4/14/2024 - yelnak wrote:

Might take of it is that Cliff lady decided to use their stags leap cab in a rebranded more expensive bottle. Disappointing.

3/21/2024 - yelnak wrote:

Aged very nicely. Black cherry on the nose and fruit forward attack. Underscored with hues of violets and licorice lasting until the cassis presents; medium minus tannins, with enough acid to complement the lovely flavors giving backbone. Wish I’d put down more.

3/15/2024 - yelnak wrote:

Delish especially for the price. Medium minus acid allows the warm flowers and biscuit hues to come out along with the pear’ish citrus.

3/11/2024 - yelnak wrote:

Black fruits, with hints of violets and lavender on the nose leading to black cherry Are you? Hon on the attack. Medium minus tannins drape less fruitiness mid palette offering subtle tones of cassis hued with leather and wood, ending with bashful hints of camphor backed boysenberry upon exit. Delicious. Wish I’d bought a case.

2/28/2024 - yelnak wrote:

Noice sangio regardless of the fact that it was a steal. Nose, palette, finish. Like the very good house wines I enjoyed in Florence.

2/18/2024 - yelnak Likes this wine:

First time after half finished by friends who brought it yesterday, very nice nose of boysenberry black plum and blueberry. The front end was rounded not deep which relayed the black fruit with medium minus tannins courtesy of the malbec. Enjoyable.

12/31/2023 - yelnak Likes this wine:

New Year's Eve delight! Nose of blackberry, raspberry, and black licorice coupled with bay laurel, roasted red pepper,
and grilled beef - which we ate after opening. Bright acidity on entry then cascades with creamy tannins on the palate. Rich dark chocolate, baking spice and black fig and blueberry complement the elegant texture and full body. Sublime.

12/27/2023 - yelnak Likes this wine:

Intoxicating, blueberry and boysenberry nose on opening. Front end presented dark fruits, plum and black licorice with a hint of leather and stone slate. Medium minus tannins, shorter finish than I would’ve suspected, but plenty of acidity bracing mid pallet. Lovely.

10/14/2023 - yelnak wrote:

Big bubbles, barnyard, E straw, enjoyable

9/16/2023 - yelnak wrote:

Blueberry nose and front end. Blackberries under black cherries mid-palette through finish of chocolate and hints of black licorice. Soft tannins throughout. Much liked by all partaking.

8/28/2023 - yelnak wrote:

Amazing buy. Still drinking well.

4/30/2023 - yelnak wrote:

Rough and gripping tannins
Needs a few years

4/18/2023 - yelnak wrote:

Stags’ Leap at its finest… creamy plum to nose. Rich medium minus acidity and tannins, luscious blue/blackberry on front; taste of black fruit carries to midpalate with notes of chocolate, toffee and raspberry, soft tannins finishing with whisps of camphor, cinnamon, cedar, and black licorice. Lovely and will drink well for another 4-6 years.

11/6/2022 - yelnak wrote:

One of my go to from CH. big aged black fruit prunes cassis blueberry with medium light tannins and subtle acidity long finish. Bought 2 cases originally Wish I’d gotten more.

10/22/2022 - yelnak wrote:

A fantastic 2012 Stags Leap, from Cliff Lede. Just what I’m looking for in a big cab with 10 years under its belt. Lovely blueberry boysenberry nose, medium minus tannins on the front end- smooth and segues to velvety plum, Cassis, chocolate toffee and leather, with an onset of zin-like texture and building acidity. Hope the case of ‘19 is equal to the challenge come 2029 and beyond!

9/9/2022 - yelnak wrote:

Surprise! Had a bleeding cork. Thought it was corked. But no - instead of making vinegar , I added prescribed amount to spaghetti sauce recipe and enjoyed the rest.
Not much on the backend but the subdued tannins that raged a few years ago gave the front’s concord grapiness a delight. We’ll worth the wait. Hope the last 2 bottles are as good to make up for the crappy first few!

9/9/2022 - yelnak wrote:

Better after open refrigeration on day 2

7/7/2022 - yelnak wrote:

Upon opening Lovely Golden hue in color. first taste presented apricots! and then undertones of peach, pineapple, and hints of Granny Smith hit the palette Medium acidity with a round body if there’s anything holding it back from 92+ it was the nondescript finish - perhaps me or it needing to breathe. For $26, a No brainer.

