Cliff Lede, Poetry Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District

Deep clear ruby black, almost opaque Sweet black cherry and lavender. Quite fresh and may need a bit more time to more fully resolve. Nice side by side with the 2006 Songbook from Cliff Lede. 92+. The songbook is just a bit more plush at this point and fully resolved.

2006 vintage

Deep ruby, moderate crust on the bottle, but poured clear. Ripe cherry tobacco aromas Quite plush rich cherry tobacco flavors with enough acidity to keep this interesting Utterly delicious. Really quite good

2006 vintage

Thanksgiving in New Hope - 2025; 11/27/2025-11/28/2025 (Chez Walker - New Hope, PA) : Thanksgiving. Opened and decanted after the CdP. This one was showing some funk and faint degree of cork taint. Hoping it would blow off - I tried again later and some the next day with not much improvement Flavors felt a bit more muted from the one compared to last bottle. Maybe this was an off bottle but it seems on the way down independent of …

2006 vintage

Clear deep garnet Moderate sediment and crust on the bottle Lovely aromas of dark cherry and some pipe tobacco On the palate this is rich but totally dry with a tannic kick in the end, I may hold for a bit more. Lovely now and benefits from a decant.

2006 vintage

Decanted one hour and opened up with dinner. Not a fruit bomb but stii has some good dark fruit, cassis and some licorice. Stiil with some tannins at end but soft. Think a quick decant needed but still drinking well

2006 vintage

boring

2006 vintage

Brought this to Piccolo Sogno with a work colleague. Bottles in my cellar from release. Decanted for about 45 minutes. Cork broke on the way out, had to be strained. Drank after a De Lancellotti (Oregon) Pinot. Notes from 2017:"Dark garnet color, no separation. Nose was elegant and expressive showing dark fruits, sweet spices. Palate of dark cherry, berries, cedar, cassis, cocoa and Christmas spice. Nice secondary notes through the mid palate, silky texture, medium finish. Tannins and refined and …

2006 vintage

Nose: Licorice, Anise, soy Sauce, blackcurrent, black raspberry Mouth: black raspberry juice, laurel, bayleaf, silky, but not heavy, a faint granite note in the back. Finish: long, savory, the slightest pucker at the very end tells the structure still hiding in the bottle.

2006 vintage

Really nice and smooth. Cork disintegrated upon removal. Maybe more blackberry than other fruit notes.

2006 vintage

Just singing right now. Beautiful blend of Bordeaux and Napa styles. Sure wish I had more.

2006 vintage

On the table it was the WOTN by common consensus but i didnt enjoy it one bit. It had none of the style that i have come to associate with high quality BDX blend producers from California. 15.2% alcohol which was really unecessary as the raw materials seemed to have everything. Nothing was faulty but it completely lacked charm. It got better after 2 hours by a little bit but still no where close to the other vintage i have …

2006 vintage

Still drinking awesome. Ignore that drink by 2019 date.

2006 vintage

This is in the latter stages of the “drinking window”. Mature: displaying a dull ruby color, with slight bricking at the edges; perfumed, floral aromatics; loamy blackberry, stewed black currant, cooked black cherry, black plum, dried tobacco, powdered chocolate, with dried briary undergrowth on the long finish. Structure is present, with tannin and acids holding this all together. Had no problem holding up to the grilled ribeye with grilled Brussels sprouts. Lots of sediment in both the decanter and bottle …

2006 vintage

This seems to be on the downhill side with fading fruit, only a whisper of any tannins and medium finish.

2006 vintage

Cork broke, but managed to have it filtered into a decanter and allowed it to breathe for an hour. It was perfect. This wine has aged beautifully, the notes of dark fruits, leather, and earth were prominent.

2006 vintage

Decanted two hours. This is showing age but still works with a full palate, supple tannins, dried fruit and leaves, oaky bones. Drink up.

2006 vintage

Strawberry jam and earth on the nose. On the palate, black cherry, cassis, and notes of plum and leather on the medium to long finish, with well-balanced acidity. Although the 2006 vintage took a long time to open up, it gets full marks for quality now that it's mature. This is about at its peak, though with at least a few good years left; it was an excellent value at under $50.

