PnP, but needed about 30 minutes to show well. Berry, cherry, plum, earth, and menthol. Still has lots of flavor with cherry, plum, anise, earth. Medium body with silky tannins in the finish.
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First impressions...BIG BIG Nose. Wonderful berry, cheery notes with a slight earthy hint. Not surprising it was very smooth. If you are looking for big, bold cab...this is not it, but it is remarkably smooth with very little to no tannin structure remaining. It was one of the best bottles I have had in a long time. Served with a number of friends all enjoyed the bottle.
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Tasted from magnum. The Cliff Lede Napa Cabernet was dark ink colored, full bodied, complex, concentrated and chewy, yet smooth, polished and harmonious. Initially it had a layer of earthiness and leather with a hint of funkiness that burned off after an hour to explode with forward ripe dark berry, plum and currant fruits, accented by tea and spice before giving way to a milk chocolate tone on the silky supple lingering finish. This accentuated fruit subsided a bit after another hour turning to tones of black cherry and tea, but was still delicious none-the-less.
Absolutely fabulous. A memorable wine consumed from a magnum. Deep inky violet color. Nose was a bit floral but opened with a forest floor kind of funkiness which blew off after about 2 hours of air. The nose and funkiness hinted at a Bordeaux style but this was deep, dark Napa fruit at its best. Mouth filling with flavors including dark cherry, cassis and plum followed by a hint of clove and chocolate. A couple of important notes. Having a magnum may have made a huge difference. I tasted this at the winery a week before from a 750 which I am sure had not been open as long as the magnum was. The aforementioned forest floor aroma and taste was more pronounced, leading to a conclusion this was a touch past prime. En magnum this was exceptional. In addition, this still requires much breathing time. The magnum was open collectively for 2.5 hrs before the real fruit showed up. It was at peak for 60 to 90 minutes before fading just a bit. Another interesting bit of speculation...Since Lede bought the S. Anderson property in 2002, this was likely in barrels, the last harvest as S. Anderson, making this the first solely "Cliff Lede" labeled product.
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90-91+ Points. Tasted at Cliff Lede. Aerated for unknown period of time.
Dried, macerated cherries followed by dried herbs and cedar notes. The wine is clearly mature but is holding together well. There's very good clarity and focus here at this point, but is unlikely to improve. Recommend drinking soon with limited aeration.
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Excellent aged red. Fine with steak. Needs a full hour at room temperature to be available fully. Soft flavors of fruit. Nose of berry with forest floor. Wouldn't store longer should it fade more.
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Opened about 90 minutes before tasting, but it needed another 30 to 60 minutes to hit its stride. Absolutely no signs of age. All kinds of berries on the nose and on the palate, along with hints of spices and herbs. Luscious texture. Very rich, very well balanced, with a lengthy, rich finish.
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not worth the money at this point. probably waited too many years and too few minutes to drink. might have been better if it was left to breathe a little longer
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superb nose of fruit and flowers-- Takes at least an hour to open up--caramel and berries--great sophuisticated well blended wine-- Perfect with a dinner of meat--
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Not one bit of age on this bottle from the same 6 pack. Slow-ox for 3 hours. Lots of fresh bright fruit, flowers, lavender, violets. Subtle mint. Moderate tannin. No earthiness or tobacco as other bottles.
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Opened about 90 minutes before tasting. Consistent with previous bottles. Nice dark color, with no visible signs of age. What previously came across as mint, and then earthiness now seems more like dried leaves and tobacco on the nose (possibly redundant but not unpleasant characteristics). Mostly currants on the palate, along with the leaves and possibly a little sage. Medium body and a good finish. Continued to evolve and improve over the course of an hour. Still nicely balanced and holding up well.
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Similar to last bottle about a year ago, but the "hint of mint" has turned into a hint of earthiness. Not unpleasant and could be bottle variation. Still a solid, elegant Napa Cabernet.
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Currants on the nose and on the palate, along with a hint of mint. Medium body with fine, almost sweet tannins. Very nice finish. Overall impression is sleek and sophisticated. Not showing any signs of age - should last a couple more years, if not longer.
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A bit on the medium bodied side but very well balanced and at 8 years a very very nice wine. The inital taste was wonderfully sweet and no astringent after taste.
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Deep crimson color leads to a nose of red currant, sage, and tobacco. Body carries currant and sage flavors forward will adding some allspice and a hint of vanilla. Finishes with sweet enjoyable tannins. Really enjoyable bottle of wine which has added considerable heft from last tasting four years ago. Has at least 10 years of life left.
