2012 Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District, 3L
available
Enticing aromas of crushed blackberries and cassis are complemented by dark chocolate and grilled rib-eye. Black licorice, cocoa powder, and espresso add complexity to this opulent wine. Exceptional concentration and a rich mouthfeel create a powerful impression that finishes with polished tannins and a Graves-like minerality, a hallmark of Stags Leap District vineyards.
Wine Specs
Vintage
2012
Varietal
Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation
Stags Leap District
Bottling Date
July 2014
Alcohol %
15.3
Robert Parker
93
Wine Profile
Vineyard Notes
The fruit was sourced from the hillside terraces of our Poetry Vineyard, as well as our Twin Peaks Vineyard estate surrounding the winery, and a few, select neighboring vineyards in the Stags Leap District. The wine is composed of small lots from our best blocks, representing a diverse range of carefully selected clones and rootstocks. From exposed, rocky terraces that are volcanic in origin, to the ancient riverbed alluvial soils, the breadth of contributing sites translates into a wine of impressive complexity.
Production Notes
Hand harvested in the cool early morning hours, the fruit was immediately subjected to rigorous selection by our three-tiered sorting process, including our cutting edge optical sorter, with a goal of eliminating less-than-perfect berries. The selected fruit was gently delivered to specially-designed truncated tanks via gravity by our crane system, minimizing disruption of berry integrity. Cold soaks lasted approximately five days, and fermentations were managed by a combination of délestage and pumpovers. Extended maceration ranging from three to four weeks fine-tuned tannin profiles, allowing us to build mouth feel and wine complexity. The wine was aged in French oak barrels, 50% of which were new, for twenty-one months. Final blend is 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec, and 3% Merlot.
Winemaker Notes
Enticing aromas of crushed blackberries and cassis are complemented by dark chocolate and grilled rib-eye. Black licorice, cocoa powder, and espresso add complexity to this opulent wine. Exceptional concentration and a rich mouthfeel create a powerful impression that finishes with polished tannins and a Graves-like minerality, a hallmark of Stags Leap District vineyards.