Chimney Rock Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District 2021 (750ML)

95 JD / 94 WS / 94 WI / 93 JS / 93 DE

#5 Wine Spectator Top 100 2024

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District is based on 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, 3% Merlot, and minuscule percentages of Petit Verdot and Malbec that's all from estate fruit in the Stags Leap District. It offers a pure, medium to full-bodied, incredibly elegant style as well as tons of minerality in its red and black fruits, ripe, building tannins, nicely integrated acidity, and just a kiss of background oak. I love the overall style of this beauty, which will compete with wines two to three times the price. - Jeb Dunnuck

Super lush and polished in feel, with creamy-textured açaí, mulberry and cassis notes gliding through slowly. Laced with alluring hints of violet, iris and anise, this offers a melted licorice note on the finish, but the fruit wins out easily. Drink now through 2037.—James Molesworth, Wine Spectator 

If you drive along Napa Valley’s Silverado Trail, you might notice the large, Cape Dutch–style Chimney Rock winery in the Stags Leap District. The legendary Philip Togni made the winery’s debut 1984 and 1985 vintages. The Terlato family bought it in 2000, assuming full control in 2004. They installed Elizabeth Vianna as head winemaker in 2005. Vianna is among the vanguard of winemakers in Napa embracing more holistic farming, including ending herbicide use in the vineyards. The 2021s here are her best set of wines yet, all derived from 100 percent estate fruit. This wine’s case production is ample, and its price reasonable for the category. - Wine Spectator 

The 2021 SLD Estate Cabernet Sauvignon has 5% Cabernet Franc, 3% Merlot, 0.5% Petit Verdot, and 0.5% Malbec in the blend. Deep garnet-purple in color, it gives up expressive notes of blackberry pie, warm cassis, and preserved plums leading to wafts of bay leaves, black olives, and iron ore. The medium to full-bodied palate has impressive energy, with firm, grainy tannins and nice tension framing the vibrant black fruits, finishing long and pure. - Lisa Perotti-Brown, Wine Independent

Attractive aromas of blackcurrants, walnuts, spiced cedar and black olives. Full and creamy yet polished and sleek with bright fruit and fine, slightly chewy tannins. Chalky finish. Try after 2025. - James Suckling

Fragrant and ripe cherry fruit is laced with ironstone minerality and charged with dizzying wild herbs and dried spring flowers. Medium-bodied with a dirth of firm, taut tannins that support a panoply of crunchy red fruit, spiced plums, and elegant cedarwood. Aged 18 months in 50% new French Oak rounded out with tiny splashes of Petit Verdot and Malbec. - JC, Decanter