By Stag's Leap Wine Cellars
2020 Heart of FAY Cabernet Sauvignon

Background
Winemaker Marcus Notaro crafted this wine to demonstrate the special characteristics of a specific section of FAY Vineyard. Hailing from the center, or heart, of the vineyard, the Heart of FAY Cabernet Sauvignon embodies the confluence of this wonderfully complex vineyard.

Vintage Details
A dry, hot growing season, coupled with a global pandemic and multiple wildfires, made 2020 a year we won't forget. Due to the dry winter, we started more tillage than normal in February to preserve soil moisture and reduce competition. Rain right at bloom interrupted fruit set and provided a "natural fruit thinning," bringing the crop into balance relative to the dry soil conditions. We were excited during the heart of the growing season, as vines were in balance and the timing of impactful viticulture practices (leafing, crop adjustment, etc.) was nearly perfect. Several heat events, including a three-day heat spike over Labor Day weekend, led to an early harvest. This was the year of the LNU Complex Wildfire and the Glass Fire Complex. As we do with every vintage, we taste grapes daily in the vineyards and back up our tastings with lab analysis. We are fortunate to have ready access to our own lab and the tools necessary to make informed decisions about picking, winemaking, and bottling, ensuring overall wine quality. The warm weather produced wines with a riper character. We are very pleased with the resulting wines from the 2020 vintage (although there won't be as many bottles) to carry our legacy forward.

Production
In 2020, the Heart of FAY is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from FAY Vineyard. The fruit was primarily picked from Blocks 2C and 4N. The wine was aged for 19 months in 100% new French oak barrels and bottled with minimal filtration.

Wine Details
Blend: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Aging: 19 months in 100% new French oak
Alcohol: 14.80%
TA: 0.50 g/100ml
pH: 3.79

Tasting Notes
This Heart of FAY Cabernet Sauvignon delivers aromas of Bing cherries, chocolate-dusted raspberries, and ripe blackberries. The palate is filled with coating flavors of blackberry, boysenberry, and spice that linger on the finish.
[Information provided by Stag's Leap Wine Cellars]