The 2021 Chimney Rock Cabernet Sauvignon Stag's Leap is a red wine hailing from the North Coast region of California, specifically the Stag's Leap District in Napa. This vintage is composed primarily of Cabernet Sauvignon (91%), with small percentages of Cabernet Franc (5%), Merlot (3%), Petit Verdot (0.5%), and Malbec (0.5%).
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate awarded this wine a score of 92, noting that it delivers "black cherries and cassis dusted in dried earth and mixed spices." The review emphasizes its medium to full-bodied nature, describing it as "silky and fine," with a long, lingering finish. Joe Czerwinski highlighted its elegance rather than overpowering qualities, making it a textbook example of its kind.
Jeb Dunnuck gave the wine an impressive score of 95, praising its "pure, medium to full-bodied, incredibly elegant style" and "tons of minerality in its red and black fruits." He also mentioned its "ripe, building tannins, nicely integrated acidity, and just a kiss of background oak." Dunnuck emphasized that this wine's overall style could compete with bottles priced two to three times higher.
James Suckling rated the wine 93, complimenting its "attractive aromas of blackcurrants, walnuts, spiced cedar, and black olives." He described it as "full and creamy yet polished and sleek with bright fruit and fine, slightly chewy tannins," concluding with a "chalky finish." Suckling suggests trying the wine after 2025 for the best experience.
The Wine Independent's Lisa Perrotti-Brown scored this vintage 94, describing it as having "expressive notes of blackberry pie, warm cassis, and preserved plums" with "wafts of bay leaves, black olives, and iron ore." She noted the wine's "impressive energy" and "firm, grainy tannins," with a vibrant black fruit finish that is "long and pure."
Wine Spectator also awarded the 2021 Chimney Rock Cabernet Sauvignon a score of 94. The review described it as "super lush and polished in feel, with creamy-textured açaí, mulberry, and cassis notes gliding through slowly." The wine is "laced with alluring hints of violet, iris, and anise," and finishes with a "melted licorice note," though the fruit remains dominant. JM recommended drinking this wine now through 2037.
In summary, the 2021 Chimney Rock Cabernet Sauvignon Stag's Leap is a highly regarded, elegant wine with a balanced profile of fruit, earth, and spice, suitable for both immediate enjoyment and long-term aging.