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 Vintage2006 Label 1 of 115 
TypeRed
ProducerCliff Lede (web)
VarietyCabernet Sauvignon
Designationn/a
Vineyardn/a
CountryUSA
RegionCalifornia
SubRegionNapa Valley
AppellationStags Leap District
OptionsShow variety and appellation
UPC Code(s)008261060108

Drinking Windows and Values
Drinking window: Drink between 2010 and 2019 (based on 47 user opinions)
Wine Market Journal quarterly auction price: See Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon Stag`s Leap District on the Wine Market Journal.

Community Tasting History

Community Tasting Notes (average 90.7 pts. and median of 91 pts. in 392 notes) - hiding notes with no text

 Tasted by Chateaunole-du-Pape on 1/6/2024 & rated 93 points: Just singing right now. Beautiful blend of Bordeaux and Napa styles. Sure wish I had more. (227 views)
 Tasted by Kim & John on 4/30/2023: Still drinking awesome. Ignore that drink by 2019 date. (695 views)
 Tasted by wmccone54 on 10/15/2022: This is in the latter stages of the “drinking window”. Mature: displaying a dull ruby color, with slight bricking at the edges; perfumed, floral aromatics; loamy blackberry, stewed black currant, cooked black cherry, black plum, dried tobacco, powdered chocolate, with dried briary undergrowth on the long finish. Structure is present, with tannin and acids holding this all together. Had no problem holding up to the grilled ribeye with grilled Brussels sprouts. Lots of sediment in both the decanter and bottle neck. Drink now, unlikely to improve, but this still has life; can be enjoyed through late 2023. Last of six bottles procured back around 2009; great purchase and a wine I’ll always look for. (886 views)
 Tasted by NoWineWiz on 4/9/2022 & rated 87 points: This seems to be on the downhill side with fading fruit, only a whisper of any tannins and medium finish. (1038 views)
 Tasted by RichardP on 8/11/2021 & rated 93 points: Strawberry jam and earth on the nose. On the palate, black cherry, cassis, and notes of plum and leather on the medium to long finish, with well-balanced acidity. Although the 2006 vintage took a long time to open up, it gets full marks for quality now that it's mature. This is about at its peak, though with at least a few good years left; it was an excellent value at under $50. (1665 views)
 Tasted by kennyd on 4/10/2020 & rated 92 points: Last bottle of a case we purchased at Cliff Lede in Autumn 2006. This wine was really good, right through the last bottle 10 years after the first. I really do believe that this wine may be the highest value wine I've ever purchased. When you consider how good it is now, and that it's a best a number 3 for the vineyard, pretty good, right? (2198 views)
 Tasted by SoFlaWineGuy18 on 3/20/2020 & rated 92 points: Drinking nicely now. Probably can’t sit much longer. Really opened up after about an hour or so. It’s big with great structure still. Nice tannins on the finish. (1864 views)
 Tasted by yasha on 1/27/2020 & rated 92 points: the cork broke in side the bottle. but after one hour the wine was very good. (1895 views)
 Tasted by Kingster on 5/10/2019: On the verge of turning. I wouldn’t let one sit much longer (2400 views)
 Tasted by Cuellar's Cellar on 2/18/2019 & rated 91 points: Super cool to try a wine this old. Thank you Cliff Lede for releasing. It aged perfectly. Cheers (2358 views)
 Tasted by Cuellar's Cellar on 2/13/2019 & rated 92 points: What a treat. i was able to get my hands on a few bottles from the winery. Perfect time to drink. some tannins, and no decanting. probably can still hold for a year or 2. They stored it nicely as the cork was not damaged at all.

