Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
As I recall, the first vintage of Cliff Lede wines I tasted was 2005, so this was the first time I tasted the 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Poetry, a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot and the rest tiny quantities of Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot from the Stags Leap District. It is still a youthful wine, it has a dense purple color as well as a stunning nose of spring flowers, asphalt, graphite, black currants, blueberries, raspberries and kirsch intermixed with hints of smoke and charcoal. Full-bodied, elegant, authoritative and substantial, with a 45-second finish, this 2002 is clearly capable of lasting another 20 years. Production was just under 1,000 cases in 2002.
One of the most prestigious wines of the world capable of great power and grace, Napa Valley Cabernet is a leading force in the world of fine, famous, collectible red wine. Today the Napa Valley and Cabernet Sauvignon are so intrinsically linked that it is difficult to discuss one without the other. But it wasn’t until the 1970s that this marriage came to light; sudden international recognition rained upon Napa with the victory of the Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon in the 1976 Judgement of Paris.
Cabernet Sauvignon undoubtedly dominates Napa Valley today, covering half of the land under vine, commanding the highest prices per ton and earning the most critical acclaim. Cabernet Sauvignon’s structure, acidity, capacity to thrive in multiple environs and ability to express nuances of vintage make it perfect for Napa Valley where incredible soil and geographical diversity are found and the climate is perfect for grape growing. Within the Napa Valley lie many smaller sub-AVAs that express specific characteristics based on situation, slope and soil—as a perfect example, Rutherford’s famous dust or Stags Leap District's tart cherry flavors.