2006 vintage

Cork failed. High tannins. Plums and raisins. Good for snother 5 years. Dark red. Enjoyed with pappardelle ragu pasta.

2006 vintage

Last bottle of a case we purchased at Cliff Lede in Autumn 2006. This wine was really good, right through the last bottle 10 years after the first. I really do believe that this wine may be the highest value wine I've ever purchased. When you consider how good it is now, and that it's a best a number 3 for the vineyard, pretty good, right?

2006 vintage

Drinking nicely now. Probably can’t sit much longer. Really opened up after about an hour or so. It’s big with great structure still. Nice tannins on the finish.

2006 vintage

the cork broke in side the bottle. but after one hour the wine was very good.

2006 vintage

This is stunning. It is medium bodied, graceful and has a delicious fruit flavor that makes you want more and more. Other than the cork breaking in half this is pretty close to perfect. This might be the best wine I have ever had but easily in my top 3. Cliff Lede may be my favorite winery. Hats off to the winemakers. Truly remarkable.

2006 vintage

On the verge of turning. I wouldn’t let one sit much longer

2006 vintage

Super cool to try a wine this old. Thank you Cliff Lede for releasing. It aged perfectly. Cheers

2006 vintage

What a treat. i was able to get my hands on a few bottles from the winery. Perfect time to drink. some tannins, and no decanting. probably can still hold for a year or 2. They stored it nicely as the cork was not damaged at all. The wine it self was stellar. Nose on it was good. You can smell the roots from the vine. Almost has a cave like smell. Kinda dirty. It tastes like raspberry, oak, black …

2006 vintage

Still so good, but I'm thinking it's time to drink the last bottle from the case.

2006 vintage

Cork needed an ah-so. Decanted for 2h for sat night dinner with Mom. On the nose leather, wet campfire, spiced cherries. On the palate, intense juicy red fruit, hints of sweetness, milk chocolate, minerals, black pepper, hints of oaky tannins, and a juicy finish. Awesome with grilled strip steaks with a coffee rub, baked potato, and asparagus. Still plenty of life left.

2006 vintage

Decanted 1/2 hour. Nice legs. Well balance and silky, with dark berries, worn leather, and touches of dried tobacco. Extremely soft tannis, and medium-long finish.

2006 vintage

Classic Napa Valley floor profile, with prominent black currant flavors. Plenty of fruit left. Well balanced, but maybe a touch riper of a style than I currently prefer. Definitely a great value as Napa Cabs go.

2006 vintage

This is a beautiful, vibrant Cab that, like a genie, is eager to escape the bottle and make your wishes come true. Immediately upon removing the cork I was surprised by the powerful dark fruit aromas that I associate with younger wines/barrel tasting. This is a smooth, balanced full bodied Cab that doesn't require much air time. Medium long finish. Easily the best '06 Napa Cab in this price range.

2006 vintage

PnP Aromatics are tight upon opening. Red and black fruit, graphite (pencil lead), and cassis. One the palate this is stunning. Delicious fruit framed by moderate acidity and firm tannins that emerge on the 30+ second finish. As it opens, the fruit broadens and the tannins soften. This is Napa Cabernet at its best. Incredible wine with another 15 years easily. Similar notes after tasting again on 2/3/19

2006 vintage

Firstly, wow what a beautiful wine. 13 years old and still a baby. This will drink well for at least another 10 years. Black currant, black licorice, and dark chocolate on nose and palate. Dry, med+ body, smooth tannins, nice acidity. A truly beautiful wine, paired perfectly with a Chicago style tenderloin and Cesar salad. Without a doubt the WOTN.

2006 vintage

Still drinking great and younger than its vintage. Lots of dark fruit. At least five years left.

2006 vintage

Very, very rich napa cab. I think it would have been better a couple of years earlier. The nose indicated a soy sauce type of nose when ripe wines start to age. However, at this point while noticeable the fruit was still vibrant enough to be enjoyable.

2006 vintage

I think WS missed on this one.

