2021 Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon Songbook
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Tasting notes
Primarily sourced from Madrona Ranch but bolstered by lots from the estate's Poetry Vineyard, the 2021 Songbook Cabernet Sauvignon is 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 6% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot, aged 21 months in 80% new French oak. Hints of mint and violets accent mixed cherries and cassis on the nose, while the medium to full-bodied palate is silky textured and nicely balanced, framed by fine-grained tannins and finishing with graceful touches of dusty earth.
Critic scores
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Coming from the Poetry Estate and Madrona Ranch vineyards and all Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Songbook offers a more reticent, closed style, yet has incredible purity and precision as well as medium to full-bodied richness, a deep, concentrated, layered mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, and a great finish. With air, it offers more dark fruits, coffee, and damp earth/leafy herb notes. It's going to benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for 20 years.
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Songbook is a powerful, driving wine. Vineyard sites are Madrona Ranch and Poetry, both of which tend to be quite tannic, so it is a blend of two things that are similar rather than contrasting. As a result, readers can expect a pretty driving, intense Cabernet Sauvignon with a ton of tannin and acid. I suspect it will come together, but patience is essential. A whole range of floral, savory and mineral notes linger. (AG)