2018 Cliff Lede Songbook Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 1.5L in Wood
available
A chorus of currants, black licorice, bay laurel, walnut, and cedar fill the glass and are braided into a perfume of rose, melted road tar, chocolate, and black truffles. There’s tons of heady cassis, amaretto, black cherry, fruitcake, and mineral flavors across the broad shouldered palate. It finishes on a long silky polished frame, while an encore of loam, wintergreen, and autumn leaf aromatic notes echo in the upper register of taster. - Christopher Tynan, Director of Winemaking
Wine Specs
Vintage
2018
Varietal
Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation
Napa Valley
Bottling Date
July 2020
Alcohol %
14.8
Robert Parker
96
Wine Profile
Vineyard Notes
Songbook is sourced from two of acclaimed viticulturist David Abreu’s personally-farmed properties: Thorevilos Vineyard, situated between the St. Helena and Howell Mountain AVAs, and Madrona Ranch, nestled in the foothills of the Mayacamas mountain range. These vineyards produce grapes of exceptional character resulting from proprietary clones, extremely low yields, and meticulous farming. The result is a winemaker’s dream.
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, 76% of which are new.
Winemaker Notes
Our 2018 Songbook is simmering with coiled energy and beneath its dark purple rim lies a gorgeous young elixir waiting to blossom. A chorus of currants, black licorice, bay laurel, walnut, and cedar fill the glass and are braided into a perfume of rose, melted road tar, chocolate, and black truffles. There’s tons of heady cassis, amaretto, black cherry, fruitcake, and mineral flavors across the broad shouldered palate. It finishes on a long silky polished frame, while an encore of loam, wintergreen, and autumn leaf aromatic notes echo in the upper register of taster.