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Double decanted couple hours prior to the event. Pretty fat middle here with the oak showing but not overly so. More modern styled and fleshy but still some nice complexities peaking out. Not a huge grip for a Cab but this is still pretty young. Don't touch for another 5 years.
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An elegant wine and very well balanced, with lovely dark fruit flavors and a hint of sweetness. Finishes with a touch of cassis and light oak on the long, smooth finish. Excellent wine that stresses finesse and balance rather than big fruit and oak.
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Opened not decanted. Starts out with a great nose, and when I taste, it turns dull and funky. It has inklings of good spice and flavors and they just disappear into a muddled mess.
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Opened not decanted. Cherry red color with some clarity at the edges of the glass. Warm berry flavors not unlike cola, a little hot to my palate, but good.
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Dark crimson in color with a nose of black cherry. The body adds currant and tobacco to finish with a complex a respectably long finish. The intersting thing about this wine is its very feminine character. There is no fruit bomb here this is pure elegance. A very pretty wine.
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2/9/2023 - gharter Likes this wine: 92 Points
PnP, but needed about 30 minutes to show well. Berry, cherry, plum, earth, and menthol. Still has lots of flavor with cherry, plum, anise, earth. Medium body with silky tannins in the finish.
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2/10/2022 - tbullion wrote:
Frank with Nat, Justin, Marilyn, et al at Marilyn’s restaurant in Cameron - excellent
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12/17/2016 - Jay_R Likes this wine: 93 Points
First impressions...BIG BIG Nose. Wonderful berry, cheery notes with a slight earthy hint. Not surprising it was very smooth. If you are looking for big, bold cab...this is not it, but it is remarkably smooth with very little to no tannin structure remaining. It was one of the best bottles I have had in a long time. Served with a number of friends all enjoyed the bottle.
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7/10/2015 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 90 Points
Smooth, dark color, pop and pour.
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8/24/2014 - rmcnees Likes this wine: 94 Points
Tasted from magnum. The Cliff Lede Napa Cabernet was dark ink colored, full bodied, complex, concentrated and chewy, yet smooth, polished and harmonious. Initially it had a layer of earthiness and leather with a hint of funkiness that burned off after an hour to explode with forward ripe dark berry, plum and currant fruits, accented by tea and spice before giving way to a milk chocolate tone on the silky supple lingering finish. This accentuated fruit subsided a bit after another hour turning to tones of black cherry and tea, but was still delicious none-the-less.
http://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2014/08/unique-wine-highlights-gala-celebration.html
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8/23/2014 - wconnolly Likes this wine: 94 Points
Absolutely fabulous. A memorable wine consumed from a magnum. Deep inky violet color. Nose was a bit floral but opened with a forest floor kind of funkiness which blew off after about 2 hours of air. The nose and funkiness hinted at a Bordeaux style but this was deep, dark Napa fruit at its best. Mouth filling with flavors including dark cherry, cassis and plum followed by a hint of clove and chocolate. A couple of important notes. Having a magnum may have made a huge difference. I tasted this at the winery a week before from a 750 which I am sure had not been open as long as the magnum was. The aforementioned forest floor aroma and taste was more pronounced, leading to a conclusion this was a touch past prime. En magnum this was exceptional. In addition, this still requires much breathing time. The magnum was open collectively for 2.5 hrs before the real fruit showed up. It was at peak for 60 to 90 minutes before fading just a bit. Another interesting bit of speculation...Since Lede bought the S. Anderson property in 2002, this was likely in barrels, the last harvest as S. Anderson, making this the first solely "Cliff Lede" labeled product.
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6/13/2014 - TSBWine Likes this wine: 91 Points
90-91+ Points. Tasted at Cliff Lede. Aerated for unknown period of time.
Dried, macerated cherries followed by dried herbs and cedar notes. The wine is clearly mature but is holding together well. There's very good clarity and focus here at this point, but is unlikely to improve. Recommend drinking soon with limited aeration.
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10/31/2013 - gaschief wrote: 91 Points
Rich red. Fine aroma of berries and forest floor . Long flavor of fruit well aged. Drink now
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8/12/2013 - gaschief wrote: 91 Points
Excellent aged red. Fine with steak. Needs a full hour at room temperature to be available fully. Soft flavors of fruit. Nose of berry with forest floor. Wouldn't store longer should it fade more.
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7/14/2013 - Winecat Does not like this wine: 82 Points
Definitely not worth the money. I expected something more than a soft flabby one note cab.
