TN: NV Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Golden Rectangle Fay

WINE TALK
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  • NV Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Golden Rectangle Fay - USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District (3/31/2018)
    Dark and heavy in the glass, ruby turn dark purple. Nose is dark red and purple fruits, violets, sharpie/magic marker, some all spice, saw dust, nilla cookie wafts. Very pleasant. Uncharacteristically lighter on the mouthfeel than the glass suggests. Much less potent, yet dark cherries, tobacco, soft tannins, medium(-) acidity, very smooth and integrated. Lacks a lengthy finish. Definitely more finesse than brute force. (91 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

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Definitely a fan of their Cabs after somewhat of a tough spell in late 90s and early 00s.

Napa Cab that tastes like Cab.

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There are few I consistently pick up a case from year in and out, SL is one of them. I visited their winery and it was a fantastic experience, joined their club, and now get quarterly shipments of all sorts of goodies.

When I think of Napa Cab, they are on the Mount Rushmore for history and style.

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I’m a big fan of Heitz and Charles Krug too. Again taste like Cab…even have that olive note that is so classic to Cabernet.

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When did they rename it and what does that signify?

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Golden Rectangle refers to a choice parcel of the Fay vineyard, rectangular in shape, which is particularly well suited for growing Cabernet Sauvignon.

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Curious that it’s a NV bottling. Any idea of the thinking behind that?

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Not offhand but I would like to know!

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I believe it’s multi-vintage, not non-vintage. Based on label and year bottled would give you idea of vintages.

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Kris - can you clarify that for me? I think of those as essentially the same thing (non-vintage wines being a blend of two or more vintages).

Thanks,
Andy

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I hit up Stag’s Leap as I would only be guessing and that ain’t much help. They don’t have a tech sheet per say however the October Newsletter had this as the write-up…

FAY Golden Rectangle Single Vineyard Red Blend – Napa Valley

This limited bottling of the “Golden Rectangle” combines Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot in a ratio that expresses the Golden Mean, or phi. The wine’s name refers to a mathematical principle that balances differing elements in a harmonious proportion – a concept that also describes our approach to winemaking.

Select lots are drawn from various vintages, making it “Non-Vintage.” However, this bottling is primarily (94%) from the powerful 2013 vintage. The melding of the vintages provides a unique blend of youthful exuberance and polished refinement that only age can provide.

This is a red wine to savor in the glass as it opens and reveals itself. The wine offers floral aromas with hints of tea, red fruit, oak and cardamom. On the palate, the wine is rich and bold with ample tannins and fruit flavors. Enjoy this wine with braised short-ribs with polenta or creamy risotto or rotisserie chicken with vegetables.

Doesn’t sound like a Frankenstein with 94% fruit from '13, maybe more of an experiment.

I’m also in the boat that non-vintage and multi-vintage are synonymous, or basically euphemisms of each other.