2006 vintage

Impeccably balanced and elegant at 16 years of age, with lovely cassis, menthol, baking spices and subtle earthiness. Beautiful texture and lingering finish. Could easily pass for a modern Bordeaux.

2006 vintage

Drank my final bottle of 2006 Songbook last night which was the best experience of three bottles I have drank over past 10 years. Deep ruby color with no signs of bricking leads to a nose of tobacco, blueberry and dark cherry. Full round palate has no hard edges. The mouthfeel caries nose flavors into the mouth while adding a bit of bell pepper and Asian spice. The velvety tannins last 45 seconds. I really enjoyed this bottle. I think …

2006 vintage

Nice aromatics of cocoa and black currants but behind of veil of va?/alcohol. Palate with some chewy dry tannins, repaying black fruits. Quite a bit of heat. A larger scalded wine with darker fruit profile. Quite concentrated. At this age not hiding the 15.2% alcohol well. Disappointing given the producer and price. Did improve after 2-3hrs air it didn’t completely resolve.

2006 vintage

Had with dinner of beef shish kebab, couscous and green salad. Still a very big and pleasant Cabernet, deep purple in color. The wine started strong from the open, and remained there for about 90 minutes until finished. Deep, dark fruit, cedar, mocha, and vanilla in a persistent smooth finish. Definitely a wine that punches above its price point.

2006 vintage

Popped and poured this bottle. It showed young and powerful with balanced fruit. I kept waiting for the fruitcake to show up but we finished the bottle before it transformed. Probably better to decant.

2006 vintage

Pop and pour. I've long been a fan of Cliff Lede's wines. This is a mysterious, elusive cuvee from David Abreu's vineyards. These cast-off grapes have some special intensity. I can't say if this will get more integrated with age but at this point it's an interesting, intense wine that evolved several times over the course of 2.5 hours. It started with youthful red fruit and some baker's chocolate underneath and by the end had instense, diffuse red vines on …

2006 vintage

The wine is fully mature with a dark garnet color and a full bold body. It is full of flavors on the nose and plate with mostly integrated tannins, although still present. This has aged into an outstanding wine.

2006 vintage

Great nose and very youthful and fresh. Young red fruit. Drinking well now and will continue to drink well for a while.

2006 vintage

This is drinking wonderfully. I was a little concerned when the cork all but completely crumbled but the wine was flawless. Still a bit tannic after a 30 minute decant, dark red fruit, and held up well to a dry aged ribeye and risotto.

2006 vintage

Cork failed, However, the wine fortunately held up well for for 11 years old. Weak nose but cherry and mild mocha flavor were nice and did not overwhelm the meal.

2006 vintage

Decanted and served. Like drinking a fruitcake! Gorgeous sweet nose of Christmas spices. Silky and full on the palate with a long finish of licorice and fruitcake. Charming.

2006 vintage

This needed some aeration upon opening. Decanted three hours. Charcoal and red currants on the nose. Ripe cherries, blueberries, and graphite on the palate. 45 second finish. Tannins are still firm, and the fruit is prominent. So, I would guess this still has plenty of life in it.

2006 vintage

Wow. A great wine at a great point in its evolution. Cork snapped in 2 when opening, so a bit of a challenge to decant. Excellent from the first sip and just kept getting better. Very smooth, round and full-bodied, black fruit abounds, secondary notes of oak, leather, and dust. This wine has lots of life left.

2006 vintage

First bottle from a batch bought directly at the winery at release, well stored in my cellar. Eileen's pending visit to Lede inspired the opening of a few wines this evening...Cork crumbled, had to push through. Decanted for about 90 minutes prior to drinking. Paired w my Dijon Chicken burgers and "Jimmy's Italian Potatoes"... Dark garnet color, no separation. Nose was elegant and expressive showing dark fruits, sweet spices. Palate of dark cherry, berries, cedar, cassis, cocoa and Christmas spice. …

2006 vintage

Just starting to the downside, fruit beginning to fade. Many of my friends would love this flavor.

2006 vintage

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Cliff Lede, Poetry Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District

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