2012 Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon, Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard
available
Features a delightful interplay of concentrated, ripe dark fruit and aromas of violets, exotic spice, and dark chocolate.
Wine Specs
Vintage
2012
Varietal
Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation
Oakville
Vineyard Designation
Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard
Bottling Date
July 2014
Alcohol %
14.8
Wine Advocate
96
Wine Profile
Vineyard Notes
Our first release from this vaunted site, this Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from Block A1 clone 4, Block D1 clone 7, and Block F1 clone 337, of the Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard in the Oakville sub-appellation of Napa Valley. Situated on the western Oakville bench, the Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard has gravelly loam soils with high mineral content derived from sedimentary deposits of the volcanic Mayacamas Mountains and the alluvial fan of the Napa River. The vineyard has low organic matter content and exceptional drainage, which devigorates the vines and produces small berries that are ideal for wines with exceptional concentration. The site is warm and sunny throughout the day, but cooled by late afternoon breezes, producing ripe Cabernet with lovely acidity. The Cliff Lede blocks represent a diverse array of the Beckstoffer To Kalon terroir and clonal selection, creating a unique and exceptional blend from this vaunted site.
Production Notes
In the cool darkness of night, grapes were hand-picked into twenty-five pound bins to minimize crushing. By early morning, the grapes were subjected to rigorous selection by our three-tiered sorting process which includes our cutting edge optical sorter, and a slow, individual berry hand sort. The fruit was gently gravity-delivered to small tanks and wooden cuves by our unique crane system which kept the berries intact. Cold soaks lasted from five to eight days, and fermentations were managed through a combination of pumpovers and délestage. Extended maceration of up to six weeks ensured exceptional extraction and fine-tuning of tannin profiles. This wine underwent eighteen months of élevage in French oak barrels, 85% of which were new.
Winemaker Notes
Our inaugural release of Cliff Lede Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon from the historic Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard features a delightful interplay of concentrated, ripe dark fruit and aromas of violets, exotic spice, and dark chocolate. Flavors of dry aged steak and black truffles complement the unctuous texture and full body. The loam and graphite notes showcase the allure of the celebrated Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard.
Production
456 cases