Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
(Napa Valley, California) - [DM 94] [WE 93]

About the Winery:
Cliff Lede Vineyards is a family-owned and operated winery located in the famed Stags Leap District. For over 20 years, Cliff Lede Vineyards has prioritized crafting wines of extraordinary quality with authenticity and sustainability in mind.

Owner Cliff Lede, Vineyard Architect David Abreu and Winemaker Chris Tynan, with consulting winemaker Michel Rolland, joined together to form an unrivaled team on a 60-acre property in Stags Leap District. Established in 2002, they produce only Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc. As Robert Parker said of their first vintage: "they are already well on their way to making world-class wines."

Completed in 2005, their gravity-flow winery boasts a berry-by-berry sorting system and conical tanks commissioned using a design inspired by the tanks of Château Latour. One tank per vineyard block ensures each lot evolves at its own pace and acres of caves with single-layer barrel storage ensure access to each barrel at all times.

About this Wine:
The Stags Leap District and Calistoga estate vineyards build the foundation of this wine with support from valued grower sites located in Oakville, Rutherford, and Howell Mountain. Composed of small batches from a variety of blocks of varying age, this wine represents a diverse range of carefully selected rootstocks and clones. Yields are maintained at sparse levels, with a focus on canopy management and vine balance. The resulting blend boasts a remarkable depth and complexity that is quintessential Napa Valley.

Composition: 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 1% Malbec

Alcohol: 14.0%

Production: 4,534 cases

Aging: The wine was aged in French oak barrels, 72% of which were new, for twenty-one months.

Winemaker Notes:
The precocious and playful 2022 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is so full of youthful exuberance. Intense aromas of black fig, chocolate covered cherries, and silky cassis leap from the glass. Spice notes of cardamom, Tahitian vanilla, and anise intertwine with the dark fruit notes to give complexity and nuance. With time in the decanter, the lush and silky texture unfolds, enveloping the palate like fine cashmere. This comely and versatile wine will pair effortlessly with a multitude of cuisines. – Christopher Tynan, Director of Winemaking

Ratings & Reviews

94 Points - Decanter Magazine:
"Historically, Cliff Lede produced a Stags Leap District-focused Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, but by 2021, they recognised the challenge of offering a Stags Leap wine under $100. As a result, they transitioned their estate Stags Leap fruit into the Rhythm bottling, expanded their Poetry bottling, and introduced a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon priced at $80. "The transition to an appellated wine was about crafting more estate-grown wines for Cliff Lede while also creating a sub-$100 offering that punches above its weight class," says Jason Lede. The core of this wine remains Stags Leap fruit, supplemented with grapes from Calistoga, Oakville, Rutherford, and Howell Mountain. The blend also includes 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Malbec, with the wine aged 21 months in 72% new French oak. This is the second release of this wine and a solid expression from the challenging 2021 vintage. It showcases the warmth and generosity of the year, with spiced plum, cassis, and black cherry fruit accented by nuances of cola nut and saddle leather. Medium- to full-bodied, the palate features gentle, well-integrated tannins with a dark cacao character, finishing long with violets, cherry compote, and hints of tobacco and sage." - Jonathan Cirstaldi (Jan 2025)

93 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
"Delicious and concentrated, this Cabernet Sauvignon celebrates a full palate of dark fruits, warming spices and cocoa with graphite emerging through the finish. Satisfying, approachable and yet also well structured." - Elaine Chukan Brown (Sep 2025)