and mouthfeel
Vines
The Stags Leap District is the Napa Valley smallest and most acclaimed sub-appellation. Located along the Silverado Trail, just a few miles north of Napa; the Stags Leap District was named after a legendary story of a courageous stag that eluded hunters by jumping to safety on the jagged cliffs of the Vaca Mountains.
The Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot and Petite Verdot grapes used in the blend are grown in the unique mixture of rocky, iron-rich volcanic soils that run along the rugged hillside to the east and gravelly riverbed soils on the western edge of the appellation.
Comments
The Judgement of Paris
May 24, 1976, the day that broke open the wine world. And from there wine never looked back. A supposed non-event, a smack down, blind tasting of French and California wines put together as a publicity stunt by the owner of a wine shop in Paris. You've seen the films.
The result was so predictable that only one journalist even bothered to attend, and that was only as the result of desperate pleading by the organizers. But that one journalist, George Tabor of Time Magazine, got the scoop of his career when the winning white and red wines turned out to be both from California.
So why am I writing about this now, here, with this offer?
The red wine that won the tasting, yep, a Cabernet Sauvignon from the Stags Leap District. At that time Stags Leap was not yet an AVA. That didn’t happen until 1989, but the Stags Leap District has been at the heart of Napa’s premier Bordeaux style wines from the beginning.
The first plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon in Stags Leap were on the Fay Ranch in 1961. Most thought the area too cool for the varietal, but it turned out that the hot days and cool nights created an opulent concentration of flavor combined with perfect acidity in the Stags Leap fruit. Seems that there is a topographical feature that creates a low pressure zone in Stags Leap that draws in cool air from San Pablo Bay. Automatic air conditioning.
Then there’s the soil. Volcanic and gravelly, poor soil that doesn’t hold water well, making the vines struggle to produce lower yields of concentrated fruit. An ideal combination for big, rich Bordeaux style wines with balance. As winemakers in the area like to say - the iron fist in a velvet glove.
There are only 17 wineries and 10 growers in the Stags Leap District. No shocker that the prices for Stags Leap reds are easily looking at $100 in the rear view mirror. The 2018 Appellation Collection featuring 16 wines from the individual wineries runs for $2150 if you can get it. An easy $135 a bottle on average.
Want to learn more about the Stags Leap District?
https://www.stagsleapdistrict.com/index.php
http://www.napavalleylifemagazine.com/stags-leap-district-ava/
https://wine.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Stags_Leap
Petar from Kukeri makes some of my favorite wines!
Ariana Kalff
Wine Country Connect
This 2018 Kukeri is a beautifully colored, nicely balanced blend of what I believe to be predominantly Cab Franc and Cab. It paired nicely with the Indian spiced pork ribs that we had for dinner. Loads of dark fruit, but enough spice to make it interesting and just a hint of smoke. This is a great value and we will be ordering more!
Thank you for the PrevView. Love the Indian food pairing.
I've been looking for a good pairing wine for Indian food, this sounds like it will do the trick. I'm in Thanks!
2018 Kukeri is sooo smooth! Just opened it smelled like a fresh cut field! Deep rich color.
Opened up It tastes smooth enough for every day. I had it with grilled chicken and farm fresh, late summer corn on the cob. It’s also complex enough to pair with an autumn roast or stew. Plan to have a glass by the fire-pit this weekend!
Autumn, Fire pit, Stags Leap Blend. Sounds like a pretty good way to spend an evening to me!
Two time domestique the Giro d'Bottiglia!
I love the Stags Leap District, but usually can’t find an excuse to open a hundred dollar bottle of wine on a Tuesday. I might have a steak or lovely Bolognese that my wife has made, but I still can’t pull the trigger. Thank you Kukeri, for producing a Bordeaux style wine from Stags Leap that will complement a wonderful meal. If you have had a Stags Leap Red you know the flavor, well rounded, chewy, distinctive, luscious flavors. Those characteristics can be found in this excellent wine.
I have been enjoying it over the last couple days and can still recommend it. However many bottles you get, you will be disappointed you didn’t buy more when you pour the last drop into your glass.
We opened a bottle tonight to pair with ribeyes on the grill and it was the perfect companion - full bodied and more than held its own against its Stag's Leap competition. Another great wine from Divvy-Up!