The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Fay Vineyard Estate is an outstanding effort made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from a 67-acre estate vineyard in Stags Leap. Its deep ruby/plum color is followed by sweet aromas of plums, Allspice, licorice, black currants, cherries and flowers. Medium-bodied and elegant with a nice texture and silky tannins, it should drink well for 10-12 years. Dramatic improvements are clearly underway at Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, which was sold to a consortium led by Tuscany’s Piero Antinori in 2007. Antinori brought in well-known consultant Renzo Cotarella to improve the quality and, hopefully, get this winery back to the lofty heights it achieved in the seventies and early eighties. They seem to be well on their way, which is good news for consumers. This is a large estate of 104 acres, all situated as one giant block of vineyards in the southern part of the Stags Leap appellation. The change in ownership and winemaking staff shows progressive improvement with each vintage starting with 2007. The 2009s look to be their best wines to date. As for the 2007 reds, normally four cuvees are produced, all based on Cabernet Sauvignon, including the Cask 23, which comes from the best lots from the Fay and S.L.V. estate vineyards after fermentations are completed. The most impressive Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars’ offerings made since the 1985 vintage are the three 2009s I was permitted to taste from barrel. Tel. (707) 944-2020; Fax (707) 257-7501

This is a very strongly flavored Cabernet, most notable for the intensity of its blackberry, cherry and raspberry fruit. It’s almost sweet, an impression furthered by the caramel of toasted oak, although in reality the wine is fully and appropriately dry. Delicious and flashy, it should evolve in the bottle over the next dozen years. ——S.H.(4/1/2011)—— 93