Cliff Lede Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District opens with initial scents of rich raspberry, fig compote, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cardamom. Once decanted, abundant aromas of iris root, lilac, osmanthus, pie crust, fenugreek, citral, and huckleberry burst from the glass. Upon entry, the mouth is stimulated by black cherries, white pepper, and a plush fine-grained minerality. A dense richness crosses the breadth of the palate as fine tannins slowly ebb into lingering acidity, gradually diffusing with the fatness of the finish.

"A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, and the rest a dash of Malbec and Petit Verdot, it is a beauty. It shows the elegance and finesse of the cooler southern end of Napa with beautiful floral, black raspberry, and currant notes mixed with some cedar, a whiff of tobacco leaf, spring flowers, and well-integrated wood. The wine is medium to full-bodied and cuts a nice, deep, rich, but delicate feel in the mouth. This is a stunner that should drink gracefully for 15 or more years."
-Wine Advocate

"Smooth-textured, with layers of creamy oak, herb, dried currant and loamy earth flavors that give this depth and a complex range of flavors. Ends with a long, focused and persistent finish. Drink now through 2013." 92 Points
Wine Spectator
June 30, 2008