The wine it self was stellar. Nose on it was good. You can smell the roots from the vine. Almost has a cave like smell. Kinda dirty.
It tastes like raspberry, oak, black pepper and clove. (1698 views)
 Tasted by kennyd on 2/10/2019 & rated 93 points: Still so good, but I'm thinking it's time to drink the last bottle from the case. (1547 views)
 Tasted by NoWineWiz on 1/12/2019 & rated 92 points: Decanted 1/2 hour. Nice legs. Well balance and silky, with dark berries, worn leather, and touches of dried tobacco. Extremely soft tannis, and medium-long finish. (1461 views)
 Tasted by stevenjstein on 12/19/2018 & rated 92 points: Classic Napa Valley floor profile, with prominent black currant flavors. Plenty of fruit left. Well balanced, but maybe a touch riper of a style than I currently prefer. Definitely a great value as Napa Cabs go. (1071 views)
 Tasted by costacasa on 12/2/2018 & rated 93 points: This is a beautiful, vibrant Cab that, like a genie, is eager to escape the bottle and make your wishes come true. Immediately upon removing the cork I was surprised by the powerful dark fruit aromas that I associate with younger wines/barrel tasting. This is a smooth, balanced full bodied Cab that doesn't require much air time. Medium long finish. Easily the best '06 Napa Cab in this price range. (1044 views)
 Tasted by Dylan Tyler on 10/12/2018 & rated 90 points: Very, very rich napa cab. I think it would have been better a couple of years earlier. The nose indicated a soy sauce type of nose when ripe wines start to age. However, at this point while noticeable the fruit was still vibrant enough to be enjoyable. (1028 views)
 Tasted by IlonaN on 9/6/2018 & rated 92 points: Impeccably balanced and elegant at 16 years of age, with lovely cassis, menthol, baking spices and subtle earthiness. Beautiful texture and lingering finish. Could easily pass for a modern Bordeaux. (1047 views)
 Tasted by wine4lux on 5/7/2018 & rated 93 points: Had with dinner of beef shish kebab, couscous and green salad. Still a very big and pleasant Cabernet, deep purple in color. The wine started strong from the open, and remained there for about 90 minutes until finished. Deep, dark fruit, cedar, mocha, and vanilla in a persistent smooth finish. Definitely a wine that punches above its price point. (1677 views)
 Tasted by Vin Mike on 3/14/2018 & rated 94 points: The wine is fully mature with a dark garnet color and a full bold body. It is full of flavors on the nose and plate with mostly integrated tannins, although still present. This has aged into an outstanding wine. (1965 views)
 Tasted by winepog on 1/5/2018 & rated 91 points: Great nose and very youthful and fresh. Young red fruit. Drinking well now and will continue to drink well for a while. (1987 views)
 Tasted by currand on 12/25/2017 & rated 93 points: This is drinking wonderfully. I was a little concerned when the cork all but completely crumbled but the wine was flawless. Still a bit tannic after a 30 minute decant, dark red fruit, and held up well to a dry aged ribeye and risotto. (1835 views)
 Tasted by Recreation Chef on 11/18/2017 & rated 90 points: Cork failed, However, the wine fortunately held up well for for 11 years old. Weak nose but cherry and mild mocha flavor were nice and did not overwhelm the meal. (2010 views)
 Tasted by Corrie on 8/14/2017 & rated 91 points: Just starting to the downside, fruit beginning to fade. Many of my friends would love this flavor. (2383 views)
 Tasted by Winiac on 6/22/2017 & rated 89 points: Spicy. Too much oak, yet good wine. Don't disturb the bottle, too much silty sediment that would take away from the experience if floated. (2960 views)
 Tasted by rmcnees on 5/9/2017 & rated 91 points: Consistent with earlier tasting notes, (see below). The notes of mocha were replaced with tones of leather, tobacco leaf and hints of cedar as this passes its tenth year. (3148 views)
 Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine...

Professional 'Channels'
By John Szabo, MS
WineAlign (11/18/2009)
(Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District red) Subscribe to see review text.
By David Lawrason
WineAlign (11/4/2009)
(Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District red) Subscribe to see review text.
By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, May/June 2009, IWC Issue #144
(Cliff Lede Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District) Subscribe to see review text.
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of WineAlign and Vinous. (manage subscription channels)

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Cliff Lede

Producer website

2006 Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District

Producer Notes
The 2006 Cabernet lights up out of the bottle with a precocious bouquet of exotic spices and old leather. Given a moment to rest, aromas of sweet marjoram, rose oil, cardamom and blackcurrant jam evolve into exceptionally sweet floral notes of star jasmine and a touch of trumpet vine. Initial flavors of cherry deepen as fine tannins expand and unfold. Dark stone fruits mix and integrate with sweet tannins and fleshy acidity, giving way to a persimmon inspired finish that coats the mouth.
Analysis
Composition: 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 2% Malbec
Alcohol: 15.2%
Bottled: June 2008
Release: October 2008
Production: 8,853 Cases

Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon is probably the most famous red wine grape variety on Earth. It is rivaled in this regard only by its Bordeaux stablemate Merlot, and its opposite number in Burgundy, Pinot Noir. From its origins in Bordeaux, Cabernet has successfully spread to almost every winegrowing country in the world. It is now the key grape variety in many first-rate New World wine regions, most notably Napa Valley, Coonawarra and Maipo Valley. Wherever they come from, Cabernet Sauvignon wines always seem to demonstrate a handful of common character traits: deep color, good tannin structure, moderate acidity and aromas of blackcurrant, tomato leaf, dark spices and cedarwood.

Used as frequently in blends as in varietal wines, Cabernet Sauvignon has a large number of common blending partners. Apart from the obvious Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the most prevalent of these are Malbec, Petit Verdot and Carmenere (the ingredients of a classic Bordeaux Blend), Shiraz (in Australia's favorite blend) and in Spain and South America, a Cabernet – Tempranillo blend is now commonplace. Even the bold Tannat-based wines of Madiran are now generally softened with Cabernet Sauvignon

USA

American wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.

California

2021 vintage: "Unlike almost all other areas of the state, the Russian River Valley had higher than normal crops in 2021, which has made for a wine of greater generosity and fruit forwardness than some of its stablemates." - Morgan Twain-Peterson

Napa Valley

Napa Valley Wineries and Wine (Napa Valley Vintners)

Stags Leap District

Stags Leap District

 
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