2013 Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain
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Opaque ruby in color, this gloriously saturated and impeccably balanced mountain Cabernet is loaded with aromas of crème de cassis, seductive black cherry, and warm black fig. There is a veritable cornucopia of cooking spices simmering beneath the surface of this wine. Notes of smoked paprika, ancho chile, cumin, clove, and cacao all intertwine and soar out of the glass. The dash of Merlot adds a touch of grace by fleshing out the mid palate and lending a seamless, polished finish. Tantalizing notes of sage, rosemary, dry aged steak, and smoked cardamom linger and beg one for another taste. This is a wine of contemplation, as well as a wine of visceral pleasure.
Wine Specs
Vintage
2013
Varietal
Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation
Howell Mountain
Bottling Date
July 2015
Alcohol %
15.3
Wine Profile
Vineyard Notes
Exceptional high-elevation vineyards in the Howell Mountain appellation produce intensely concentrated grapes for this wine. Soils are volcanic in origin and consist of two main types; the first is decomposed volcanic ash called tufa, and the second is red volcanic rock and clay that is high in iron. Both are nutrient poor, which stresses the vines, producing intense and structured wines from small clusters and berries. The altitude, climate, and soils combine to create a classic mountain Cabernet Sauvignon with incredible concentration, texture, and structure.
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 tank via gravity by our crane system, retaining perfect, whole berries. Cold soaks lasted approximately five days, and fermentations were managed by a combination of délestage and pump overs. Extended maceration, ranging from three to four weeks, fine-tuned tannin profiles, allowing us to build structure and wine complexity. The wine was aged in French oak barrels, 50% of which were new, for twenty-one months. Final blend is 96% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Merlot.
Winemaker Notes
Opaque ruby in color, this gloriously saturated and impeccably balanced mountain Cabernet is loaded with aromas of crème de cassis, seductive black cherry, and warm black fig. There is a veritable cornucopia of cooking spices simmering beneath the surface of this wine. Notes of smoked paprika, ancho chile, cumin, clove, and cacao all intertwine and soar out of the glass. The dash of Merlot adds a touch of grace by fleshing out the mid palate and lending a seamless, polished finish. Tantalizing notes of sage, rosemary, dry aged steak, and smoked cardamom linger and beg one for another taste. This is a wine of contemplation, as well as a wine of visceral pleasure.
Production
740 cases