Nose: A bit alcoholic, but overall offer sweet berries and plum . Cocoa and cedar beneath. Palate: massive entry of plum, fig, blackberry and licorice. Sweet fruit is layered with cedar, tobacco and pie spice. Finish: Long and ripe with plum, quince and dark cherry. A lengthy wine with heft in its current state.
Likely close to peak or just past depending on how you like them.
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Very good but not as good as the bottle two years ago. Tannins have resolved and are fully integrated. Notes of plum, cassis, blackberry and a touch of sweetness on the palate.
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Round, robust and layered. Cassis, plum, blackberry, mocha and a bit of cedar on the palate. Warm, integrated tannins but plenty of backbone and structure to this. Should last until at least 2020.
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Solid wine. Black currants, smoke and sweet oak. Classic silky stags leap tannins(but a little harsher than the regular bottling. Deep brooding fruit. A little hot if not served cold. A good wine, but not my preferred style.
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After about an hour in the decanter it was clear that the first bottle was badly TCA tainted, so we pulled a second one for this tasting.
Nose: Blackberry, Black cherry, Raspberry and some nice oak and perfumed dark floral notes. Palate: Most elegant of the three wines on the palate. Less fruit weight than the 07 and less tannin than the 06. Gorgeous stags leap fruit that has Black Raspberry and Blueberry notes. Finish: Really nice black fruit on the finish with a bit of tart berry. Sweet cassis and boysneberry.
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we shared this fine Cabernet Sauvignon on Christmas night. Lots of tobacco flavors. Decant for at least 4 hours or wait four years. Cliff Lede does a great job on these series of wines. You can't go wrong here.
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This started with big dark fruit. This was followed by flavors of earth, coffee, tar, and great tannins. There is a long finish of earth and tannins. All in all a wonderful bottle of wine to celebrate our anniversary.
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Great stags leap cab. Love the mountain fruit and love Cliff Lede's cabs. Opened 1 of 2 bottles purchased after reading recent reviews about wine having likely hit its peak. I disagree and will save the other bottle for at least 1-3 more years. It's likely nearing its prime, but I think it has some developing left in it.
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Bold, aerated but should have let it breathe for a few hours, but generally a very good Napa Cab. Smells of dark fruit and earthy tones. Clean palate throughout.
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See my 7/14/12 notes. Completely consistent. My last bottle. Probably at the top of it's game. The fruit is wonderful. I would drink now because I can't say when the fruit may go flat. Truly, quite nice right now.
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My first tasting of a rock block, and I just have to say WOW! Soyhead is correct that this wine is drinking well right now (and I can't see it getting any better, probably at the top of its game right now, but I also don't see it dropping off any time soon). No "balance" here: this is for those of us who like big, bold, explosive Napa cabs. Beautiful deep color, that glistens. Smell blue and black fruits. Consistent front to back on tasting. There's a nice smoothness. Tannins are there, but only in the background giving it some structure. Again, though, think big bang theory of Napa reds. The oak program has contributed nicely here, and in an early way, without overpowering the smell or the taste. Although this is not an inexpensive wine, it tastes like much more expensive wines. Wish I had more than one bottle left in my cellar.
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Visiting Napa (Sept 9th-11th); 9/9/2011-9/11/2011 (Napa, CA): Loads of black fruit, dense in the mouth with licorice, blackberries, cassis and cardamon up front. Midpalate shows blueberry and even some ripe strawberry. Structured well, but has a softer palate feel than prior blends. Very nice rock block wine this year.
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Very full bodied. Nice nose of black currants and spices. The mid-palate and finish have a somewhat unpleasant burnt toast aspect that detracts from the overall experience. Nice aside from that, but to me this is the weakest rock block to date.
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11/19/2022 - Jkuryak Likes this wine: 94 Points
Noah was so impressed how good a 2008 was.
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11/28/2020 - RockinCabs wrote: 91 Points
Nose: A bit alcoholic, but overall offer sweet berries and plum . Cocoa and cedar beneath. Palate: massive entry of plum, fig, blackberry and licorice. Sweet fruit is layered with cedar, tobacco and pie spice. Finish: Long and ripe with plum, quince and dark cherry. A lengthy wine with heft in its current state.
Likely close to peak or just past depending on how you like them.
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2/4/2020 - shaffej wrote: 88 Points
On its way out...big dark tobacco flavor with little fruit remaining.
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12/19/2018 - wconnolly wrote: 90 Points
Very good but not as good as the bottle two years ago. Tannins have resolved and are fully integrated. Notes of plum, cassis, blackberry and a touch of sweetness on the palate.
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4/16/2018 - mattdathan Likes this wine: 94 Points
Smooth as silk but with a laser straight backbone of tannins - such balance. Lovely
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4/15/2017 - wconnolly wrote: 92 Points
Round, robust and layered. Cassis, plum, blackberry, mocha and a bit of cedar on the palate. Warm, integrated tannins but plenty of backbone and structure to this. Should last until at least 2020.