5/31/2022 - yelnak Likes this wine:

Took delivery six years ago and this last bottle was begging to be enjoyed. Didn’t let me down. Ripe still with Stags Leap fruit, it’s a less tannic - and close shot to Cliff Lede’s other fine wines. On the attack it was a mink - silky smooth black fruit with cassis and hints of leather and cedar (no doubt from the ABV), and oh so rich. Midpalate jamminess was for me - since I’ve been enjoying CL wines since ‘08, lovely. Finish was long and layered with white pepper, blueberries and Concorde grapes taking me back to my - dare I share - Manischewitz-addled youth. And this was upon opening. L’Chaim!

4/13/2022 - yelnak wrote:

Good tasting table wine. Plum and black fruit on the front with medium minus tannins and acid giving a roundness finishing with cedar/fir notes.

3/26/2022 - yelnak wrote:

Disappointing to the four of us. Blah color. Flat nose and taste profile from front end to midpalate. Nothing pronounced in finish. Way too young yet in developing any elegance and the bright, rich texture one enjoys in white Burgundys. Have had Chablis at half the price with twice the character. Will keep the 2019 hidden in the cellar for a few years and see.

3/20/2022 - yelnak wrote:

Awesome both upon opening and especially after letting it rest for 24 hours after finishing half the bottle. Smooth, brick colored , red and plummy fruits with medium minus tannins, light acidity but with a mouth feel that couldn’t be better. Long jammy finish. One of the best domestic Sangiovese I’ve had.

11/14/2021 - yelnak wrote:

Gift to Jerry and David

10/1/2021 - yelnak Likes this wine:

Coravined a glass. Intense nose of inky plum and dusty blueberries and black licorice. after an hours sit came ashy cassis, black currants clove along with the aromatic fruit. Medium Stags Leap tannins brought long cedar granite and leather finish. Putting back in the cellar to mellow further.

8/29/2021 - yelnak Does not like this wine:

Meh. Grassy, musty on the nose. Meyer lemon, minerals and back of the throat twang in the mouth.

8/19/2021 - yelnak wrote:

Wonderful blackberry and plum nose with velvety smoothness. Now with medium minus tannins and depth it finishes with hints of cream and vanilla.

8/7/2021 - yelnak wrote:

Lovely. Not an “in your face” decade-plus old Rutherford - like a Lede Rock Block can be, upon opening, floral notes wafted from the bottle and glass leading to medium minus tannins and a somewhat shallow backbone of red currents cedar and plum. Graceful. On the cusp of brickish color at the edge, after an hour’s airing the floral notes were replaced with subtle black fruits which presented mid palate through a silky finish. Perhaps not a blockbuster, but for what I paid for it (thanks WTSO), I’m glad I’ve another bottle. Cheers!

7/12/2021 - yelnak wrote:

Lovely strawberry apple nose with delightful red fruits on approach. Brut mid palate finishing clean wit floral notes. Nice for the price.

6/23/2021 - yelnak wrote:

We bought this on our way from the Southeast en route to the Northeast stopping in a variety of Virginia wineries. I’ve got to say that I was most impressed with this montepulciano much like I’ve had in Italy. Red fruits and florals on the front, medium body red fruit and better tannin structure than expected and medium minus acid finishing with notes of blackberry caramel and toast. Go! If you’re in their neighborhood.

6/3/2021 - yelnak wrote:

like Suckling said, dense yet fine grained with dark berry, chocolate and hints of chili powder. Some dried mushroom and bark. Full body, tannic and silky texture.

4/9/2021 - yelnak Likes this wine:

Golden amber color, plush white stone fruit on nose and to the palette with creamy feel tilting toward a slatey finish. Very nice and a welcome change from CA chards. Recommended.

3/3/2021 - yelnak Likes this wine:

Delicious. Dark fruit and camphor on my nose with the first sip berry-licious. Beaujolais-like medium-light tannins but with deeper black-blueberry-plum tones mid-palette finishing with notes of mocha and evergreen. Nice. Very easy drinking.

2/12/2021 - yelnak wrote:

Nice for the price.
Blackberry cherries medium minus tannins. Worked well with spaghetti.

