The legendary Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars comprises two iconic vineyards at the heart of the Stag’s Leap District. The two vineyards are separated only by a small creek, yet their soils differ markedly. Fay Vineyard features lighter, more porous soil, producing wines that are consistently the most elegant and approachable in their youth. The winemaker famously describes Fay as “an iron fist in a velvet glove” – powerful, yet refined.
After fermentation, the wine is aged for 18 months in predominantly new French and American oak barrels, followed by an additional 6–12 months of bottle aging before release. The result is a wine that showcases what only Napa Valley can deliver – intensity and concentration wrapped in remarkable elegance.
The bouquet bursts with aromas of cherry, blackcurrant, eucalyptus, vanilla, dark chocolate, and grilled bell pepper. On the palate, it is deeply expressive and structured, with fine-grained tannins and a long, graceful finish. In its youth, the wine’s power and vibrancy make it ideal alongside premium cuts of beef, spiced lamb dishes, game birds, or as a luxurious centrepiece for festive dining.
Decant for 1–2 hours before serving at 15–16 °C. With age, Fay will continue to gain in complexity and nuance over the next 20–25 years.
Accolades:
The producer:
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars remains one of the most revered names in Napa Valley. The winery made history in 1976 when its Cabernet Sauvignon triumphed in the now-legendary “Judgment of Paris” blind tasting, surpassing some of the world’s most prestigious wines, including Mouton-Rothschild, Haut-Brion, and Leoville Las Cases. That victory changed the global wine landscape forever and gave rise to the term “New World Wine.” Since then, Stag’s Leap has been a global icon, with its wines featured in many of the world’s finest cellars.
About the region:
California, the golden state on the U.S. west coast, produces the majority of America’s wines. Yet beyond its scale lies remarkable quality — some of the world’s most respected wines are crafted here, known for their sun-ripened fruit, depth, and sophistication. Napa Valley stands at the pinnacle of this legacy, a region where nature and craftsmanship unite to produce wines of unrivalled character and elegance.
