Cliff Lede Vineyards
Diamond Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
Diamond Mountain, Napa Valley, California, USA
Really love what the 04 vintage is showing these days. This Cliff Lede Diamond Mountain is at its peak and will reman there for another three years or so.
One of the best noses on a Cabernet I have put my nose into in sometime. Ripe, ruby, lush perfumed floral fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, boysenberries, dark cherries, poached/baked strawberries with blue fruit heaven that moves from glass edge, center & back. Dark spices, anise core to black licorice, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg and round vanilla, dark fruit cola, dark chocolate, black steeped tea, savory, grilled meats, dry crushed rocks, dry herbs/bay leaf dominant, leather, slightly older tobacco, dark, rich earth, dry top soil with dark, purple, blue, red floral framed in mixed violets and lavender.
The body is full, round and pure velvet. Tannins are still showing adolescent teeth that are tarry & chewy. This 04 has 7-10 years of good drinking ahead of it...properly stored of course. The structure, tension, length and balance are at its high point and heavenly for the serious Napa Cabernet lover. It’s a super, gorgeously sexy wine. Ripe, ruby, lush perfumed floral fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, boysenberries, mulberries, dark cherries, poached/baked strawberries with blue fruit heaven. Dark spices, anise core to black licorice, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg and round vanilla, dark fruit cola, dark chocolate, caramel, mocha powder, black steeped tea, savory, grilled meats, sweet, dark tarriness, dry crushed rocks, dry stones, limestone, palate, penetrating volcanic minerals, dry herbs/bay leaf dominant, French oak shavings, leather, slightly older tobacco, dark, rich earth, dry top soil with dark, purple, blue, red floral framed in mixed violets and lavender. The acidity is round and nearly perfect holding back the slightly elevated alcohol level. The long finish is; well balanced to perfection fruit & earth with a soft dusty tannins that long set into dark spice & bright florals for days that persist endlessly.
Just misses 9.5.
Photos of; tasting bar, salon tasting just off the bar, entrance branding sign promoting their flagship wine & vineyard across the street.
Really love what the 04 vintage is showing these days. This Cliff Lede Diamond Mountain is at its peak and will reman there for another three years or so.
One of the best noses on a Cabernet I have put my nose into in sometime. Ripe, ruby, lush perfumed floral fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, boysenberries, dark cherries, poached/baked strawberries with blue fruit heaven that moves from glass edge, center & back. Dark spices, anise core to black licorice, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg and round vanilla, dark fruit cola, dark chocolate, black steeped tea, savory, grilled meats, dry crushed rocks, dry herbs/bay leaf dominant, leather, slightly older tobacco, dark, rich earth, dry top soil with dark, purple, blue, red floral framed in mixed violets and lavender.
The body is full, round and pure velvet. Tannins are still showing adolescent teeth that are tarry & chewy. This 04 has 7-10 years of good drinking ahead of it...properly stored of course. The structure, tension, length and balance are at its high point and heavenly for the serious Napa Cabernet lover. It’s a super, gorgeously sexy wine. Ripe, ruby, lush perfumed floral fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, boysenberries, mulberries, dark cherries, poached/baked strawberries with blue fruit heaven. Dark spices, anise core to black licorice, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg and round vanilla, dark fruit cola, dark chocolate, caramel, mocha powder, black steeped tea, savory, grilled meats, sweet, dark tarriness, dry crushed rocks, dry stones, limestone, palate, penetrating volcanic minerals, dry herbs/bay leaf dominant, French oak shavings, leather, slightly older tobacco, dark, rich earth, dry top soil with dark, purple, blue, red floral framed in mixed violets and lavender. The acidity is round and nearly perfect holding back the slightly elevated alcohol level. The long finish is; well balanced to perfection fruit & earth with a soft dusty tannins that long set into dark spice & bright florals for days that persist endlessly.
Just misses 9.5.
Photos of; tasting bar, salon tasting just off the bar, entrance branding sign promoting their flagship wine & vineyard across the street.
Classic mountain Cabernet. Blackberry, cigar and some licorice.
Classic mountain Cabernet. Blackberry, cigar and some licorice.
May 18th, 2016