Stags’ Leap Chardonnay 2023
Napa Valley, California, USA 🇺🇸
Overview
A complex and elegant Chardonnay, made with a touch of Viognier (1%), aged in a thoughtful mix of French oak (50% neutral, 25% new) and stainless steel. This approach keeps it bright and fresh, while still offering richness and depth—a classic Napa Valley balance.
Aromas & Flavors
On the nose: lemon crème, white pineapple, melon, and delicate citrus blossoms and magnolia flowers.
On the palate: Golden Delicious apple, Asian pear, lemon curd, with accents of vanilla, brioche toast, ginger, and an exotic lift of lychee.
Mouthfeel
Full-bodied and creamy, with a long, satisfying finish. The minerality adds freshness, while the oak provides subtle spice and structure.
Winemaking Notes
100% Chardonnay + 1% Viognier, aged for 4.5 months in oak & stainless steel. Native malolactic fermentation balances creaminess with acidity.
Food Pairing
Perfect with grilled scallops, lobster tail, or white sea delicacies. Can also elevate creamy pasta or roasted chicken with herbs.
Verdict
A gorgeous Chardonnay—rich, floral, and layered, but still refreshing. A wine that shows Napa’s finesse while keeping an approachable style. — 19 days ago
Well balanced and aged beautifully. Did this in a blind tasting and guessed 2007-2009 as the fruit was still so prominent and pronounced but in a nice way. Tannins were so well integrated and there was still nice structure. Crowd pleaser! — a month ago
My two-day Pork Chop marinade. I have found the Long Shadows Poet Leap to be the perfect pairing.
Here is the recipe. Try it sometime.
4-6 thick cut bone-in pork chops
- 1 cup hoisin sauce
- 1 1/2 tablespoons of sugar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons of Tamari soy sauce
- 1 1/2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons of rice vinegar
- 2 scallions chopped
- 1 teaspoon Tabasco Sauce
- 1 1/2 teaspoons of Lee Kim Kee brand chili sauce
-1 1/2 teaspoons of ginger finely chopped (I triple this)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons of garlic finely chopped (again.
I double this)
- 3/4 cup of cilantro finely chopped (no stems)
- 1 tablespoon of sesame oil
— 21 days ago
Classic Napa zin. Not a overbearing fruit bomb here. A producer who's cut their teeth & knows how to vinify w/ out the added garbage. — 6 years ago
Pale lemon color with aromas of ripe fruits, citrus, toasty vanilla and warm baking spice scents, aged in 35% new French oak. On the palate complex flavors of apricot, pineapple & lemon citrus, well balanced with acidity on a nice mouthfeel. Long finish ending with oak, mineral and citrus notes, will continue to age. A big Chardonnay. Pair this with a Striped Bass dressed in a puttanesca sauce topped with bitter watercress. — 6 days ago
Nose of plum, black fruit. Very closed right after open, much better after 3 hours decant. Full body with intense dark fruit, gravel and dusty flavors. — a month ago
Delicious, easy drinking with a nice after taste — 9 days ago
Tart lemon, like a thicker Chablis — a month ago
Tom Garland
Poetry wine Dinner at Cliff Lede winery. Shot of the Poetry hillside vinyard.
WINES
2022 Cliff Lede sav blanc
2022 Cliff Lede Crossfade..cab & cab franc
2024 Cliff Lede Marla Blanc..semillon
2022 Cliff Lede Rhythm cab sav
2022 Cliff Lede Poetry cab sav
2012 Cliff Lede Poetry cab sav
FOOD
App:
Gilled peach/burrata crostini, ahi tuna tartare, mini beef wellington, mushroom duxelles.
Main:
Heirloom tomato and melon salad
Pappardelle with wild mushrooms
Grilled Creekstone farm filet
Dark chocolate tart — 13 days ago