Cliff Lede - Cabernet Sauvignon Rhythm 2021 (750ml)
Price: $124.99
| Producer | Cliff Lede |
| Country | United States |
| Region | California |
| Varietal | Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Sku | 203451 |
| Size | 750ml |
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95 Points, Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com: "(Cliff Lede Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Rhythm) The inaugural vintage, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Rhythm comes from the Stags Leap District and is 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, 5% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc. Its deep purple-hued, with some serious intensity in its cassis and blueberry fruit as well as notes of smoked tobacco, black olive, iron, and truffle. Concentrated, full-bodied, and velvety textured, it's a ripe, expansive, opulent expression from this appellation that has beautiful tannins and moderate acidity. It's going to evolve for 15 years with ease. (Drink between 2023-2038)" 12/23
Cliff Lede Description
Cliff Lede Vineyards was founded in 2002 by Cliff Lede following the acquisition of 60 acres in the Stags Leap District of Napa Valley. With a focus on producing wines from estate vineyards, Cliff engaged industry experts to redesign and replant the majority of the estate. The plantings were so specific and precise to each soil type and exposure that, to keep track without having to refer to a clipboard, Cliff decided to name each block after some of his favorite rock songs and albums. From “My Generation” to “Dark Side of the Moon,” he created what is known today as the Cliff Lede Vineyards “Rock Blocks.” The winemaking team gets creative with this innovation, annually crafting a small-lot Rock Block Series “mash up” of two or more blocks, featured in the tasting room and wine club.
Vineyard Notes
Our Stags Leap District and Calistoga estate vineyards build the foundation of this wine with support from valued grower sites located in Oakville, Rutherford, and Howell Mountain. Composed of small batches from a variety of blocks of varying age, this wine represents a diverse range of carefully selected rootstocks and clones. Yields are maintained at sparse levels, with a focus on canopy management and vine balance. The resulting blend boasts a remarkable depth and complexity that is quintessential Napa Valley.
Production Notes
Grapes were picked in the darkness of the early morning hours. The freshly-harvested fruit immediately underwent rigorous selection by our three-tiered sorting process, which included our cutting-edge optical sorter. Whole berries were gently delivered by gravity to tank using our crane system, minimizing disruption of berry integrity. Cold soaks lasted approximately seven days, and fermentations were managed via a combination of délestage, pumpovers, and punchdowns. Extended maceration ranging from four to five weeks fine-tuned our tannin profiles, allowing us to perfect mouth feel and wine complexity. The wine was aged in French oak barrels, 48% of which were new, for twenty-one months.
Composition: 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc
Elegantly soft and lithe the 2021 coaxes the taster with warm dark chocolate and luscious black cherry aromas. More graphite, chocolate cake, crushed mulberries, and iron notes leap from the glass. The entry is filled with dark fruit flavors of cassis, blackberry, and blue berries and they’re all tinged with floral notes of jasmine and violets. The polished tannins along the finish feel cashmere-like and beg the taster for another sip. – Christopher Tynan, Director of Winemaking
Wine Enthusiast: 2028-2040 Points
"Powerful, seamless and saturated with flavor, this giant of a wine goes deep in black currants, black cherries and mint aromas. The dense, rather firm texture holds a tasty mélange of black cherries and black figs shaded by cedar, cocoa, tobacco and espresso. It needs several years to open up. Best from 2028–2040."
Vinous: 2026-2036 Points
Another new wine in this range, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Rhythm shows a more muscular expression of Stags Leap, with firm, insistent tannins that are front and center. Perhaps the recent bottling has played an impact on how this shows. Dark red/purplish fruit, lavender, spice, new leather, licorice and cedar power through.
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