Winemaker Notes
The triumphal 2022 Rhythm exudes class and sophistication right out of the glass, flaunting its Stags Leap District breeding and balanced perfection with confidence. There are gorgeous black currants, kirsch, pain grille, cigar wrapper, and pencil shavings on the nose, with loamy rocky aromas intertwined with sandalwood and mint. Fresh and balanced with no heaviness, the chocolatey and cassis flavors linger with a fine density along the medium-long finish.
Blend: 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Petit Verdot, 2% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Petit Verdot, 2% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc, sourced from the Rhythm Vineyard on the slopes of the winery’s Stags Leap District estate. Jason Lede envisioned this wine as a pure expression of the rocky soils beneath the vines, which are planted with a mix of clonal selections and rootstocks. He aimed to highlight this site, offering consumers an accurate snapshot of its terroir in the bottle. The vineyard spans 15 hectares, but only the best fruit from select blocks in the Rhythm site makes it into this wine. The result is a powerful and robust expression, with deep loamy earth, high-toned violet florals, leather, tobacco, and capsicum. The aromatics and palate are muscular, with a striking depth to the fleshiness of the fruit. While the tannins are powerful and structured, they melt beautifully on the finish, leaving lingering notes of cocoa powder and graphite.
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James Suckling
Only the second vintage of this new wine made from grapes grown on Cliff Lede's valley floor vineyard. Concentrated and elegant, with both red and black fruit, a linear feel to the texture and good, fine-grained tannins to back it up. Also iron, cocoa and graphite come out in the glass. Great balance, a medium to full body and an appetizing sense of subtlety and restraint.
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Wine Enthusiast
Rich, powerful, with a bounty of flavor, this Cabernet Sauvignon fills the mouth with dark fruits, espresso, cocoa, and a sprinkle of sweetened spices. Decant, or hold in cellar for additional aging.
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Vinous
The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Rhythm is a big, potent wine. A blast of black cherry, spice, licorice, new leather, menthol and chocolate makes a strong first impression. The core of this blend is a Cabernet Sauvignon/Petit Verdot co-ferment, and that comes through in the wine's formidable savory, peppery intensity. This is another impressive 2022 from the team led by Chris Tynan.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A strong second effort from this newly designated section of the estate vineyard, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Rhythm delivers sumptuous aromas of ripe cherries, cinnamon and—in a throwback to this taster's teen years—brand-new suede Pumas. In the mouth, this is silky and medium to full-bodied, supple and easy to drink, concentrated without excess weight, then finishes with some softly dusty notes, fine-grained tannins and a hint of red berries. Good value.
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.
Legend has it that quick and nimble stags would escape the indigenous hunters of southern Napa Valley through the landmark palisades that sit just northeast of the current city of Napa. As a result, the area was given the name, Stags Leap. While its grape-growing history dates back to the mid-1800s, winemaking didn’t really take off until the mid-1970s after a small but pivotal blind tasting called the Judgement of Paris.
When a 1973 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon won first place against its high-profile Bordeaux contenders, like Chateau Mouton Rothschild and Chateau Haut-Brion, international attention to the Stags Leap District of Napa Valley escalated rapidly.
The vineyards in this one-of-a-kind wine growing region receive hot afternoon air reflecting off of its eastern palisade formation. In combination with the cool evening breezes from the San Pablo Bay just south, this becomes an optimal environment for grape growing. While many varieties could thrive here, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot dominate with virtually no others, save for a spot or two of Syrah.
Stags Leap soils—eroded volcanic and old river sediments—encourage well established root systems and result in complex, terroir-driven wines. Stags Leap District reds have a distinct sour cherry and black berry character with baking spice and dried earth aromas, and supple tannins.