Better than a year ago certainly, according to my palate and the score reflects that. Raspberry, cassis, tobacco box and maybe a hint of licorice on the palate. Fruit is fresh and bright. This could be a bit more full bodied but it is after all, a Bordeaux style. This suffered a bit in comparison to the 2007 Diamond Creek Gravelly Meadow but what wouldn’t? Plus it was less than 1/3 rd of the price of the DC.
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Fourth of six bought at the winery and they just keeps getting worse. My mistake- they had this marketed down and selling it in six packs as a recent release yet it wasn’t on the tasting menu to sample.
Took to a restaurant and followed over an hour over dinner. Starts off big and disjointed and then just gets bigger and out of balance. When I checked the label and saw 15.2% alcohol that was all that I needed to know.
Don’t think Cliff Lede did himself any favors putting his name on the label of this finished wine rather than selling it off in bulk.
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Medium purple color. Limited nose. A mix of red fruit, earthy, forest floor and tobacco box on the palate. Medium bodied with medium tannins and a brief finish. A nice offering from Lede in a classic, left bank Bordeaux style. Just lacking a bit of body and complexity.
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A medium weight Bordeaux blend that more on the elegant side. Aromatically pleasing with medium weight on the palate. Everything is in balance here. This wine has no hard edges. Enjoyable.
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Cassis, plum, dark chocolate, black raspberry, cigar box, medicinal cherry. Medium-full body. Medium acidity. Medium-plus finish. Went well with steak. A little hot.
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This is my least favorite Cliff Lede offering by FAR......very harsh and bitter finish...high alcohol tries to mask lack of structure....still a big Cliff Lede fan, but won't buy this one again
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An exceptional blend highlighted with flavors of black currant and plum. Scents of shaved graphite out of the bottle. Well rounded and nicely balanced.
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Those folks at Cliff Lede know what they're doing. The Claret is opulent, with an overwhelming fruit that verges on feeling over-extracted at first sip (especially off the cork). With some time, the bouquet opens beautifully showing depth. Purchased during the annual black Friday sale, which is an amazing deal. To date, I've never had a bad wine from this producer and the tasting room is a blast to visit.
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5/23/2021 - wconnolly Likes this wine: 90 Points
Better than a year ago certainly, according to my palate and the score reflects that. Raspberry, cassis, tobacco box and maybe a hint of licorice on the palate. Fruit is fresh and bright. This could be a bit more full bodied but it is after all, a Bordeaux style. This suffered a bit in comparison to the 2007 Diamond Creek Gravelly Meadow but what wouldn’t? Plus it was less than 1/3 rd of the price of the DC.
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2/27/2021 - Chris Forno Does not like this wine:
Fourth of six bought at the winery and they just keeps getting worse. My mistake- they had this marketed down and selling it in six packs as a recent release yet it wasn’t on the tasting menu to sample.
Took to a restaurant and followed over an hour over dinner. Starts off big and disjointed and then just gets bigger and out of balance. When I checked the label and saw 15.2% alcohol that was all that I needed to know.
Don’t think Cliff Lede did himself any favors putting his name on the label of this finished wine rather than selling it off in bulk.
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8/2/2020 - wconnolly Likes this wine: 86 Points
Medium purple color. Limited nose. A mix of red fruit, earthy, forest floor and tobacco box on the palate. Medium bodied with medium tannins and a brief finish. A nice offering from Lede in a classic, left bank Bordeaux style. Just lacking a bit of body and complexity.
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7/12/2020 - EFrohmader Likes this wine: 90 Points
Ripe blackberry, plum, sweet tobacco, cigar box, violet. Medium-full body. Medium acidity. Medium-minus, dusty tannins. Medium-plus finish.
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6/12/2020 - bwwixted wrote:
Very good, little of a trade aftertaste but still very good, enjoyed by all.
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5/10/2020 - Oldmanzin Likes this wine: 90 Points
A medium weight Bordeaux blend that more on the elegant side. Aromatically pleasing with medium weight on the palate. Everything is in balance here. This wine has no hard edges. Enjoyable.
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4/19/2020 - The Wine Sherpa Does not like this wine: 87 Points
Too fruit forward. It neloowed a bit second day.
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4/18/2020 - wine247365 Likes this wine: 91 Points
This is in a nice spot now. Fuller bodied, medium acidity, dark fruits, flavorful. Very enjoyable
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10/16/2019 - jmartini33 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted for 1 hour. Very smooth and drinkable at this point
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8/3/2019 - EFrohmader Likes this wine: 90 Points
Cassis, plum, dark chocolate, black raspberry, cigar box, medicinal cherry. Medium-full body. Medium acidity. Medium-plus finish. Went well with steak. A little hot.
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1/30/2019 - Oldmanzin Likes this wine: 90 Points
Delightful Bordeaux blend. Medium weight. Pleasing on the nose. Good texture and depth. Not the most complex wine, but very enjoyable.
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1/26/2019 - gryz Likes this wine: 91 Points
Tasty for price.
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8/26/2018 - EFrohmader Likes this wine: 90 Points
Cassis, dark chocolate, plum, black cherries. Medium-full body. Moderate acidity & velvety tannins. Medium-long finish.
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6/2/2018 - Winowhyno Does not like this wine: 84 Points
This is my least favorite Cliff Lede offering by FAR......very harsh and bitter finish...high alcohol tries to mask lack of structure....still a big Cliff Lede fan, but won't buy this one again
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4/25/2018 - Kcornett wrote: 75 Points
Great legs. Needed to breathe and still not great without food/fat. A little harsh.
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4/5/2018 - Noah Wexler Likes this wine: 99 Points
Amazing
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3/10/2018 - comlaw Likes this wine: 92 Points
Aerated and decanted for 60 minutes. Nice balance of black fruit, chocolate and moderate tannins. Very good QPR.
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3/1/2018 - Wine Dook Likes this wine: 93 Points
An exceptional blend highlighted with flavors of black currant and plum. Scents of shaved graphite out of the bottle. Well rounded and nicely balanced.
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12/14/2017 - cos65 Likes this wine:
Dark ruby black
This is tasty stuff.
Ripe dark cherry and some toasty oak
Rich without being over the top (relatively speaking...)
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12/14/2017 - bigdogsteve Likes this wine: 92 Points
Those folks at Cliff Lede know what they're doing. The Claret is opulent, with an overwhelming fruit that verges on feeling over-extracted at first sip (especially off the cork). With some time, the bouquet opens beautifully showing depth. Purchased during the annual black Friday sale, which is an amazing deal. To date, I've never had a bad wine from this producer and the tasting room is a blast to visit.
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7/14/2017 - Winedog1 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drank at Poetry Inn, the home of Cliff Lede. Sweet. Very approachable for age. Some chocolate and cedar. Foie gras. Grape popsicle. Luxardo cherry.
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4/27/2017 - Jakeatin wrote: 89 Points
Cristy liked this one
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1/5/2017 - despore wrote: 88 Points
Big fruit, not much structure and little tannins, spouse loves this kind of very easy drinking fruit forward Napa red.
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12/30/2016 - Corrie Likes this wine: 90 Points
Must taste this wine each year, but 2014 is definitely a home run. Good value wine.
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12/16/2016 - ONEFIVE Likes this wine:
Less tannic and thus more approachable than the 2013.
Great texture and integration for such a young Napa Cab.
Drink it over the next few years.
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