Cliff Lede Vineyards Cliff Lede Vineyards Poetry 2021 750ml

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Poetry is a blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple colored, it sails out of the glass with energetic scents of fresh blackcurrants, black cherries and black raspberries, plus hints of candied violets, dark chocolate, clove oil and fragrant earth. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is exquisitely fine-knitted with tons of graceful nuances intertwined with the many shades of black fruits, accented by SO MANY minerals, finishing epically long and staggeringly gorgeous. WOW!

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Poetry is one of the very finest wines I have ever tasted from Cliff Lede and longtime winemaker Chris Tynan. A classic Stags Leap Cabernet, the 2021 races across the palate with dense, inky fruit, crème de cassis, lavender, licorice, chocolate, spice and espresso. Even with all of its natural density, the 2021 is plush, silky and exceptionally beautiful. Most importantly, Tynan has done an admirable job in taming the tannins in this steep, rocky site, which is an impressive feat. I loved it. (Antonio Galloni)

This blend of Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc comes from the proprietor’s Cliff Lede Vineyard. Structured, richly layered and dense, it is seamless, focused and full of intense tension, with notes of currant, raspberry, rose and violet. Drink 2028–2038.

This is a beautiful blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot, and 3% Merlot. With a bright, inviting nose of violet and rose, it delves into a palate of refined tension and supple tannin. The core of red fruit is cohesive and earthy, with notes of dried herb, graphite and a hint of cigar. Enjoy best from 2029–2039. (Virginie Boone)

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Poetry is sourced from Cliff Lede’s best hillside blocks. It is one of the very best wines I have ever tasted here. Inky dark fruit, bittersweet chocolate, spice, new leather, licorice and new French oak are all beautifully woven together. The Poetry is rich and unctuous to the core. More importantly, the extraction here is spot on, so that the fruit takes center stage without the edginess of oak tannin that sometimes penalized these wines in the past. In a word: brilliant!

Lastly, the flagship is the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Poetry, which checks in as 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot, and 4% each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot that’s all from a site in Stags Leap. Lots of pure crème de cassis, ripe black raspberries, flowers, spice box, and chalky minerality emerge on the nose, and it hits the palate with a refined, full-bodied, incredibly polished style that brings serious intensity, yet with no sensation of weight or heaviness. It’s brilliant today, but it really deserves 3–4 years of bottle age, and as with all of the wines here, it is going to evolve gracefully for 20+ years. 1471 cases.

This well-balanced and elegant wine shows beautifully integrated black fruits, oak spices and hints of mint and cedar in the aroma, with similarly delicious flavors wrapped in fine-grained tannins for a velvety texture. Blended with small percentages of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it offers finesse and complexity. Best from 2025–2035.

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Poetry brings more classic Stags Leap freshness and purity, yet it's still a powerful wine. Cassis, black raspberries, crushed stone, spring flower, and leafy herb and tobacco notes all define the bouquet, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a pure, layered, incredibly elegant mouthfeel, ultra-fine tannins, integrated acidity, and a great finish. While I don t think this matches the grandeur of prior vintages, it's a beautiful example of the purity and finesse, as well as concentration, that makes this vintage so compelling. It will evolve for 20-25 years. (Jeb Dunnuck)

There are almost 2,000 cases of the impressive 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Poetry, a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 6% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot from the estate's steep, rocky Poetry Vineyard. After 21 months in 74% new French oak, it's marked by scents of mocha and cedar, but they're beautifully complemented by layers of ripe black cherries and plums. The wine is full-bodied in the mouth, rich and velvety in feel, with a long, elegant finish and a dusting of firm but fine-grained tannins. It should have a long, harmonious evolution. (Joe Czerwinski)

A suavely rendered red, this is fruit-laden as notes of cherry reduction, currant preserves and plum sauce interweave seamlessly with a singed apple wood detail, a flash of savory and a subtle tug of sweet tobacco. Fine-grained and long, with a buried iron hint for added range and cut. Best from 2026 through 2038. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 1,921 cases made.