STAG'S LEAP WINE CELLARS
NAPA VALLEY, CALIFORNIA
WHY BUY:
The great thing about Stag's Leap Wine Cellars is that they never rest on the past, and the prize of today’s offer serves as a resounding exhibit A: their stunning, 100-point Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cask 23 from 2021. We also had them open their cellars to us, and have brought you another 6 wines, going back more than 10 years, including a gorgeous, 97-point S.L.V. from 2018. And last but not least: for the first time in many a moon, Stag’s Leap Cellars has introduced a new wine, and we’re proud to have partnered with them to launch it. Cellarius is the newest chapter in their grand multi-volume saga: made with fruit sourced from their legendary Napa terroir, but priced for everyday consumption. All told, a superlative collection of old and new that showcases why Stag's Leap remains the gold standard for Napa Valley excellence — an estate with a storied past and a just-as-glorious present, sustained now by Antinori, the 26th-generation winemaking family that acquired the estate in 2023.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING:
The critics have been nothing short of effusive about these wines. Jeb Dunnuck awarded a perfect 100 points to the 2021 Cask 23, praising its "incredible purity... seamless mouthfeel, flawless balance, and a great, great finish.” Such perfection doesn't come often, even from estates of this caliber. Wine Enthusiast weighed in, with much the same enthusiasm, on the 2018 SLV Cabernet, awarding 97 points and declaring it "another outstanding vintage for this vineyard-designate standout from the famously historic producer," with "an earthy undercurrent of dusty tannin and toasted oak [that] add contours of savory complexity that will withstand further aging.” James Suckling was nearly as impressed with the 2022 Cask 23, awarding 96 points and noting "an extra level of intensity and concentration... balanced tannic structure, rich flavors and a long finish that will carry it far into the future.”
OUR TASTING NOTES:
The Cellarius Cabernet delivers everything you'd expect from Stag's Leap: that signature combination of power and finesse, with rich dark fruit balanced by elegant tannins and mineral definition. The Chardonnay is its stylistic opposite — crisp, expressive, and elegant, and a reminder that Stag's Leap's mastery extends far beyond its famous reds.
In the 2021 Cask 23, we find Napa Cabernet operating at the highest conceivable level: every aspect is patiently developed, finely integrated, and exquisitely calibrated. The 2022 Cask 23 does what big wines often struggle to do: it’s intense, concentrated, and rich, yet never comes across as too heavy, and portends decades of graceful evolution. The 2018 SLV demonstrates its single-vineyard mastery with an ease that feels almost effortless; we love its earthy complexity, and its core of pure Cabernet fruit.
THE STORY:
May 24, 1976. That's the date that set American wine on a new course, and made Stag's Leap Wine Cellars a star. When their 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon stunned the wine world, beating out some of the most legendary estates in Bordeaux at the famous Judgment of Paris tasting, it proved that Napa Valley could stand with the greatest wine regions on earth. In the decades since, Stag's Leap has only added to its legend, with exceptional single-vineyard bottlings (S.L.V., Fay, CASK 23) that set a new standard for Napa Cabernet. The 2023 acquisition by the Antinori family represents not just a changing of the guard, but a melding of Old World expertise with New World innovation. When a family with 26 generations of winemaking experience chooses to invest in an American estate, it speaks volumes about both the quality of the terroir and the potential they see for the future.
THE VINEYARDS:
The estate's flagship vineyards continue to define Napa Valley excellence. The S.L.V. (Stags Leap Vineyard) produces wines of remarkable consistency and aging potential, while the Fay vineyard contributes its own distinctive character. Cask 23 represents the pinnacle — a blend of the finest barrels from both vineyards, and made only in exceptional vintages.
WHAT TO PAIR IT WITH:
The Cellarius Cabernet pairs beautifully with anything from a grilled ribeye to lamb with rosemary to a board of aged, ripened cheeses. The Chardonnay is an ideal match for roasted chicken, lobster with butter, or creamy risottos. As for the age-worthy Cask 23 and single-vineyard wines, these deserve to be saved for solo drinking and special occasions.
FUN FACT:
You can find Stag’s Leap wines in a wine store, of course, but you can also find a bottle in the Smithsonian. The very bottle, in fact, that won the Judgment of Paris.
OUR GUARANTEE:
As always, we only buy and source directly from the producer, to ensure pristine provenance. Whether you're acquiring the new Cellarius wines to be part of history or the legendary older vintages for your cellar, every bottle arrives with impeccable authentication. You might not have been around in 1976, but this is a rare and wonderful chance to be part of history while gifting yourself some of the most pleasurable wines around.
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Winter 2025. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. The price reflected on your order form is subject to change after the order is placed in the event of a change in tariffs or taxes that are imposed by the U.S. government, or in the case of currency fluctuations of 10% or greater. Offer not valid in CT, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MI, NE, NJ, NM, NY, SC, OK, TN & WI. This offer is valid for TWO WEEKS, or until sold out, and will expire on Sunday, July 13th, 2025.