2009 Steltzner Vineyards Cabernet Franc Stags Leap District 750 ml

PlumpJack’s Land Grab in Stags Leap

Since the late 1980s, three Napa Valley wineries consistently turned out Merlots and Cabernet Francs that outpointed many of the valley’s top-flight Cabernet Sauvignons. Michael Havens, whose “Merlot Reserve” and “Bourriquot” were drawn off several handpicked sites in cool-climate Carneros, crafted beautifully structured, Right Bank-inspired renderings that have aged beautifully for decades.

Not too far away, at revered Three Palms Vineyard, Dan Duckhorn’s Merlot quickly found its way onto every steakhouse wine list in America, spots Duckhorn has never relinquished.

But for those of us who preferred richer, sleeker, riper, decidedly New World renderings of Right Bank varieties, we flocked to Stags Leap. When we asked Dick Steltzner — who always seemed more comfortable driving a tractor than a 4-door sedan — why he never ripped out his Cabernet Franc to farm more lucrative Cabernet Sauvignon, the big, broad-shouldered grower didn’t hesitate: “Why? Because in some vintages, the Cabernet Franc is better!”

In early 2012, the PlumpJack Group, founded by California Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom and billionaire philanthropist Gordon Getty, acquired Dick Steltzner’s 40-acre jewel. “It’s just a quintessential Stags Leap vineyard,” PlumpJack GM John Conover said. While the selling price was never made public, the numbers we overheard at a table-side conversation at the Grill at Meadowood were dizzying.

Just nine months later, PlumpJack would conduct its first harvest off the old Steltzner Vineyard. The 2012 PlumpJack Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve would go on to earn a 96+ rating from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, carrying a $225/bottle price tag.

As for Dick Steltzner, as much as our old friend enjoyed spending his days on the seat of his tractor, he despised life on the road. Not surprisingly then, 33 months after selling Steltzner Vineyards to the PlumpJack Group, Dick decided it was time “to clean out the cellar.” Hence today’s offer — the most stunning Stags Leap “closeout” ever to grace a WineAccess page.

The summer of 2009 was mild and dry. An excellent year for Stags Leap Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009 was nearly perfect for earlier-maturing Cabernet Franc. The 2009 Steltzner Stags Leap Cabernet Franc is brilliant purple in color, infused with plush aromas of crushed black and red fruits, licorice, and violets. Still youthful and perfectly primary on the attack, rich and polished, filled with black raspberry preserves, a hint of tobacco, and a dash of white pepper. Gorgeous now, but like all of Steltzner’s great Francs, this perfectly cellared 2009 will age effortlessly for another 5-7 years.

$48/bottle on release in early 2012. Just $19.99 today on WineAccess for a fortunate few. 1,200 bottles are up for grabs. Limit of one case per member.