CLIFF LEDE, CABERNET SAUVIGNON 'RHYTHM', STAG'S LEAP DISTRICT
NAPA VALLEY, CALIFORNIA 2021
Why Buy: The inaugural vintage of star winemaker Cliff Lede’s Rhythm series, a brilliant 97-pointer, shows Napa's famed Stags Leap at its powerful, swaggering best. And at a time of rapidly escalating prices in the world of wine, it’s also a remarkable deal at a little more than $100 a bottle.
What They're Saying: Wine Enthusiast called it a "giant of a wine," in a gushing, 97-point review – "powerful, seamless and saturated with flavor."
The Story: Cliff Lede (pronounced LA-dy) debuted his eponymous winery in 2002, and from the beginning this Canadian art lover and inveterate Bordeaux lover made a major splash with his hire of David Abreu, regarded by many as the premier viticulturist in all of Napa. Abreu helped Lede to replant the 60 acres of vineyard he'd purchased, and set the foundation for all that has come since. Above all, a keen focus on terroir, and on showcasing the signal characteristics of each varietal. The winery has since expanded to 160 acres, and established itself as one of the leading lights of Napa. The winery began to find another gear in its second decade, and its scores from the critical community bear testament to its massive success – witness the seven 100-point wines it has produced in the past ten years, a tribute to the expert team Lede has assembled, and to the focus and drive of the man himself.
Specs: Cabernet Sauvignon is predominant, with smaller percentages of Petit Verdot, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc for rounding and dimensionality.
Our Tasting Notes: The shorthand: big, bold, concentrated, and velvety, and with – maybe best of all – a finish that just won't quit. But the glory of this wine is in its grace notes, its powerful expression of fruit, its well-tended aromas of mint and tobacco and black olive, its soft, silky tannins, and its insistent expressiveness. We loved it, and can't wait for the next installment in the series.
What to Pair It With: A cowboy cut, a tomahawk chop, a thick-cut ribeye: this one's built for meat, the juicier, and more charred, the better.
Fun Fact: Lede has named each vineyard block after a different rock song or album – “rock blocks,” he calls them, and if you were to stroll his well-tended, picture-perfect vineyard you'd see the call-outs, including "My Generation” and "Dark Side of the Moon."
Our Guarantee: We always buy and source directly from the estate, so rest assured: your wine will arrive in your hands with pristine provenance. Order yours today!
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Summer 2024. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. Offer not valid in KS, MI, NM, NY, TN, or WA. This offer is for ONE WEEK, or until sold out, and will expire on Sunday, May 12th, 2024.
