Cliff Lede Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District opens with initial scents of rich raspberry, fig compote, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cardamom. Once decanted, abundant aromas of iris root, lilac, osmanthus, pie crust, fenugreek, citral, and huckleberry burst from the glass. Upon entry, the mouth is stimulated by black cherries, white pepper, and a plush fine-grained minerality. A dense richness crosses the breadth of the palate as fine tannins slowly ebb into lingering acidity, gradually diffusing with the fatness of the finish.

Region Description

(cab er nay saw vee nyon)—This highly adaptable grape grows almost anywhere it is relatively warm, but the best wines come from the Burgundy region of France (where it is a noble variety), California, and Australia. It became famous through the red wines of the Médoc district of Bordeaux and is now grown in Washington, southern France, Italy, Australia, South Africa, Chile, and Argentina. Cabernet Sauvignon grapes make wines that are high in tannin and medium- to full-bodied. Usually identified as having black currant or cassis flavors, the grape can also possess vegetal tones when the grapes are less than ideally ripe. The best wines are rich and firm with great depth, and are often aged for fifteen years or more. Because it is highly tannic, Cabernet Sauvignon is often blended with other less-tannic grapes such as Merlot.