An Outstanding Stag’s Leap Cabernet

2006 Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon Stag’s Leap District 750ml – $57.99 (reg. price $62.99)

“…one of the best Cabernet Sauvignons one can buy at this price point…” – Robert Parker, December 2008

After reading Robert Parker’s bold review of the ’06 Cliff Lede Cab, we knew we had to get our hands on some and we were definitely in agreement once we took a sip. This is an awesome example of California Cabernet that is enjoyable now (and will be exciting to try in 5-10 years, too). The Cliff Lede can easily compete with the $100-$200 Napa Cabs in a blind tasting. Go ahead, put it to the test!

Behind Cliff Lede is a world class team, starting with vineyard manager David Abreu, the best in the business. The wineries he’s worked with reads like a who’s who of the best Napa: Colgin, Sloan, Harlan, Bryant Family, and Pahlmeyer just to name a few (not to mention the highly regarded wine he makes under his own label). Winemaker Michelle Edwards is no slouch either, having honed her chops as assistant winemaker at Colgin before taking the reins at Cliff Lede Vineyards. Rounding out the group is consulting winemaker ‘numero uno’, Michel Rolland.

Sourced from Stag’s Leap District vineyards, the wine spends 18 months in 40% new French oak and 60% neutral oak. This is really a stunning wine that will draw you in from the moment you pop the cork. The nose is chock full of plum, cassis and blackberry aromas that fill the room as they float from the glass. Floral highlights and hints of caramel and spice add to the intrigue. Supple and silky in the mouth, this Cab is loaded with layers of delicious plum, black cherry and spicy cinnamon flavors. Ripe tannins and a chocolate element add to the mix and the finish is gracefully persistent. Exceptionally well balanced, this provides some serious immediate enjoyment but has the ability to evolve for well over a decade.

An exciting and well-made Napa Cab put together by some of the best in the business typically commands triple digit prices, but the Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon (for now) can be had for considerably less. In fact, few Cabs in the under $60 category stand a chance next to the Cliff Lede. Unfortunately our allocation is extremely limited, so please keep orders to 12 bottles or less. Enjoy!

In Stock

USA – CALIFORNIA

2006 Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon Stag’s Leap District 750ml – $57.99 (reg. price $62.99)
Wine Advocate, Dec 2008, 91 points: “The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap is a nearly 9,000-case cuvee that is one of the best Cabernet Sauvignons one can buy at this price point, particularly given the Shangri-La prices of Napa. Deep ruby/purple with lots of red and black currants as well as hints of spring flowers and bay leaf, the wine is medium-bodied, with nothing out of place – acidity, wood, tannin, or alcohol. It is a supple, stylish wine that doesn-t cheat the consumer on flavor or complexity. It should evolve for at least 15 or so years. One of the new up-and-coming wineries in Stags Leap is Cliff Lede, run by the proprietor of the same name and his winemaker Michelle Edwards. (None other than superstar David Abreu is the viticulturalist, and this is another place where Michel Rolland makes his semi-annual stop for consulting purposes.) 2006 turned out to be very successful for the wines of Cliff Lede, all displaying the elegance one expects from the Stags Leap region, but with substantial flavors as well as intensity.”
JJ Buckley, Jan 2009: “Dark purple core to the edge of the glass – almost no rim. Rich, dense fruit aromas swarming from the glass. Dark plum, cassis and blackberry surrounded by chocolate, caramel, cinnamon and nutmeg spices, a touch of coconut and a light violet lift. Silky entry in the mouth building quickly into a full bodied wine. A big mid-palate with lots of ripe tannins. A thick core of plum black cherry and cassis fruit is accented by baker’s chocolate and spicy cinnamon with a touch of chalk in the finish. You can drink this now, but it will easily improve in the bottle and last another decade or more.” – Mike Supple