This lot is comprised of 3 bottle(s) of 2009 Cliff Lede Vineyards Songbook Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District AVA - 750ml. Estimate for this lot is between $600 - $840 with a reserve of $420. The wine in this lot belongs to collection 11530.
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Based in Calgary, this consignor has had a lifelong relationship with wine. He vividly remembers bottles of Chateau de La Gardine Chateauneuf du Pape on his family’s dinner table and how he enjoyed playing the part of "wine steward". In his 20s he had friends who worked for prominent fine wine merchants and had his first “a-ha” wine moment after tasting a 1988 Columbia Crest Merlot. He was a sales representative for Britannia Wine Merchants and his association and interest in fine wine and dining led to trips to the major wine regions of the world. He began drinking the fruit forward wines of Napa and Sonoma but his taste soon expanded to the more subtly expressive wines of the old world. He was always curious about the ageing process and its ability to soften tannins and develop secondary and tertiary characteristics in wine - so he began to buy and cellar Bordeaux from the 1988, 1989 and 1990 vintages in the early 1990s, as well as select purchases of Barolo and Super Tuscans throughout that period. Much of his collection was purchased upon initial release through several private wine stores in Calgary and a significant subset was procured directly from the winery or as part of library offerings. All bottles have slept at 55F and approximately 70% humidity away from light and vibration. He had always intended to consume these wines with family and friends and has been extremely diligent about proper storage conditions.
The tasting note for 2009 Cliff Lede Vineyards Songbook Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District AVA is from Robert Parker and the score is 95 - The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Songbook appears to be going through a fairly massive stage now that it is in bottle. A rich, powerful offering, the 2009 bursts from the glass with huge dark fruit, mocha, smoke, espresso, sweet herbs, tobacco and incense, all supported by big, powerful tannins. The early appeal I sensed last year is nowhere to be found. It looks like readers will have to be a little more patient than I originally envisioned. The 2009 Songbook is 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Cabernet Franc and 6% Petit Verdot, all sourced from David Abreu’s Madrona Ranch and Thorevilos vineyards.
This is a strong and consistent range from Cliff Lede and his team. In addition to these wines, I also tasted a few 2011 component wines that were promising. Lede is keeping his 2011s separate for a longer time than normal before blending to see how they develop, a common choice in this very challenging vintage.