2012 Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District

Always one of the stars of Napa is Cliff Lede’s Cabernet Sauvignon Poetry and the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Poetry is a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and the rest Petit Verdot. Never the biggest wine made by Cliff Lede, this is an elegant, classic Stags Leap example with finesse allied to beautifully pure power and balance. Deep and rich and possibly, at this stage, less expressive than some of its siblings, it is simply loaded and poised for a brilliant future. (RP) 95+

Seamless, silky and nuanced, yet with plenty of power, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Poetry is endowed with serious depth. The flavors are inky, rich and deep, with plenty of crème de cassis, menthol, lavender, licorice and violets. Give the 2014 a year to shed some baby fat and assimilate the oak. This is very nicely done. (AG)

The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon is a gorgeous, ripe, flashy Napa Valley Cabernet loaded with exuberant fruit and plenty of near-term appeal. Dark red and black fruit, cloves, menthol, tobacco, licorice and new leather all flesh out in this supple, radiant Cabernet Sauvignon to drink now and over the next handful of years. This is a great introduction to the Lede house style.