Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap 2019 – 750ml Not specified

95pts Wine Enthusiast

This wine substantially overdelivers on its price point, presenting a dark fruit profile, generous tannin and oak, and an expansive full-bodied style. Blended with 8% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, it is approachable while never forgetting its structured, complex roots.

93pts Jeb Dunnuck

I loved the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, and readers looking for a great Napa Valley Cabernet under $100 shouldn’t hesitate. Deep purple-hued, with classic Cabernet dark red and black fruits, leafy tobacco, chocolate, and graphite, it’s medium to full-bodied, has a pure, elegant mouthfeel, integrated acidity, and polished tannins. It’s already impossible to resist yet will cruise for 10-15 years in cold cellars.

92pts Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

Deep garnet-purple colored, it skips out of the glass with bright, cheery scents of warm blackcurrants, blackberry preserves and Black Forest cake, plus hints of tree bark and pencil lead. The palate has a beautiful, silt-like texture and a restrained, medium to full-bodied style with earth-laced, crunchy fruit and a savory finish.

Winemaker Notes

The 2019 vintage was a magnificent year for Napa Valley. A frost-free and uniform bud break was followed by a cool wet spring that included three inches of rain in May. Luckily, the rain didn’t affect set and the weather turned warm and sunny for the duration of spring. Welcome warm nights in June, July, and August caught maturation back on schedule. Summer conditions were moderate, with warm days and cool nights, ideal for slow and steady grape maturation. The wine shows exceptional balance with concentrated, ripe fruit complemented by bright acidity and supple, yet intense, structure. Optimal ripeness was achieved thanks to an early autumn of consistently warm, but not hot, days. The pristine ripening conditions allowed for very intense fruit flavor concentrations.

The essence of our proud Stags Leap District terroir in a glass, the 2019 vintage produced a delicious wine of purity, warmth, and grace. Built on a foundation of lush cassis, blackberry, and dark cherry aromas, this long and full-bodied wine is apportioned with a perfume of cardamom, clove, and ancho chile. Graphite, chocolate cake, crushed mulberries, and grilled steak notes make an appearance along the way and add to a long and complex finish. 

Blend: 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot