Wine Article
2014 Cliff Lede High Fidelity
Last edited on 1/14/2021 by darth_vader
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Vintage
The 2014 vintage was a vintner’s dream. A dry late winter with unseasonably warm temperatures prompted
an early bud break, leading to one of the earliest harvests on record. Moderate weather throughout the spring
and summer allowed the vines to achieve a good set. The dry soil conditions led to low-vigor vines and small,
abundant berries, creating very concentrated fruit that ripened with the warm fall days. With lovely autumn
weather, harvest proceeded at a steady pace.
Vineyards
The Merlot in this blend is from our Twin Peaks estate vineyard, while the Cabernet Franc and Cabernet
Sauvignon hail from acclaimed viticulturist David Abreu’s Madrona Ranch. The vineyard is farmed with
meticulous attention to detail, maintaining yields at sparse levels—ranging from two to three tons per acre.
The wine is composed of just a few of our best lots from our most cherished sites.
Winemaking
Grapes were picked in the darkness of the early morning hours. The freshly-harvested fruit immediately
underwent rigorous selection by our three-tiered sorting process, which included our cutting-edge optical
sorter. Whole berries were gently delivered by gravity to tank using our crane system, minimizing disruption
of berry integrity. Cold soaks lasted approximately seven days, and fermentations were managed via a
combination of délestage, pumpovers, and punchdowns. Extended maceration ranging from four to five weeks
fine-tuned our tannin profiles, allowing us to perfect mouth feel and wine complexity. The wine was aged in
French oak barrels, 75% of which was new, for twenty-one months.
Winemaker Notes
The 2014 High Fidelity possesses an opaque inky-purple hue of ruby, and a decadent perfume of confections
and fresh meats. Aromas of just-picked raspberries and warm white chocolate sit atop notes of black licorice
alongside candied plum and violets. With time in the glass, earth and spice notes emerge, and winter black
truffle, boudin noir, burning incense, saucisson, cinnamon, black pepper, and nutmeg notes intrigue the
olfactory. Long and silky, the sweet tannin fills out this concentrated, but lithe wine that possesses both
power and precision.
Analysis
Composition: 65% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Petit Verdot
Alcohol: 15%
Production: 836 cases
Bottling Date: July 2016
Release Date: February 2017
https://cliffledevineyards.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/2014-High-Fidelity.pdf
The 2014 vintage was a vintner’s dream. A dry late winter with unseasonably warm temperatures prompted
an early bud break, leading to one of the earliest harvests on record. Moderate weather throughout the spring
and summer allowed the vines to achieve a good set. The dry soil conditions led to low-vigor vines and small,
abundant berries, creating very concentrated fruit that ripened with the warm fall days. With lovely autumn
weather, harvest proceeded at a steady pace.
Vineyards
The Merlot in this blend is from our Twin Peaks estate vineyard, while the Cabernet Franc and Cabernet
Sauvignon hail from acclaimed viticulturist David Abreu’s Madrona Ranch. The vineyard is farmed with
meticulous attention to detail, maintaining yields at sparse levels—ranging from two to three tons per acre.
The wine is composed of just a few of our best lots from our most cherished sites.
Winemaking
Grapes were picked in the darkness of the early morning hours. The freshly-harvested fruit immediately
underwent rigorous selection by our three-tiered sorting process, which included our cutting-edge optical
sorter. Whole berries were gently delivered by gravity to tank using our crane system, minimizing disruption
of berry integrity. Cold soaks lasted approximately seven days, and fermentations were managed via a
combination of délestage, pumpovers, and punchdowns. Extended maceration ranging from four to five weeks
fine-tuned our tannin profiles, allowing us to perfect mouth feel and wine complexity. The wine was aged in
French oak barrels, 75% of which was new, for twenty-one months.
Winemaker Notes
The 2014 High Fidelity possesses an opaque inky-purple hue of ruby, and a decadent perfume of confections
and fresh meats. Aromas of just-picked raspberries and warm white chocolate sit atop notes of black licorice
alongside candied plum and violets. With time in the glass, earth and spice notes emerge, and winter black
truffle, boudin noir, burning incense, saucisson, cinnamon, black pepper, and nutmeg notes intrigue the
olfactory. Long and silky, the sweet tannin fills out this concentrated, but lithe wine that possesses both
power and precision.
Analysis
Composition: 65% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Petit Verdot
Alcohol: 15%
Production: 836 cases
Bottling Date: July 2016
Release Date: February 2017
https://cliffledevineyards.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/2014-High-Fidelity.pdf