Cliff Lede Vineyards, Napa Valley: Wine Styles, Best Bottles (2024)

Cliff Lede Vineyards is a family-owned winery located in the Stags Leap District of Napa Valley, California - 60 miles from San Francisco. 

It was founded by the Canadian born Bordeaux enthusiast, Cliff Lede in 2002.

The namesake winery produces a variety of Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux-style red blends. The three most acclaimed Cabernet blends from the estate are known as Platinum Wines.

Cliff Lede winery also offers stunning varietal wines made from the Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Gris grape varieties from its sister brand, FEL Wines, in Anderson Valley. 

Let’s look at the wine styles, 10 best wines, the beautiful Yountville vineyards, and the investment potential of Cliff Lede wines.

The Elegant Wine Styles Of Cliff Lede Vineyards

The Cliff Lede estate produces a wide range of red and white wines, including both varietals and blends.

1. Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc: A blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Sauvignon Vert. Cliff Lede sources grapes from vineyards in eastern Rutherford, Calistoga, and Chiles Valley for this wine.

2. Red Blends

• Claret: A Bordeaux style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec.
• Napa Valley High Fidelity: Another Bordeaux style blend made from Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc sourced from Twin Peaks Vineyard and David Abreu’s Madrona Ranch.

3. Cabernet Sauvignon

• Stags Leap Rock Block: Cliff Lede uses fruit from Poetry Vineyard, Twin Peaks Vineyard, and some old vine lots from neighboring vineyards for this blend.
• Calistoga, Howell Mountains, and Diamond Mountain: Grapes are sourced from the vineyards of Calistoga, Howell Mountain appellation, and Diamond Mountains for Cabernet varietal wines.

4. FEL Wines

• Pinot Noir: Single vineyard Pinot Noir is made from the fruit of the Savoy Vineyard. Blends are made from grapes of selected vineyards between Anderson Valley and Sonoma County.
• Pinot Gris: Pinot Gris blends are made from fruits sourced from three different vineyards of Anderson Valley.
• Chardonnay: Single vineyard Chardonnay wines are made primarily from fruits sourced from Savoy Vineyard.

5. Platinum Cabernet Sauvignon

• Poetry: Best lots from Poetry Vineyard go into the making of this gorgeous wine.
• Songbook: Grapes are sourced from David Abreu’s Madrona Ranch and Thorevilos Vineyard, nestled between St. Helena and Howell Mountain AVAs.
• Beckstoffer To Kalon: Best old vine lots from the celebrated Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard go into making this wine.

10 Exceptional Cliff Lede Wines To Buy In 2024 

Here are some gorgeous wines from the Cliff Lede winery:

• 2013 Cliff Lede Vineyards Poetry Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District
• 2006 Cliff Lede Vineyards Poetry Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District
• 2013 Cliff Lede Vineyards Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
• 2017 Cliff Lede Vineyards Songbook Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District
• 2005 Cliff Lede Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District
• 2014 Cliff Lede Vineyards Claret Napa Valley
• 2017 Cliff Lede Vineyards High Fidelity Napa Valley
• 2012 Cliff Lede Vineyards Diamond Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
• 2017 Cliff Lede Vineyards Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon California
• 2017 Cliff Lede Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley

1. 2013 Cliff Lede Vineyards Poetry Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District, USA ($377)

This gorgeous wine has tasting notes of dark fruits, vanilla, and spice undertones. The palate has graceful tannins with good acidity. 

2. 2006 Cliff Lede Vineyards Poetry Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District, USA ($330)

This stunning medium-bodied wine has delicious fruit flavors. The palate is intense with tasting notes of dark chocolate, minerals, licorice, and hints of oaky tannin.

3. 2013 Cliff Lede Vineyards Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, USA ($328)

This delicious wine boasts earthy notes of crushed rock and cedar. The palate is fruity with firm tannins. 

