Robert Parker in the Wine Advocate: "One of the best-run wineries in Napa Valley, Cliff Lede Vineyards has surged into the top hierarchy of quality in a relatively short period of time. It is located on the Yountville Crossroads, directly across from another budding superstar, the Kapcsandy Family Winery." (10/2014)
Winemaker Christopher Tynan's notes: "Fruit was sourced from our Twin Peaks Vineyard in the Stags Leap District and a few of our valued growers within Napa Valley. Yields are maintained at sparse levels, with a focus on canopy management and vine balance. The wine is composed of small batches from a variety of blocks, representing a diverse range of carefully selected rootstocks and clones. The resulting blend boasts remarkable depth and complexity... Complex and inviting, the dark ruby colored 2014 Claret dazzles the senses with explosive aromas of warm black fig, cassis, and dark melted chocolate. The bouquet continues on with notes of crushed Rainier cherries, graphite, and blackberry. The palate begins lush and expansive on entry, then turns incredibly silky and ultrafine. This ethereal finish crescendos with exotic spice notes of cumin, peppercorn, and smoked cardamom."
Cliff Lede Story
Cliff Lede Vineyards was founded in 2002 by Cliff Lede following the acquisition of 60 acres in the Stags Leap District of Napa Valley. With a focus on producing wines from estate vineyards, Cliff engaged industry experts to redesign and replant the majority of the estate. The plantings were so specific and precise to each soil type and exposure that, to keep track without having to refer to a clipboard, Cliff decided to name each block after some of his favorite rock songs and albums. From “My Generation” to “Dark Side of the Moon,” he created what is known today as the Cliff Lede Vineyards “Rock Blocks.” The winemaking team gets creative with this innovation, annually crafting a small-lot Rock Block Series “mash up” of two or more blocks, featured in the tasting room and wine club.
The estate is split into two distinct vineyards in the northern corner of the Stags Leap District appellation. The steep, southwest-facing hillside vineyard is our Poetry Vineyard. It reaches from the valley floor up to the highest elevations of the appellation. This site is composed of a combination of shallow volcanic soils on top of fractured shale, which produces extremely concentrated berries. This iconic vineyard is the sole source for the winery’s flagship Cabernet Sauvignon, Poetry. Next to the hillside, The Rhythm Vineyard sits on the valley floor surrounding the tasting room and winery. The soil is predominantly gravelly loam thanks to the two rocky hillsides on the vineyard’s southern border. The plantings on Rhythm Vineyard include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Sauvignon Blanc, and Sémillon.
The modern winery, designed by world-renowned architect Howard Backen and completed in 2005, combines time-tested techniques with innovative technology. The winery utilizes a three-tier sorting line including an optical sorting machine, which sorts grapes based upon quality settings established by the winemaker. A custom crane system gently delivers the berries to tank by gravity before fermentation. In 2011, a 300–kilowatt solar panel field was installed to fully power the winery. Wastewater is captured for irrigation and an extensive cave system provides a naturally cool space for wines to age.
Cliff Lede Vineyards’ production is overseen by Director of Winemaking Christopher Tynan and Winemaker Travis Bullard. Wines produced include Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley; Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District; Cabernet Sauvignon, Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard; the Rock Block Series, Stags Leap District; Songbook, Napa Valley; and the flagship wine, Poetry, Stags Leap District, among others that are offered only to wine club members.
