Stags’ Leap Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Alternatives
On April 10, 2024, someone told me they like that the Stags’ Leap Cabernet Sauvignon is full bodied and smooth, but that the price is much too high. Here are three similar wines to try instead.
Wine recommendations by: Jessyca Frederick |
The ask
The wine: Stags Leap Cabernet
Likes: Full body and smooth
Doesn’t like: the price is way too high for me
BUY the Stags’ Leap Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
About the wine
I took some liberties with this recommendation because there is more than one winery bearing the name "Stags Leap" and I’m not sure which one you meant. I guessed based on which one is most widely available, and I assumed you meant the current vintage.
Here are some things to know about Stag’s Leap Cabernet Sauvignon (I’ve aggregated/distilled tasting notes from various sources):
- Region: "Cooler climates in" Napa Valley
- Aromas: Strongest: black cherry, blackberry, plum. Hints: earth, leather, and bittersweet chocolate, floral notes, baking spice, caramel, black pepper, and clove.
- Taste: Strongest: cassis, blackberry, red cherry, and Plum compote. Hints: red rose, tobacco leaf, forest floor, spice, green tea, and cocoa.
- Mouthfeel: Velvety tannins. Some say crispy, firm tannins. Balanced acidity. Long, smooth, dry finish.
- Oak program: 20 months in oak, 37% new French oak with the remainder in "seasoned" French oak. I’m not clear if that means neutral or 1-2 years old.
My recommendations
True Myth Cabernet Sauvignon ($16-24)
Why I picked it for you: it has many of the same flavors as the Stags’ Leap Cabernet Sauvignon, without the Napa price tag. It comes from Paso Robles which tends to produce bolder red wines, but this one is noted for its smoothness. It averages 4.2 stars from consumers.
Things you might not like: it saw less oak than the Stags’ Leap did, so oak-related flavors might not be as strong, expect it to be quite fruity and ripe.
Buy the True Myth Cabernet Sauvignon
Tiny Umbrellas Cabernet Sauvignon ($8-10)
Why I picked it for you: it’s in your wheelhouse for flavors and intensity (velvety, blackberry, and cassis). I liked this one as compared with some other cheaper Cabs because its oak profile brings cocoa instead of vanilla. It’s also low alcohol (12%), which is a bonus. It gets just under 4 stars from consumers.
Things you might not like: it saw less oak than the Stags’ Leap did, so oak-related flavors might not be as strong, expect it to be quite fruity and ripe.
One Stone Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon ($16-20)
Why I picked it for you: it has many of the same flavors as the Stags’ Leap Cabernet Sauvignon, without the Napa price tag. It comes from Paso Robles which tends to produce bolder red wines, but this one is noted for its smoothness. It’s made by a trusted producer (Ancient Peaks) and it gets approximately 4 stars from consumers.
Things you might not like: olive, which doesn’t taste in the wine way it does if you eat one, is a hit-or-miss flavor for some people and it’s called out in the tasting notes (those as a hint, not as a dominant flavor).
Notice: I hold no formal wine credentials. I am a wine geek who has consumed 1000+ of bottles from 100+ different wine clubs and 1000s more bottles that didn’t come from those wine clubs. I do not accept payment for inclusion here, and I do not accept payments to influence my recommendations.
Then why am I recommending wine? I know a lot about wine. Particularly I know some things average wine drinkers don’t usually know — like how to research a wine and decide if it’s worth buying. Typically wine buyers rely on critics reviews and scores when evaluating a new-to-them wine. Sometimes they search on Reddit.
Most of the time, the information uncovered isn’t truly useful because everyone has a different palate. The trick is in learning what you like and why, and then seeking similar wines to try.
Instead of telling you what I like (which I do in my wine reviews), this is about telling you what you might like, based on what you know you like (and sometimes don’t like). So I recommend wines to help wine lovers expand what they are currently drinking in the hopes that they’ll learn how to find wines on their own, too.
How do you make money at this? I find the wines I think are of interest using my wine marketplace (no AI is used anywhere in this process). It has inventory from most major online wine stores (Total Wine, Wine.com, and Wine Access) and dozens of other places to buy wine, too. Each wine I recommend comes with a "Shop this wine" link, which sends you to my marketplace. When someone buys a wine from my marketplace, I sometimes earn a commission.
I’ll probably spend around 30 minutes assembling your personal wine recommendations, but you are not obligated to buy anything. If you do buy something I recommend, whether locally or online, please let me know if you liked it! (Or if I missed the mark.)
Learn more about me or get in touch.