2015 Cliff Lede Moon Fantasy Cabernet Sauvignon, Rock Block Series, Stags Leap District 3L
available
Surely our most elegant and reserved Rock Block wine to date, the 2015 Moon Fantasy charms the taster with its alluring perfume of violets and night blooming jasmine.
These go to eleven.
Wine Specs
Vintage
2015
Varietal
Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation
Stags Leap District
Bottling Date
July 2017
Alcohol %
15.6
Wine Profile
Vineyard Notes
Our estate vineyard blocks are named after Cliff’s favorite rock songs and albums. The name of this blend is derived from Pink Floyd’s "Dark Side of the Moon" in our Twin Peaks vineyard and from Cream’s "Dear Mr. Fantasy" in our Poetry vineyard. The Cabernet Sauvignon in “Dear Mr. Fantasy” is planted in shallow volcanic soil and farmed to low yields, contributing structure, concentration and classic Stags Leap character to the backbone of the blend. “Dark Side of the Moon” is a block of Cabernet that contributes a luxurious perfume, flavors of ripe, dark fruit, and plush texture.
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 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 pump overs and délestage. Extended maceration of up to six weeks ensured exceptional extraction and fine-tuning of tannin profiles. This wine underwent twenty-one months of élevage in French oak barrels, 78% of which were new.
Winemaker Notes
Surely our most elegant and reserved Rock Block wine to date, the 2015 Moon Fantasy charms the taster with its alluring perfume of violets and night blooming jasmine. Exquisitely precise flavors of blackberry and cassis unfold along the palate with scents of cigar box and orange liqueur soaring along the upper register of the olfactory. There is a lithe, almost gravity defying agility in the way the lush tannin play out along the long finish.