Cliff Lede High Fidelity 2010 Front Label
Cliff Lede High Fidelity 2010 Front Label

Winemaker Notes

Inspired by the right bank blends of Bordeaux, this blend is based on Merlot. Blackberry tart, mocha, and tobacco leaf characters develop into dried flowers on the nose. A rich, opulent texture in the mid-palate is layered with black currant and allspice. The silky tannins are braced by a beam of minerality that extends through the finish indicating the benefits of cellaring.

Blend: 54% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Franc, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Malbec, 1% Petit Verdot

Professional Ratings

  • 93
    Dark plums, mocha, cloves and sweet, exotic spices inform the Merlot-based 2010 High Fidelity. Here it is the relatively high presence of Cabernet Franc that gives the wine much of its aromatic nuance and sheer presence. This voluptuous, dark wine needs a few years in the cellar, but it is pretty delicious, even today.
Cliff Lede Vineyards

Cliff Lede Vineyards

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Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.

Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.

DOY183461_2010 Item# 183461