Stags' Leap Wine Cellar Cask 23 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Stags' Leap Wine Cellar Cask 23 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 is the flagship of Stag's Leap Wine Cellars: 100% estate-grown Cabernet Sauvignon from the Stags Leap District, aged 21 months in 100% new French oak. The 2013 vintage — winemaker Marcus Notaro's first at the winery — earned 99 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 96 from Antonio Galloni, and 95 from Wine Spectator. At 14.5% ABV, it's the bottle that built the Cask 23 legend. It's available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 14.5%
- Size: 750mL
- Blend: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon — 45% S.L.V. vineyard, 55% FAY vineyard; 100% estate grown
- Aging: 21 months in 100% new French oak; 100% malolactic
- Origin: Stags Leap District, Napa Valley, California — harvested Sept 13–Oct 9, 2013
The Cask That Started It All
Cask 23 began in the 1974 harvest, when winemaker André Tchelistcheff pulled one beautiful S.L.V. vineyard lot aside to bottle separately — named for the large wooden cask it aged in. Five decades later it's still the winery's tête de cuvée: FAY vineyard's perfume married to S.L.V.'s structure and minerality, each lot aged separately in small French oak barrels and blended late. The 2013 is winemaker Marcus Notaro's debut vintage. Browse the store's Stags' Leap shelf or explore more Napa red wine.
Tasting Notes
Nose — black cherry, cola, currant, ripe figs with FAY's signature perfume. Palate — black fruit (black plum, black cherry) and blueberry with an intense, lingering cocoa-tinged finish. Rich and opulent (winery fact-sheet notes).
How to Enjoy
Decant 60–90 minutes and serve at cellar temperature. A wine at this level wants a ribeye or slow-braised short ribs — or just a quiet evening and a big glass.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "Cask 23" mean?
It honors the 1974 S.L.V. vineyard lot that winemaker André Tchelistcheff bottled separately — named for the large wooden cask it was aged in.
What scores did the 2013 Cask 23 receive?
99/100 from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Dec 2016), 96 from Antonio Galloni, and 95 from Wine Spectator.
Is it 100% Cabernet Sauvignon?
Yes — the 2013 is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, 100% estate-grown across the S.L.V. and FAY vineyards.
Napa royalty with a 99-point pedigree — order Stags' Leap Cask 23 Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.