2021 Cliff Lede Vineyards "Poetry" Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District, USA (750ml)

WINEMAKER'S NOTES: 

There is an effortlessness and ease to the 2021 Poetry that springs from the continuity and familiarity of its caretakers and the experience of the vines themselves as their roots dig deep into the shallow unforgiving terraces of rock and rhyolitic crevices. Wafts of warm summer mulberries, fractured rock, and violet perfume envelop the glass. Wild blackberry preserves form the flavor on the entry and combine with tantalizing, black truffle, sea salt, and steak au poivre juices. Plush tannin swathes the finish and wraps the tongue in a mineral laden, majestic embrace where the flavors linger long and pleasingly.

Blend: 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot

TASTING NOTES: 

This wine, a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot and Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot, spent 21 months ageing in 74% new oak. The grapes were sourced from the steep Poetry estate hillside vineyard in the Stags Leap District AVA. I had previously rated the 2021 release 99 points in my Napa Cabernet vintage report, but rarely do I have the opportunity to revisit wines of this calibre, let alone enjoy them over an entire meal. A few remarkable qualities stood out to me on this occasion. The wine's texture was remarkably smooth and silky, complemented by upfront cedar-spice notes that evolved into sage and rich tobacco aromas with time in the glass, alongside a symphony of perfumed nuances. It was supremely polished on the palate, with superfine tannins creating an elegant structure. And in the glass, it shows such a luminous ruby you can read the first lines of The Great Gatsby straight through it (I like to carry a copy in my jacket pocket just in case the moment calls for a public reading of a line or two). Most striking was the wine's balance at 13.8% alcohol, a feature I wish I had weighed more heavily in my original scoring. Over 90 minutes of tasting alongside various dishes, I felt invigorated and refreshed—an experience that is not always the case with more potent Napa Cabernets. This is precisely the tension-filled, youthful Napa Cabernet that restaurants should showcase to demonstrate the versatility and elegance of the region’s best wines in pairing with food. Ultimately, the 2021 Poetry is perfectly pure, precise, and balanced—a wine of striking honesty and grace and an absolute standout in the 2021 vintage.

- Decanter, 100 pts. 

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.

- Vinous, 98 pts. 

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.

-  Wine Enthusiast, 98 pts. 

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.
Rating: 95+

- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 95 pts. 

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, 95 pts. 

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.

- Wine Spectator, 94 pts.