Established in 1862 as one of the first wineries in Victoria’s Yarra Valley in Australia, Charles Hubert de Castella named his St Huberts vineyards not after himself, but after St Hubert the patron saint of the hunt – a 7th century nobleman who turned his life around after an encounter with a magnificent stag carrying a shining cross between his antlers. In tribute to his patron saint, de Castella decided that the wines of St Huberts would bear the emblem of the stag with the cross between its antlers, a tradition that continues to this day via the St. Hubert’s logo. Only 28 miles east of Melbourne, the Yarra Valley is recognized as one of Australia’s foremost cool climate wine producing regions. In 2016, St Huberts took the leap to the United States and began producing Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon from the North Coast of California under The Stag label in a region renowned for Cabernet Sauvignon, other varieties include Merlot, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Roussanne, where the oldest vines were planted in 1966 and generally yield low crops with intense fruit flavor, depth, and concentration. Peaks & Pints presents a three-glass flight of St Huberts The Stag California wines during the month of May. Stop by our lodge in Tacoma’s Proctor District and taste Peaks and Pints Wine Flight: St Huberts The Stag.
Peaks and Pints Wine Flight: St Huberts The Stag
St Huberts The Stag Chardonnay 2018
13% ABV
The Chardonnay grapes are sourced primarily from two Santa Barbara vineyards, Cat Canyon and North Canyon Vineyard, located at a slightly higher elevation, and set deeper into the canyon than other vineyards in Los Alamos, with sloping hills and well-draining sandy loam soils. Oak fermentation, sur lie aging (on the lees), along with French oak and partial malolactic fermentation, allows for a layered and balanced expression of this vineyard-driven Chardonnay. The Stag Chardonnay offers lush tropical aromas of fresh peach blossom, coconut, and marzipan, supported by delicate lemon citrus fruit. The palate is bright with a bounty of ripe flavors, including passionfruit, pineapple, lemon curd, and lime zest, alongside hints of spiced oak and cardamom, leading to a soft, round, creamy finish.
St Huberts The Stag Central Coast Pinot Noir 2020
14.5% ABV
The stag is a symbol of power and elegance. The stuff of myth and legend reserved the world over, The stag personifies strength and grace. This opulent, yet refined red wine celebrates this noble creature. Reflective of its coastal Paso Robles origins, The 2020 St. Huberts The Stag Central Coast Pinot Noir is bold, rich, and refined. It shows deep, burgundy-colored tones in the glass and has exuberant aromas and flavors of wild berry, sweet red cherry, vanilla, chocolate, and spicy oak. Hints of roasted coffee bean and clove dance alongside the ripe fruit notes. Medium-bodied with silky, firm tannins, finishing with a robust lengthy presence and bright core of acidity. In the tradition of St Hubert, their patron saint, this wine is worthy of the hunt.
St Huberts The Stag Paso Robles Red Blend 2020
14.5% ABV
The Stag Red Blend is sourced entirely from the Paso Robles AVA, along California’s Central Coast, where the region enjoys greater day-to-night temperature swings than any other appellation in California. Using a modern approach for crafting both wines, the grapes are crushed and fermented an average of 7 to 10 days in stainless steel tanks. Post fermentation, a portion of the wine is integrated with French and American oak for up to two years to smooth and round the tannins, adding complexity and depth of flavor. The St Huberts The Stag Paso Robles Red Blend is a deep burgundy, crimson color, offering inviting aromas of macerated blueberries, raspberry pie, and plum preserves alongside holiday baking spice notes of brown sugar, vanilla, nutmeg, and clove. The wine is rich, round, and soft, with good weight and body, offering flavors of ripe juicy red berries and raspberry custard alongside allspice and graham cracker crust notes from the oak integration.
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