Jay Kline

9.2

Opened a couple hours prior and served double-blind. The wine pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core moving towards a slightly tawny rim; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of desiccated and ripe fruits: cassis, brambles, pipe tobacco, old leather bound books, dried mixed flowers, warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and rich. Initial conclusion is this is a Bordeaux-style blend from the United States or France but I felt this leaned more towards the quality of the fruit. So I called Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend from the United States, California, Napa Valley, 1986. Whoa…just about nailed it. This is showing very well. Drink now through 2030. — 4 months ago

Kyle Volluz

9.3

This is a holiday treat! Wonderful tannins with notes of vanilla perhaps for good measure. — 6 months ago

Anthony Pro

9.3

Has a lot going on. Opened this vintage a couple years ago but it has since evolved. Complex yet delicate. — 6 months ago

Tom Barras

9.3

Elegant and savory2020, this Old World styled Merlot has ample fruit, juicy acidity and soft, refined tannins at the finish. A delicious user friendly Merlot. — 6 months ago

Tom Garland

9.5

Cliff Lede Vineyard Valentines Day Dinner in their tank room. Fun party and generous pours.

2019 FEL pinot gris
2012 FEL pinot,  savoy vineyard
2019 FEL chardonnay, savoy vineyard
2008 Cliff Lede songbook cab..Stunning!!
2018 Cliff Lede poetry cab..Must try!!!
2018 Cliff Lede cab sav, Beckstoffer To Kalon

HORS D'OEUVRES
Oyster on the 1/2 shell, cheese puff, stuffed mushrooms
FIRST COURSE
butter lettuce salad with lobster
SECOND COURSE
carnaroli risotto & mushrooms
MAIN COURSE
black Angus tenderloin, bone marrow, potato
DESSERT
warm chocolate cake, port soaked cherries — 3 years ago

with Brenda

Steve Rura

9.0

Excellent. Tight and minimally oaked. With chicken and mushrooms. — 7 years ago

Sean Herriott

9.0

Very primary at this point. Brooding even. Needs another five years to settle down, but for now there's an intriguing herbal note to pair with the rich dark fruit. Silverado is still a fantastic value play in Napa. — 7 years ago

Rich Friedland

9.3

Smooth and drinking well but curious to see what this is like in 25 years — 8 years ago

Miguel A. Nistal

9.0

I love Stags Leap and this one is crazy reasonable and so good. Cherry flavored, soft on pallet. Beautiful wine. — 10 years ago

with Miguel

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Founded in 1970 and considered one of the "first growths" of Napa Valley; blend of 76% Sauvignon Blanc, 19% Sauvignon Musque (a clonal variant of Sauvignon Blanc), 4% Muscat Canelli, 1% Semillon. Pale lemon with green edges, aromas of citrus and earthy herbs. On the palate flavors of apricot, mango and grapefruit flavors with ginger and lemongrass tones, crisp and fresh. Good mouthfeel medium finish ending with lively acidity. Nice, consistent quality! Pair with some crab cakes, wow! — 5 months ago

Scott E. Becker

9.2

[Tasted on January 18, 2024 at Luogo in Nashville with Jay]

Pomegranate, red currant and açaí fruit, with licorice. Nicely balanced. — 5 months ago

Tom Barras

9.1

Excellent 2023 vintage; fermented and aged in stainless steel; well balanced with good acidity and ample fruit; pure and precise SB character; fruity, floral, with long finish. — 6 months ago

Daniel Anderson

9.3

Rich and fruity on the nose. Consistent on the palette. Good tannins and vibrant notes of fruit leaning heavy on blueberry and some of raspberry. Decent drink — 6 months ago

Ryan Caperton

9.4

Big flavor, solid cab. Very oaky, but was 6 yrs old. Would buy again — 7 months ago

Fredrik Finn

9.3

The legendary John Williams and his team has put together a fantastic wine this vintage and as always a bargain considering the origin. Crafted as always in the classic style, yet no denying of its provenance. The 2017 Frog’s Leap Cabernet Sauvignon walks the talk with a luxury appeal, a fashion model in an haute couture dress.
Ripe fruit with soft edges but with plenty of energy and nerve. Cassis, black plums, red strawberries and floral minty lift backed by a sweet spice, graphite, tobacco, pine wood and dusty rocks.
Refreshing acidity, pronounced but approachable tannins that is balanced by a soft and fruity texture. Dense and concentrated flavor profile with a fresh spine that permeates the palate. Strong mid palate and an evolving complexity through a solid finish.

Rutherford
83% Cabernet Sauvignon accompanied by Cab Franc and Merlot.
13.8% 20mths French oak — 5 years ago

Colin McCartney

9.4

Delicious, but still could use some time to let the enormous fruit flesh out a bit... — 6 years ago

Martin Sher

9.3

Young and promising. — 7 years ago

Alexander Vadas

9.3

Impressive from our Oregon trip last year! 2013 is cooler vintage and this wine had density and depth of volcanic minerality. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

Very dry wine at this point, tannic, blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, cooked rhubarb, backing spice and lots of crushed rocks and minerals. — 9 years ago

Joe Flo

9.7

Another winner from Realm — 5 months ago

Paul K

9.2

8 hours open in bottle with a glass poured. Still very young, but great fruit and much promise! — 5 months ago

Chris S.

9.0

Nicole gave it a 9, me and 8.5. Nice cab, slightly strong finish. — 6 months ago

J Choi

9.6

Friendsgiving. Magnum. Old Napa! 27 years. Loved it — 7 months ago

Vino Joe

8.9

Was hoping to like this but it was a solid if unmemorable CA Cab. Nothing much to say which is all I have to say…. — 3 years ago

Steve S.

9.3

Darkest ruby red color. Full of black currants, black berries, dark red cherries and plums. Hints of chocolate and burned wood. — 6 years ago

Tobin Trevarthen

9.2

Dark Ruby. Lovely aromatics, violets, roses, flower garden that blossomed into a nice layered flavor trove of chocolate dipped cherry and toasted cinnamon stick. Perfect compliment to a NY Strip. — 6 years ago

Neal Ferry

8.9

Good... let’s do this again — 7 years ago

with TwiLea

Mark Mannebach

9.2

2004 tasting great. Black currant with soft tones of mineral/earth/wet stone. — 7 years ago

Nick Davis

9.2

M+ acid, ripe tropical fruit, Mod alcohol, off-dry. Nice WA example. — 9 years ago

Patrick Olds

9.7

It is drinking so well, I got for 10 bucks!! — 10 years ago