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5/31/2015 - dtor Likes this wine: 95 Points
Very delicious. Two people thought it was the best wine they ever drank.
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9/28/2014 - K28226 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Excellent
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9/13/2014 - jhw425 wrote: 90 Points
Solid wine. Black currants, smoke and sweet oak. Classic silky stags leap tannins(but a little harsher than the regular bottling. Deep brooding fruit. A little hot if not served cold. A good wine, but not my preferred style.
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7/28/2014 - RockinCabs wrote: 91 Points
After about an hour in the decanter it was clear that the first bottle was badly TCA tainted, so we pulled a second one for this tasting.
Nose: Blackberry, Black cherry, Raspberry and some nice oak and perfumed dark floral notes. Palate: Most elegant of the three wines on the palate. Less fruit weight than the 07 and less tannin than the 06. Gorgeous stags leap fruit that has Black Raspberry and Blueberry notes. Finish: Really nice black fruit on the finish with a bit of tart berry. Sweet cassis and boysneberry.
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12/25/2013 - Hhackett wrote: 92 Points
we shared this fine Cabernet Sauvignon on Christmas night. Lots of tobacco flavors. Decant for at least 4 hours or wait four years. Cliff Lede does a great job on these series of wines. You can't go wrong here.
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6/28/2013 - mdmcgonigal wrote: 93 Points
Wow was this good! Wonderful dark berry nose. Soft, yet full and lingering flavors. I can't see how it can get much better than this.
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6/13/2013 - dkami wrote: 93 Points
Nice big Cabernet. Rich with dark fruit flavor and earthy tones. Great nose and went well with dinner!
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3/23/2013 - blabbott wrote: 94 Points
This started with big dark fruit. This was followed by flavors of earth, coffee, tar, and great tannins. There is a long finish of earth and tannins. All in all a wonderful bottle of wine to celebrate our anniversary.
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3/11/2013 - OakvilleGrade Likes this wine: 94 Points
A big and luxurious Stags Leap cabernet.
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3/3/2013 - KeithSurg wrote: 93 Points
Improved considerably since release. Dark fruit and chocolate flavors nicely integrated with toasted oak and minerals. Polished mouthfeel.
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1/12/2013 - spencermerrell@gmail.com wrote: 92 Points
Great stags leap cab. Love the mountain fruit and love Cliff Lede's cabs. Opened 1 of 2 bottles purchased after reading recent reviews about wine having likely hit its peak. I disagree and will save the other bottle for at least 1-3 more years. It's likely nearing its prime, but I think it has some developing left in it.
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12/31/2012 - Petek26 wrote: 94 Points
Bold, aerated but should have let it breathe for a few hours, but generally a very good Napa Cab. Smells of dark fruit and earthy tones. Clean palate throughout.
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12/4/2012 - K28226 wrote: 94 Points
Perfect right now. Great example of Stags Leap
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11/11/2012 - kennyd wrote: 93 Points
See my 7/14/12 notes. Completely consistent. My last bottle. Probably at the top of it's game. The fruit is wonderful. I would drink now because I can't say when the fruit may go flat. Truly, quite nice right now.
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7/14/2012 - kennyd wrote: 93 Points
My first tasting of a rock block, and I just have to say WOW! Soyhead is correct that this wine is drinking well right now (and I can't see it getting any better, probably at the top of its game right now, but I also don't see it dropping off any time soon). No "balance" here: this is for those of us who like big, bold, explosive Napa cabs. Beautiful deep color, that glistens. Smell blue and black fruits. Consistent front to back on tasting. There's a nice smoothness. Tannins are there, but only in the background giving it some structure. Again, though, think big bang theory of Napa reds. The oak program has contributed nicely here, and in an early way, without overpowering the smell or the taste. Although this is not an inexpensive wine, it tastes like much more expensive wines. Wish I had more than one bottle left in my cellar.
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5/20/2012 - soyhead wrote: 90 Points
smooth, round, and both. pleasant mouthfeel. big fruit but not overdone, and ready to drink
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11/22/2011 - Sonojoe wrote: 92 Points
After 3 hrs decanted:
Nose: Forrest floor, moss
Palate: Soft silky start with blackberry then cassis, tar and tannins. Strong mid palate finish.
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10/28/2011 - mdmcgonigal wrote: 90 Points
Black fruit, very strong nose which belies a very smooth, balanced dark berry flavor. Wow!
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9/10/2011 - RockinCabs wrote:
Visiting Napa (Sept 9th-11th); 9/9/2011-9/11/2011 (Napa, CA): Loads of black fruit, dense in the mouth with licorice, blackberries, cassis and cardamon up front. Midpalate shows blueberry and even some ripe strawberry. Structured well, but has a softer palate feel than prior blends. Very nice rock block wine this year.
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5/14/2011 - elamasters wrote: 88 Points
Very full bodied. Nice nose of black currants and spices. The mid-palate and finish have a somewhat unpleasant burnt toast aspect that detracts from the overall experience. Nice aside from that, but to me this is the weakest rock block to date.
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