2005 Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District, 6L
available
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - 93 points "...This is another classic Stags Leap Cabernet Sauvignon, with notes of licorice, blackcurrant, black raspberry fruit and forest floor. It has beautiful purity, texture and medium to full body. It seems to have reached that magical plateau of maturity, where there is no danger of falling apart for at least another decade. This is a beauty." - Jun 2015
Wine Specs
Vintage
2005
Varietal
Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation
Stags Leap District
Bottling Date
June 2007
Alcohol %
14.8
Wine Profile
Vineyard Notes
Fruit was sourced from our estate Twin Peaks Ranch on the Yountville Cross Road, as well as the hillside terraces of our Poetry vineyard, in which yields are maintained at sparse levels, ranging from 0.8 to 3.8 tons/acre. The wine is composed of small batches from many of our best blocks, representing a diverse range of carefully selected rootstocks and clones.
Production Notes
Grapes were picked in the darkness of the early morning hours, and immediately subjected to rigorous selection by our three-tiered sorting and refinement process. The whole berries were gently delivered to tank by our unusual crane system, minimizing disruption of berry integrity. Cold soaks lasted approximately five days and fermentations were managed via a combination of delestage and pumpovers. Extended maceration from three to five weeks fine-tuned our tannin profiles, and allowed us to perfect mouth feel and wine complexity. This Cabernet Sauvignon underwent eighteen months of elevage in 70% new French oak and 30% neutral French oak.
Winemaker Notes
The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District opens with initial scents of rich raspberry, fig compote, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cardamom. Once decanted, abundant aromas of iris root, lilac, osmanthus, pie crust, fenugreek, citral, and huckleberry burst from the glass. Upon entry, the mouth is stimulated by black cherries, white pepper, and a plush fine-grained minerality. A dense richness crosses the breadth of the palate as fine tannins slowly ebb into lingering acidity, gradually diffusing with the fatness of the finish.