1/23/2021 - yelnak wrote:

Luscious. Tarry nose when opened (and I’m still there), the blueberry fruit hit on attack with medium minus tannins. Who thought a velvet textured jammy fruit was available from a very fine zin and pinot purveyor up Anderson Creek. Well done Ashley!

9/1/2020 - yelnak Likes this wine:

This bottle was a bit "tilted" toward the "so what side" of my 2012 Concept hoard of a case+. Other bottles, as others had noted were powered with dried black fruit, smooth tannins, good balance between freshness and age. This one was a bit on the dusty side... will be on the lookout when having another.

9/1/2020 - yelnak Likes this wine:

A big, silky, lush Stag's Leap's example finer wines are known for. Billowy bouquet - almost overwhelmingly fruity upon opening; medium/medium-minus tannins with lush dark fruit and chocolate; black cherry and cassis presented well on the attack; mocha and spice followed. Corked the 1/2 bottle remaining in the frig - the following day's nose subdued by half and drank better with other layers presenting - plum, hints of violet leading to some cedar to complement notes above. Will age well from here - wish I'd gotten more. If you're a Lede, Shafer, Pine Ridge fan (like me), this will compare with flair.

8/20/2020 - yelnak Likes this wine:

Terrific. Red cherries and raspberries on opening only emboldened after an hourlong breath. Low acidity and tannins allow the mellow texture to bring the lovely fruit into play mid palette and finishing with hints of violets. Nicely done Richard!

8/9/2020 - yelnak Likes this wine:

After opening the first of what turned out to be two because the first was skunked, aging hasn’t done much for this. However upon opening was garnet colored, plum and blueberries came to the nose, with hints of tobacco and menthol, somewhat hot mid palate, medium tannins and low acidity. Fruit sided taste has faded naturally. Ended with light minerality and a hint of licorice but missing depth I’d noted 5 years ago. Perhaps now a mid-rated Springer Mountain example.

8/7/2020 - yelnak Likes this wine:

Seriously good CA cabsauv hardly unexpected from CHWines and 2014. Nose of black fruit with cassis and a touch of menthol after an hourlong breathe, its black cherry on the attack widening in softer tones of plum mid palate as the tannins catch up finishing long and savourful with notes of slate and cedar. Well done again Cam.

5/24/2020 - yelnak Likes this wine:

Let breathe or decant for at least an hour or two

5/8/2020 - yelnak wrote:

Beyond its time

4/13/2020 - yelnak wrote:

Big, rich, but young, tannin’y. Will put down for a couple years

3/30/2020 - yelnak wrote:

Lovely Howell rendition of Bordeaux. Herbaceous floral dark fruit nose on opening with welcome lightness of hidden acid with medium tannin under lovely layered of black cherry, toast, pansies and light leather. Fully expressed mouth feel mid palette brings the changing hues of flavors culminated with a soft tannin twist of dry blackberries and a touch of green herbs toasted by oak. More please!

1/29/2020 - yelnak wrote:

Outstanding. Opened at 60 degrees; Boysenberry, deep garnet color, medium aroma layered - subtle black fruit and earth. On the attack, balanced, good PS body, medium tannins, medium plus acidity; mid palate has slate layer under unsweetened concord, sourish plum and leather, while ending medium plus black fruit, licorice and pepper. Lovely.

11/21/2019 - yelnak wrote:

Like my prior note brickish with Rockette-like legs. Nice nose. Led to a a more pronounced front end and mid pallette with the heat came on to liven a peppery undertone of tea and slight tobacco finish and mocha undertones. Better.

11/21/2019 - yelnak wrote:

Like my prior note, brickish with Rockette-like legs. Nice nose. Led to a more pronounced front end and mid pallette. the heat came on to liven a peppery finish with tea and tobacco and some mocha undertones. Better.

11/4/2019 - yelnak wrote:

Cherry cedar medium acidity light tannins
Lovely

10/14/2019 - yelnak wrote:

Past it’s window. Oh well.

8/18/2019 - yelnak wrote:

Let it breathe

8/16/2019 - yelnak wrote:

Dusky nose on opening but omg there’s not a better stats leap can at any price than a Lede Rock Block. Black fruit, Cassis, tobacco, cocoa , leather and refined tannins. Drink now through 20 imho.