{"product_id":"2021-cliff-lede-poetry-cabernet-sauvignon-stags-leap-district","title":"2021 Cliff Lede ‘Poetry’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District","description":"\u003cp\u003e100pts Decanter \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“This wine, a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot and Cabernet\u003cbr\u003eFranc, and 3% Petit Verdot, spent 21 months ageing in 74% new oak. The\u003cbr\u003egrapes were sourced from the steep Poetry estate hillside vineyard in the\u003cbr\u003eStags Leap District AVA. I had previously rated the 2021 release 99 points\u003cbr\u003ein my Napa Cabernet vintage report, but rarely do I have the opportunity\u003cbr\u003eto revisit wines of this calibre, let alone enjoy them over an entire meal. A\u003cbr\u003efew remarkable qualities stood out to me on this occasion. The wine's\u003cbr\u003etexture was remarkably smooth and silky, complemented by upfront\u003cbr\u003ecedar-spice notes that evolved into sage and rich tobacco aromas with\u003cbr\u003etime in the glass, alongside a symphony of perfumed nuances. It was\u003cbr\u003esupremely polished on the palate, with superfine tannins creating an\u003cbr\u003eelegant structure. And in the glass, it shows such a luminous ruby you can\u003cbr\u003eread the first lines of The Great Gatsby straight through it (I like to carry a\u003cbr\u003ecopy in my jacket pocket just in case the moment calls for a public\u003cbr\u003ereading of a line or two). Most striking was the wine's balance at 13.8%\u003cbr\u003ealcohol, a feature I wish I had weighed more heavily in my original\u003cbr\u003escoring. Over 90 minutes of tasting alongside various dishes, I felt\u003cbr\u003einvigorated and refreshed—an experience that is not always the case with\u003cbr\u003emore potent Napa Cabernets. This is precisely the tension-filled, youthful\u003cbr\u003eNapa Cabernet that restaurants should showcase to demonstrate the\u003cbr\u003eversatility and elegance of the region’s best wines in pairing with food.\u003cbr\u003eUltimately, the 2021 Poetry is perfectly pure, precise, and balanced—a\u003cbr\u003ewine of striking honesty and grace and an absolute standout in the 2021\u003cbr\u003evintage.” - Jonathan Cristaldi\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“The 2021 Poetry Cabernet Sauvignon, made from 85% Cabernet\u003cbr\u003eSauvignon, 6% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot, is deep\u003cbr\u003egarnet-purple in color. The nose is incredibly shut down at this stage,\u003cbr\u003eneeding patient swirling to unlock expressive notes of Morello cherries,\u003cbr\u003eblack raspberries, blackcurrant cordial, and redcurrant jelly giving way to\u003cbr\u003ehints of violets, charcoal, crushed rocks, and underbrush with a gust of\u003cbr\u003egarrigue. The medium-bodied palate is so tightly wound at this youthful\u003cbr\u003estage, slowly revealing layer upon layer of fragrant black and red fruits\u003cbr\u003ewith loads of mineral sparks, supported by beautifully fine-grained yet\u003cbr\u003efirm tannins and seamless acidity, finishing with epic length and a whole\u003cbr\u003efirework display of mineral and floral notes. This is gorgeous. 1,921 cases\u003cbr\u003ewere made. \"All the fruit was so great in 2021, the pressure was on not to\u003cbr\u003escrew it up! There was no need to try to gussy it up or anything.\" - Lisa\u003cbr\u003ePerrotti-Brown\u003cbr\u003e2021 Cliff Lede ‘Poetry’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District\u003cbr\u003e100 Points, The Wine Independent - Lisa Perrotti-Brown\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mandara Wine","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41205272445008,"sku":"","price":339.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0045\/0976\/1616\/files\/740817.avif?v=1762899838","url":"https:\/\/mandarawine.com\/products\/2021-cliff-lede-poetry-cabernet-sauvignon-stags-leap-district","provider":"Mandara Wine","version":"1.0","type":"link"}