#5 - Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2024

95pts Jeb Dunnuck

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.

94pts Wine Spectator

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. 13,363 cases made.

94pts Wine Independent

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.

93pts James Suckling

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.

92pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Chimney Rock's 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District is pretty textbook stuff, delivering black cherries and cassis dusted in dried earth and mixed spices. Medium to full-bodied, it's silky and fine, not overpowering but rather elegant, with a long, lingering finish.

Winemaker Notes

Abundant with sultry notes of cherry, tobacco, vanilla, and caramel with hints of dried sage. This fruit-forward beauty is silky in texture and mid-palate with a backbone of very fine grain tannins and a long finish.

Blend: 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 3.6% Petit Verdot, .4% Malbec