By Stag's Leap Wine Cellars
2022 Fay Hillside Cabernet Sauvignon

Background
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars purchased this incredible vineyard from Nathan Fay in 1986. Today, FAY, along with S.L.V., produces the grapes for Stag's Leap Wine Cellars' iconic Estate Cabernet Sauvignons. Each vintage, our winemaker bottles special wines to highlight select parcels from these estate vineyards, exclusively for wine club members. These specialty wines are a way to take club members "on a walk through the vineyard with the winemaker" to experience the unique characteristics that define the winery's world-class vineyards.

Vintage Details
The 2022 vintage was the third year in a row of drought. Following the 2021 harvest, we received a record rainfall of 11.20 inches at the end of October, leaving the soil saturated. Unfortunately, the rest of winter was remarkably dry. We began the 2022 season with early mowing and tillage to conserve as much soil moisture as possible. There was an unusual hail/rainstorm at bloom that reduced yields in some vineyards. This was followed by a late frost in mid-April, but thankfully, we did not get extreme freezing temperatures. Spring weather was very unpredictable, with a mix of cool, warm, and hot days. To add to the excitement, Mother Nature gave us some late-June rain that increased mildew pressure across the valley. It wasn't until mid-July that we reached our typical summer temperatures. The rest of the summer saw average temperatures and good growing conditions. Then, just at the start of harvest, we experienced a nine-day heat wave with record temperatures. Despite the drought and extreme heat at harvest, with careful attention to timing our vineyard work, we brought in exceptional fruit. Overall, the wines from this vintage have riper flavors and softer acid structures.

Production
There are 26 main Cabernet Sauvignon blocks within the FAY vineyard. The grapes for this bottling are from FAY blocks 7AB, 8C, and 9 on the hillside, closest to the Palisades and its volcanic soils. We call these the "power blocks" as they are the backbone of the FAY vineyard. The small berries and small clusters give the wine intense flavors, deep saturation, and great grip. After fermentation, the lots were aged for 20 months in 100% new French oak barrels. This wine is 98.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1.5% Cabernet Franc.

Wine Details
Blend: 98.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1.5% Cabernet Franc
Aging: 20 months in 100% new French oak
Alcohol: 15.00%
TA: 0.51 g/100ml
pH: 3.87

Tasting Notes
The 2022 FAY Hillside opens with spiced plum and dried fruit, followed by notes of boysenberry and cherry cola, with subtle touches of brown sugar, molasses, and green tea. On the palate, it is rich and ripe, with a rounded texture, showing layered dark-fruit flavors that carry through to a savory, persistent finish marked by ripe blueberry and dark-berry character.
[Information provided by Stag's Leap Wine Cellars]