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3/10/2013 - Night Train Likes this wine: 91 Points
Opened about 90 minutes before tasting, but it needed another 30 to 60 minutes to hit its stride. Absolutely no signs of age. All kinds of berries on the nose and on the palate, along with hints of spices and herbs. Luscious texture. Very rich, very well balanced, with a lengthy, rich finish.
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12/2/2011 - tlexvold wrote: 85 Points
not worth the money at this point. probably waited too many years and too few minutes to drink. might have been better if it was left to breathe a little longer
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11/18/2011 - gaschief wrote: 92 Points
superb nose of fruit and flowers-- Takes at least an hour to open up--caramel and berries--great sophuisticated well blended wine-- Perfect with a dinner of meat--
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10/26/2011 - arthrovine wrote: 92 Points
Not one bit of age on this bottle from the same 6 pack. Slow-ox for 3 hours. Lots of fresh bright fruit, flowers, lavender, violets. Subtle mint. Moderate tannin. No earthiness or tobacco as other bottles.
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7/10/2011 - Night Train wrote: 90 Points
Opened about 90 minutes before tasting. Consistent with previous bottles. Nice dark color, with no visible signs of age. What previously came across as mint, and then earthiness now seems more like dried leaves and tobacco on the nose (possibly redundant but not unpleasant characteristics). Mostly currants on the palate, along with the leaves and possibly a little sage. Medium body and a good finish. Continued to evolve and improve over the course of an hour. Still nicely balanced and holding up well.
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4/6/2011 - MeMyself&I wrote: 91 Points
Gorgeous deep color, almost deep purple. Hints of the farm and the ranch.
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2/3/2011 - arthrovine wrote: 92 Points
this bottle began to show itself after filtering and decanting for 1 hour. A nice aged cabernet showing mint and surprising amt of tannin.
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1/10/2011 - Alsace wrote:
Excellent
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1/3/2011 - gaschief wrote: 90 Points
excellent drinkable wine. lots of earthy flavors, good aroma, long pleasant aftertaste--very drinkable now
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11/7/2010 - arthrovine wrote: 91 Points
drinking well. tannins mild. earthiness present. paired well with mushroom-based dishes
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9/25/2010 - Night Train wrote: 90 Points
Similar to last bottle about a year ago, but the "hint of mint" has turned into a hint of earthiness. Not unpleasant and could be bottle variation. Still a solid, elegant Napa Cabernet.
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10/23/2009 - Night Train wrote: 90 Points
Currants on the nose and on the palate, along with a hint of mint. Medium body with fine, almost sweet tannins. Very nice finish. Overall impression is sleek and sophisticated. Not showing any signs of age - should last a couple more years, if not longer.
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10/7/2009 - Double D wrote: 93 Points
A bit on the medium bodied side but very well balanced and at 8 years a very very nice wine. The inital taste was wonderfully sweet and no astringent after taste.
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12/1/2008 - flashvictor wrote: 92 Points
Deep crimson color leads to a nose of red currant, sage, and tobacco. Body carries currant and sage flavors forward will adding some allspice and a hint of vanilla. Finishes with sweet enjoyable tannins. Really enjoyable bottle of wine which has added considerable heft from last tasting four years ago. Has at least 10 years of life left.
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2/23/2008 - WetRock wrote:
Double decanted couple hours prior to the event. Pretty fat middle here with the oak showing but not overly so. More modern styled and fleshy but still some nice complexities peaking out. Not a huge grip for a Cab but this is still pretty young. Don't touch for another 5 years.
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10/20/2007 - vinole wrote: 93 Points
An elegant wine and very well balanced, with lovely dark fruit flavors and a hint of sweetness. Finishes with a touch of cassis and light oak on the long, smooth finish. Excellent wine that stresses finesse and balance rather than big fruit and oak.
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3/19/2007 - WineForRob wrote: 94 Points
Great wine. Similar to the 03 with a huge dark berry nose. Very tasty on the palate with a long seamless finish. I really like their wine.
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4/7/2006 - tanglenet wrote:
Opened not decanted. Starts out with a great nose, and when I taste, it turns dull and funky. It has inklings of good spice and flavors and they just disappear into a muddled mess.
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8/25/2005 - tanglenet wrote:
Opened not decanted. Cherry red color with some clarity at the edges of the glass. Warm berry flavors not unlike cola, a little hot to my palate, but good.
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8/20/2004 - flashvictor wrote: 92 Points
Dark crimson in color with a nose of black cherry. The body adds currant and tobacco to finish with a complex a respectably long finish. The intersting thing about this wine is its very feminine character. There is no fruit bomb here this is pure elegance. A very pretty wine.
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