Saturday 3 September 2011

TN : Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Cliffe Lede Vineyards, Stags Leap District, Napa Valley, California, USA



Cliff Lede Vineyards was established in 2002, it encompasses sixty acres in the Stags Leap District. The team consists of owner Cliff Lede, viticulturalist David Abreu, associate winemaker Kale Anderson, and consulting winemaker Philippe Melka.



The lack of winter rainfall resulted in low soil moisture at the start of the vintage. With a gradual transition into spring and the earliest irrigation on record, 2007 opened with cool weather and early growth. A mild April turned to a hot May and June, with grapevines blazing through bloom and the first phase of development. Late summer heat punctuated the start of harvest. Finally, rain in late October brought harvest to a close. The 2007 vintage is most noted for its dry start and small berry size.

The grapes were sourced from the estate Twin Peaks Ranch on the Yountville Cross Road, as well as the hillside terraces of our Poetry vineyard, in which yields are maintained at sparse levels, ranging from 0.8 to 3.8 tons per acre.

The fruit was picked in the early morning hours, and immediately subjected to rigorous selection by a three-tiered sorting and refinement process. The whole berries were gently delivered to tank by a crane system, minimizing disruption of berry integrity. Cold soaks lasted three to six days, and fermentations were managed via a combination of delestage and pumpovers. Extended maceration ranging from three to four weeks fine-tuned the tannin profiles. The wine was aged in 60% new French oak and 40% neutral oak for eighteen months.


The wine is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 7% Malbec, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. The wine was bottled in June 2009 and released in May 2010. 5,147 cases were produced.

This wine received 93 points from Robert Parker and 91 points from Stephen Tanzer.

This wine was imported by Vinunic.

Colour : Dark blackberry

Aroma : Blackcurrant and raspberry, coffee, mineral, oak

Taste : Concentrated texture, blackcurrant, strawberry, oak, coffee, minerals and graphite on a long drying tannic warm finish

Alcohol : 15%

Price : 475 SEK


Mark : B-

Website : Cliff Lede Vineyards

No comments: