Smooth and velvety with medium plus body and sweet tannins, this was a joy to drink. Decanted for three hours and continued to improve over the course of the evening.
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Still a terrific wine, contrary to others still has plenty of stuffing to go potentially many more years. Just a tint of bricking on the edge. Needs 4 hour decant, plenty of rich, velvety, sweet stags leap fruit, grippy tannins, long finish. For the $50 I paid for it, tremendous QPR. I think the best of all Lede's entry Stags Leap Cabs over the years.
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Still has dark fruit, but it is beginning to fade. Chocolate notes and a little bit of earthiness. Tannins have softened considerably. It didn't really hod up to my steak, and I think the last bottle I drank (? in 2013) was better. Bottom line: nice "older" California cab. Drink it now, though.
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Consistent with my previous TN of 9/25/10, though I can't say it has really improved since then. The extracted tarry notes have subsided, but could use a bit more acidity to balance the fairly ripe fruit. Still a very nice Napa cab.
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Fabulous, luscious red fruits, muscular on the palate, long concentrated finish, mouthwatering acidity. A little zingy on the palate from the alcohol but the fruit balances. Decant would mellow it a bit, i did not do so, would if I had another bottle. Showstopper, especially for the pricetag, easily as good as most wine twice the price Lots of life left.
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Deep purple color. Nose of dark fruit, oak and dried herbs. Palate is sharp at first, softening with time and exposing nice minerality and coffee flavors. May still benefit from more time.
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Very aromatic nose of red and black fruit and flowers. On the palate there are layers of sweet red fruit, plums and blackberries. Finishes with notes of vanilla and cherries and a lot of alcohol. Would be better if the alcohol did not take over the wine at the finish.
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- Brick color with medium forming legs and aromas of black currant and coffee. It's balanced and has flavours of cherry, chocolate, cloves and vanilla with a medium/full body. Satin-Like texture with a long finish.
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Deep purple color leads to a nose of currant, dark cherry, and chocolate. Full body has classic flavors of dark cherry, currant, with hints of cedar and asian spice all wrapped in decadent dark chocolate. Finish last 40 seconds with gorgeous sweet tannin. Lovely wine.
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This wine has a high level of extract, and had some tarry notes on the finish as a result. Full bodied, with concentrated currant and blackberry fruit that still comes off fairly well due to the balancing level of acidity and the ripeness level being in check. Also had a fair amount of sediment. Thinking this will still improve with a bit more age.
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Decanted for 5+ hours. Dark purple in appearance. Has a bouquet of dark fruits, graphite, earth, and a little chocolate. The palate shows a rich complex cabernet with a silky texture and a moderate to long finish. Initially scored this around the 92-93 range but was very disappointed with the flavors on day 2. Tasted of overripe prune flavored cough syrup. It's a little confusing since it didn't show even the remote flavors and complexities that it did on day 1.
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Lost a little form the last time. It got better as the night went on. Definately do not drink right now. In little funk. Wait a couple fo years before trying another.
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It has tons of black fruit and was heavily concentrated, but all of the parts didn't come together for me. The finish was a bit acidic and not as soft as I hoped. It needs a few years of cellaring, and for a $30 bottle who has that patience.
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Heavy in alcohol, sharp acidity, and not very soft in the midpalate or finish. I decanted this for an hour and drank a glass over an hour. Not impressed at all and put it away for the next day. Based on all of the positive reviews on CT, this bottle may be flawed.
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Hawaii Vacation Wines - Fall 2007; 10/4/2007-10/14/2007 (Big Island, Hawaii): Excellent cab and a great value around $50! Dark purple color with aromas/flavors of dark berries, currant, vanilla and mocha. Ripe, rich and lush with round, velvet tannins. Deep and complex wine with great balance for its age. A consistent producer of very good cabs, this vintage reflects another fine effort.
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Beautiful, soft, with ripe fruit, supple tannin structure, and a fat midpalate of cassis, berry, and vanilla. I=t finishes long with strawberry and wood, with a touch of sage. Beautiful wine, especially for the price.
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Excellent but young. First taste was bracing. Very rich in the nose; dark fruit and licorice flavors, oaky, very flavorful; long finish. We decanted for 45 minutes but it still was tannic. This will be an outstanding Cal cab in time.
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Drank after a bottle of John Anthony 04 and they were almost identical. No formal notes but this winery is amazing. Best value for California Cabs bar none. Wine club members get a taste of the 03 Poetry next. Can't wait.
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We decanted this and drank slowly over the course of the evening. Incredible cab. One of the best I have ever had. Smooth and luscious with a finish that goes on forever. What a treat!
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Bottle shock could of made this wine rate better than normal but just had to open it after receiving it UPS from the winery. Decanted 75 minutes. Silky smooth, very complex, fullbodied, super long finish, very rich and elegant with velvety tannins. Tons of blueberries, currant, violets, spice, cherries, vanila on the nose. Very Rich fruit on the palate, black cherry, cassis, blueberry, blackberry, mocha, spice, anise, pepper with a nice even tempo start to finish. I thought the 03 was magnificent, this one is way better. This is only $37.50 each if you are a wine club member and buy a case within 30 days of receiving the current wine club shipment.
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I have really become a huge fan of Cliff Lede wines after visitng their winery back in the fall of 2004. When you visit their place you will walk away with one thought; they understand quality. Their wines exemplify that word. Their $25 clarets I think are one the best values on the market and drink at twice that level. Their $45 cabernets continue to be some of my favorites and this wine could be the best of all of them. What really amazed me about this wine was how ready to drink it was even though it is clearly still very young. I opened it and let it sit for an hour before tasting. Man, was this good. Big dark fruit like blackberries and currant. A touch of cedar. Great finish. Spectator gave this a 92-94 in a barrel tasting. In a couple of years this could easily be a 94-96. I can't wait. I am so glad I am still sitting on plenty of bottles to horde from everybody else.
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Not the huge blueberry nose I love from previous vintages but it was still nice blackberry fruit. This winery is amazing every year. Huge dark fruits midpalate with a super smooth finish with huge tannins. Always a pleasure.
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Dark garnet color leads to a somewaht muted nose of black cherry and currant. The palate is packed with rich round currant, cherry, blackberry and vanilla. The tannins are smooth with a 40 second finish. This is wonderful now but will only improve with time.
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Fantastic cab! Inky purple with a nose of dark fruit, current, and mocha. The palate is complex and well balanced with velvety tannins. Moderate finish. This had just a wonderful mouthfeel. Will cellar for a few years and improve but why bother when it's so good now.
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A killer cab. I don't understand how this winery doesn't get more notariety. Incredibly well balanced, with velvety smooth chocolate and tobacco notes mid palatte. Strong effort in every way.
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8/25/2019 - Hamersly wrote: 93 Points
Smooth and velvety with medium plus body and sweet tannins, this was a joy to drink. Decanted for three hours and continued to improve over the course of the evening.
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9/29/2018 - YankeeRobio Likes this wine: 95 Points
In its prime drinking window. Soft and powerful wine
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4/21/2018 - YankeeRobio Likes this wine: 94 Points
Great, aged wine. Sweet tannin, blueberry, cassis, spice and chocolate.
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6/24/2017 - Kdog wrote: 94 Points
Still a terrific wine, contrary to others still has plenty of stuffing to go potentially many more years. Just a tint of bricking on the edge. Needs 4 hour decant, plenty of rich, velvety, sweet stags leap fruit, grippy tannins, long finish. For the $50 I paid for it, tremendous QPR. I think the best of all Lede's entry Stags Leap Cabs over the years.
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12/11/2016 - smb22 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Still has dark fruit, but it is beginning to fade. Chocolate notes and a little bit of earthiness. Tannins have softened considerably. It didn't really hod up to my steak, and I think the last bottle I drank (? in 2013) was better. Bottom line: nice "older" California cab. Drink it now, though.
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11/11/2015 - magic2coop Likes this wine: 95 Points
Perfection. Plush tannins integrate into blackberry, blueberry, and an overlay of cocoa. This is at a remarkable tasting point. Enjoy.
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11/16/2014 - vinole wrote: 91 Points
Consistent with my previous TN of 9/25/10, though I can't say it has really improved since then. The extracted tarry notes have subsided, but could use a bit more acidity to balance the fairly ripe fruit. Still a very nice Napa cab.
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11/14/2014 - magic2coop Likes this wine: 94 Points
10 years old and the loam and chocolate persist. Great silky finish.
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9/12/2013 - magic2coop Likes this wine: 94 Points
Still loaded with fruit. Jammy, herbal, loamy. Great balance. My favorite of 04, 05, 06.
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6/10/2013 - ONEFIVE Likes this wine:
Still pretty young, drink in 2016+
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4/22/2013 - ejca Likes this wine:
In a good place right now. Very nice cab with good stags chalkiness. I would buy again.
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7/13/2012 - Kdog wrote: 94 Points
Fabulous, luscious red fruits, muscular on the palate, long concentrated finish, mouthwatering acidity. A little zingy on the palate from the alcohol but the fruit balances. Decant would mellow it a bit, i did not do so, would if I had another bottle. Showstopper, especially for the pricetag, easily as good as most wine twice the price Lots of life left.
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4/15/2012 - KeithSurg wrote: 92 Points
Deep purple color. Nose of dark fruit, oak and dried herbs. Palate is sharp at first, softening with time and exposing nice minerality and coffee flavors. May still benefit from more time.
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3/13/2012 - jrf wrote: 93 Points
really in balance now. some of the overt fruityness that Lede can have has been tempered, thankfully.
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11/24/2011 - ONEFIVE Likes this wine:
Delicious!
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10/12/2011 - MCUBEB wrote: 88 Points
Very aromatic nose of red and black fruit and flowers. On the palate there are layers of sweet red fruit, plums and blackberries. Finishes with notes of vanilla and cherries and a lot of alcohol. Would be better if the alcohol did not take over the wine at the finish.
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10/5/2011 - flashvictor wrote: 93 Points
- Brick color with medium forming legs and aromas of black currant and coffee. It's balanced and has flavours of cherry, chocolate, cloves and vanilla with a medium/full body. Satin-Like texture with a long finish.
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9/30/2010 - flashvictor Likes this wine: 93 Points
Deep purple color leads to a nose of currant, dark cherry, and chocolate. Full body has classic flavors of dark cherry, currant, with hints of cedar and asian spice all wrapped in decadent dark chocolate. Finish last 40 seconds with gorgeous sweet tannin. Lovely wine.
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9/25/2010 - vinole Likes this wine: 91 Points
This wine has a high level of extract, and had some tarry notes on the finish as a result. Full bodied, with concentrated currant and blackberry fruit that still comes off fairly well due to the balancing level of acidity and the ripeness level being in check. Also had a fair amount of sediment. Thinking this will still improve with a bit more age.
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8/7/2010 - lano wrote: 91 Points
Medium tannins and really quality fruit. Very impressed with this wine. Not a life changing wine, but really solid and would definitely buy again.
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4/30/2010 - toothy7 wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for 5+ hours. Dark purple in appearance. Has a bouquet of dark fruits, graphite, earth, and a little chocolate. The palate shows a rich complex cabernet with a silky texture and a moderate to long finish. Initially scored this around the 92-93 range but was very disappointed with the flavors on day 2. Tasted of overripe prune flavored cough syrup. It's a little confusing since it didn't show even the remote flavors and complexities that it did on day 1.
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6/3/2009 - 2Travel wrote: 93 Points
wonderful example of the vintage - balance and grace!
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4/11/2009 - parathesis wrote: 92 Points
Lost a little form the last time. It got better as the night went on. Definately do not drink right now. In little funk. Wait a couple fo years before trying another.
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3/8/2009 - tbdman wrote: 91 Points
Deep and intense finish. Deep black color. Great food wine.
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12/24/2008 - pgm wrote: 91 Points
Deep, rich, black cherry and currant, with cocoa-like tannins. Very tasty.
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10/8/2008 - J-Sho wrote: 92 Points
see previous note
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4/13/2008 - lussier.rob@gmail.com wrote: 95 Points
Decanted with an 2003 for two hours. Love the 2003. But the 2004 was even better....smoother, more fruit. GREAT bottle of wine for the price.
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12/30/2007 - jswanson wrote: 94 Points
Black fruit with spice and vanilla. Long finish. Should age nicely for next 10 years. Very drinkable now. Excellent value.
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10/14/2007 - napaJ6 wrote: 90 Points
It has tons of black fruit and was heavily concentrated, but all of the parts didn't come together for me. The finish was a bit acidic and not as soft as I hoped. It needs a few years of cellaring, and for a $30 bottle who has that patience.
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10/12/2007 - napaJ6 wrote: 88 Points
Heavy in alcohol, sharp acidity, and not very soft in the midpalate or finish. I decanted this for an hour and drank a glass over an hour. Not impressed at all and put it away for the next day. Based on all of the positive reviews on CT, this bottle may be flawed.
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10/11/2007 - GolferChris wrote: 93 Points
Hawaii Vacation Wines - Fall 2007; 10/4/2007-10/14/2007 (Big Island, Hawaii): Excellent cab and a great value around $50! Dark purple color with aromas/flavors of dark berries, currant, vanilla and mocha. Ripe, rich and lush with round, velvet tannins. Deep and complex wine with great balance for its age. A consistent producer of very good cabs, this vintage reflects another fine effort.
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9/23/2007 - J-Sho wrote: 94 Points
see previous
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8/5/2007 - mmyette wrote: 93 Points
Beautiful, soft, with ripe fruit, supple tannin structure, and a fat midpalate of cassis, berry, and vanilla. I=t finishes long with strawberry and wood, with a touch of sage. Beautiful wine, especially for the price.
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7/23/2007 - jeffs wrote: 92 Points
Excellent but young. First taste was bracing. Very rich in the nose; dark fruit and licorice flavors, oaky, very flavorful; long finish. We decanted for 45 minutes but it still was tannic. This will be an outstanding Cal cab in time.
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6/18/2007 - WineForRob wrote: 93 Points
Love these guys. Great wine just keep them coming.
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6/9/2007 - WineForRob wrote: 94 Points
Drank after a bottle of John Anthony 04 and they were almost identical. No formal notes but this winery is amazing. Best value for California Cabs bar none. Wine club members get a taste of the 03 Poetry next. Can't wait.
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5/9/2007 - A&B wrote: 93 Points
Great wine, good structure. Cassis on the nose
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5/6/2007 - buddy22 wrote: 92 Points
We decanted this and drank slowly over the course of the evening. Incredible cab. One of the best I have ever had. Smooth and luscious with a finish that goes on forever. What a treat!
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5/5/2007 - LACERS wrote: 96 Points
Bottle shock could of made this wine rate better than normal but just had to open it after receiving it UPS from the winery. Decanted 75 minutes. Silky smooth, very complex, fullbodied, super long finish, very rich and elegant with velvety tannins. Tons of blueberries, currant, violets, spice, cherries, vanila on the nose. Very Rich fruit on the palate, black cherry, cassis, blueberry, blackberry, mocha, spice, anise, pepper with a nice even tempo start to finish. I thought the 03 was magnificent, this one is way better. This is only $37.50 each if you are a wine club member and buy a case within 30 days of receiving the current wine club shipment.
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5/4/2007 - King of all vines wrote: 93 Points
I have really become a huge fan of Cliff Lede wines after visitng their winery back in the fall of 2004. When you visit their place you will walk away with one thought; they understand quality. Their wines exemplify that word. Their $25 clarets I think are one the best values on the market and drink at twice that level. Their $45 cabernets continue to be some of my favorites and this wine could be the best of all of them. What really amazed me about this wine was how ready to drink it was even though it is clearly still very young. I opened it and let it sit for an hour before tasting. Man, was this good. Big dark fruit like blackberries and currant. A touch of cedar. Great finish. Spectator gave this a 92-94 in a barrel tasting. In a couple of years this could easily be a 94-96. I can't wait. I am so glad I am still sitting on plenty of bottles to horde from everybody else.
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5/4/2007 - WineForRob wrote: 93 Points
Not the huge blueberry nose I love from previous vintages but it was still nice blackberry fruit. This winery is amazing every year. Huge dark fruits midpalate with a super smooth finish with huge tannins. Always a pleasure.
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4/28/2007 - tustinwine wrote: 93 Points
I agree with the other comments...just an outstanding Cab. Very concentrated and yet smooth with a long finish.
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4/27/2007 - flashvictor wrote: 93 Points
Dark garnet color leads to a somewaht muted nose of black cherry and currant. The palate is packed with rich round currant, cherry, blackberry and vanilla. The tannins are smooth with a 40 second finish. This is wonderful now but will only improve with time.
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4/21/2007 - J-Sho wrote: 94 Points
Fantastic cab! Inky purple with a nose of dark fruit, current, and mocha. The palate is complex and well balanced with velvety tannins. Moderate finish. This had just a wonderful mouthfeel. Will cellar for a few years and improve but why bother when it's so good now.
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3/29/2007 - tbdman wrote: 93 Points
A killer cab. I don't understand how this winery doesn't get more notariety. Incredibly well balanced, with velvety smooth chocolate and tobacco notes mid palatte. Strong effort in every way.
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3/23/2007 - djs wrote: 89 Points
Seemed to be closed
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3/19/2007 - hifiwine wrote: 94 Points
oh my, should be one of the best 04' cabs Absolutely amazing
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3/1/2007 - parathesis wrote: 94 Points
Great napa cab. I bought one and had to go back and buy three more. Could use a couple of years of cellar time but still great now.
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