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Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Petit Verdot Winemaker Series (2017–2021)

This year marks 20 Years of sharing exceptional wines with our community, and we could not think of a better way to celebrate than by spotlighting a producer that embodies Napa Valley excellence. Our Winery Spotlight on Wednesday, January 14, features Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars and a rare opportunity to explore one of Bordeaux’s most intriguing grapes through a five‑vintage Napa Valley lens: Petit Verdot.

For one day only, this Winery Spotlight invites you to slow down, taste deeply, and compare five consecutive vintages of the Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Petit Verdot Winemaker Series. Each bottling is offered at half‑off savings, with up to 53% OFF overall. Those who secure the complete 2017–2021 vertical will enjoy $10 savings!

This is the kind of experience that has defined our first two decades, thoughtfully sourced wines, meaningful stories behind the bottle, and access to producers and vintages that reward curiosity. Join our emailing list or sign up for SMS wine text alerts to be notified when this rare Napa Valley vertical becomes available.

Why Petit Verdot Matters

Petit Verdot is one of the five classic Bordeaux varieties, traditionally used as a blending grape to add color, structure, and aromatic lift to Cabernet Sauvignon. In Napa Valley, it is even rarer to see Petit Verdot featured prominently, let alone as the star of the show.

Through the Winemaker Series, Marcus Notaro gives Petit Verdot the freedom to express itself across multiple sites and growing seasons. The result is a rare look at how this dark, perfumed, and powerful grape evolves when it is treated not as a supporting actor, but as the lead.

Across these five wines, Petit Verdot ranges from 83% to 100% of the blend, revealing its signature depth, firm tannin structure, and aromatic complexity, while also reflecting the nuances of vineyard site and vintage conditions.

The Winemaker Series Philosophy

Rather than focusing on a single house style, the Winemaker Series is built around intent and exploration. It gives the winemaking team latitude to highlight specific vineyard sites and varieties that offer something distinctive in a given year, even when they fall outside the winery’s core portfolio.

In this five-year vertical, Petit Verdot serves as a consistent thread, allowing differences in site, season, and blend to come into sharper focus. Tasted together, the wines reveal how Napa Valley’s diverse growing conditions shape structure, aromatics, and depth across vintages, while remaining anchored by a clear and deliberate winemaking approach.

Vintage by Vintage: A Five‑Year Journey

2017 Winemaker Series Petit Verdot

The 2017 vintage is remembered for both its challenges and its resilience. After a wet winter ended years of drought, the growing season oscillated between cool stretches and extreme heat, culminating in historic wildfires during harvest.

Sourced primarily from Hardester Vineyard in Pope Valley, this bottling showcases Petit Verdot’s affinity for warm days and cool evenings. Aromatically expressive, it opens with floral and spice notes, followed by a dense core of dark fruit framed by firm tannins. Subtle hazelnut tones emerge on the finish, adding dimension and polish.

This is a powerful yet composed expression, shaped by adversity and meticulous care.

2018 Winemaker Series Petit Verdot

If 2017 was dramatic, 2018 was harmonious. A long, steady growing season with moderate temperatures allowed fruit to ripen slowly and evenly, resulting in wines with clarity and balance.

From the warm Battuello Vineyard just north of St. Helena, the 2018 delivers a distinctly floral nose, accented by jasmine tea and subtle vegetal notes. On the palate, it is dark and full‑bodied, with flavors of dark chocolate, espresso, and currant layered over a dense, polished texture.

This vintage emphasizes elegance within power, showing Petit Verdot at its most refined.

2019 Winemaker Series Petit Verdot

The 2019 growing season began cool and wet, with vigorous canopy growth and careful vineyard management required early on. As summer progressed, conditions turned near‑ideal, leading to a long hang time and deeply expressive fruit.

This bottling draws primarily from Atlas Peak, with Petit Verdot making up nearly the entire blend. Aromas of violet, orange peel, and rhubarb lead into a savory mid‑palate and a rich, commanding finish. Compared to 2018, this wine leans more toward depth and intensity, with added richness and complexity.

It is a bold expression that highlights the mountain influence and extended ripening of the vintage.

2020 Winemaker Series Petit Verdot

The 2020 vintage will forever stand apart, shaped by drought, heat, wildfires, and the global pandemic. Despite these challenges, careful vineyard monitoring and precise decision‑making resulted in wines of surprising balance and character.

Blended from Battuello Vineyard Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon, with a small addition of Valdiguie, the 2020 offers ripe, expressive aromatics. Notes of blackberry pie, plum, currant, and mint unfold over a rich, full‑bodied palate. Oak spice and dark fruit linger through the finish, reflecting the warmth of the season.

Production was limited, making this vintage both distinctive and incredibly limited.

2021 Winemaker Series Petit Verdot

Widely regarded as a benchmark year for Napa Valley, 2021 delivered exceptional quality despite low yields. Dry conditions and a near‑perfect summer produced wines with balance, structure, and longevity.

This bottling is 100% Petit Verdot from Battuello Vineyard in St. Helena, offering a complete and unfiltered expression of the grape. Aromas of cassis, black fruit, espresso, and tiramisu are lifted by floral and rhubarb notes, creating both richness and freshness. The palate is luxurious and full‑bodied, with elegant oak and a long, polished finish.

Critically praised and built for aging, this is a standout conclusion to the five‑year arc.

A Vertical Worthy of the Moment

This five‑year Petit Verdot vertical is more than a set of bottles, it is a study in variety, site, and time. It reflects why we have spent 20 years championing thoughtful selections and meaningful savings: to create moments like this, where education, enjoyment, and value converge.

For one day only, take advantage of up to 53% OFF, with half‑off pricing on each vintage and an extra $10 savings when you secure the complete 2017–2021 vertical.

Opportunities to explore a world‑class producer, a rare varietal focus, and five consecutive Napa vintages at this level do not come often. This Winery Spotlight is built for discovery!

Winery Spotlight: Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars | Wednesday, January 14: One day. Five vintages. Exceptional savings.

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