4. 2017 Cliff Lede Vineyards Songbook Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District, USA ($298)

This red wine vintage has a beautiful nose of cassis, blueberry, and chocolate. On the palate, enjoy tasting notes of dark fruit and crushed rock with supple tannins and a pleasant lingering finish.

5. 2005 Cliff Lede Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District, USA ($137)

The nose of this great wine has a typical Cabernet Sauvignon blackberry aroma. It has a ripe fruity palate with tasting notes of black raspberry, cedar, and graceful tannins. 

6. 2014 Cliff Lede Vineyards Claret Napa Valley, USA ($115)

This red Bordeaux blend has tasting notes of raspberry, cassis, and hints of licorice. It is a medium-bodied wine with graceful tannins and moderate acidity. 

7. 2017 Cliff Lede Vineyards High Fidelity Napa Valley, USA ($103)

This Bordeaux blend has a captivating nose of mocha, espresso, and red berries. The palate is packed with supple tannins and tasting notes of black fruit, chocolate, and vanilla. 

8. 2012 Cliff Lede Vineyards Diamond Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, USA ($104)

This dark indigo-colored wine has an intoxicating nose of dark cherry, blackberry, and nutmeg. The palate is intense and opulent with notes of dark fruit, plum, and minerals.

9. 2017 Cliff Lede Vineyards Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon California, USA ($83)

This seductive red wine has an elegant perfume of spring violet and lilac. It has delicious flavors of mulberry, cassis, cardamom, and clove.

10. 2017 Cliff Lede Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley, USA ($31)

A gorgeous white wine with lively citrus aromas and hints of red grapefruit apricot and basil. The 2017 Cliff Lede Sauvignon Blanc has ample tannin and vibrant acidity. 

Should You Invest In Cliff Lede Wines?

Cliff Lede typically produces 18,000 to 20,000 wine cases annually. The majority of this production consists of Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc and the Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon.

Wine critic Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate gave the 2018 and 2013 Poetry vintage from Stags Leap District perfect 100 scores.

As for its price appreciation, the 2014 Cliff Lede Vineyards Claret saw a good increase of 127% in 12 months, from $55 to $125 (2020 to 2021.)

The Acclaimed Vineyards of Cliff Lede 

Cliff Lede onboarded renowned viticulturist David Abreu for replanting estate vineyards and completed the construction of the state-of-the-art winery in 2005.

The namesake winery on this beautiful property, with its stunning views, makes for the perfect Napa Valley wine tasting experience!

The estate’s commitment towards enhancing and protecting biodiversity has earned them the Napa Green Land and Napa Green Winery certification.

Each Cliff Lede vineyard is split into “vineyard blocks.” Known as “Rock Blocks,” Cliff names each vineyard block after his favorite rock songs from the classic rock era. 

Let’s take a look: 

• Poetry Vineyard: This vineyard sits on a west-facing hillside that stretches from the highest elevations of the Stags Leap District to the valley floor. Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Sauvignon grape varietals thrive on this steep eastern hillside portion of the estate.
• Twin Peaks Vineyard: Found at the base of the valley floor that surrounds the winery - this beautiful property forms the backbone of the Cliff Lede Cabernet program.
• Calistoga Vineyard: This vineyard is situated at the base of the Diamond Mountain in the Calistoga appellation and planted with Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc. 

With a backstage tasting room and veranda overlooking the photogenic courtyard, Cliff Lede Vineyards make for a memorable wine tasting experience. On a visit there, you can even stay at the luxurious five-room Poetry Inn.

It’s Time Your Cellar Gets An Enchanting Cliff Lede!

Napa winemaker Cliff Lede is considered a true connoisseur of Bordeaux wines. His efforts to surpass the French legends have given rise to some splendid New World wines.

If you want to invest in its gorgeous wines - Vinovest is your best bet!

Vinovestis an AI-based platform that helps you buy, authenticate, store, and sell investment-grade wines online from Napa Valley wineries or anywhere across the globe with just a few clicks.