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Cliff Lede Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon Rhythm 2023

$11499
Use code 10OFF to get 10% off 12+ bottles
Rhythm is the vineyard that wraps around Cliff Lede's winery in the Stags Leap District, and it's the backbone of the estate's whole Cabernet program. If you want to know what this house is really about, start here. The gravelly loam changes in depth and rock content from one patch to the next, so the estate farms it as many small blocks, each with its own clone and rootstock. Cliff Lede (pronounced "lady") named every block after a favorite rock song or album. It's a playful touch from a former construction man who bought into Stags Leap in 2002, but the cellar work is dead serious. The grapes are hand-picked at night into 25-pound bins. The 2023 is 95% Cabernet Sauvignon with a little Petit Verdot and Merlot, aged 21 months in French oak, 83% of it new. It comes from a calm, well-watered Napa season: generous winter rain, a frost-free spring and an even fruit set.

Shipping

Every step of the journey is managed to uphold the integrity of each bottle.

  • Nationwide Access: Flat-rate shipping available to most U.S. states with delivery in 3-5 business days.
  • Temperature-Monitored Shipping: We closely monitor weather conditions and make informed decisions to ensure shipments travel safely, with insulated packaging and refrigerated transport available when required.
  • Wine-Specific Protective Packaging: Specialized materials designed to maintain label integrity and prevent breakage during transit.
  • Provenance Assured: All wines are maintained in climate-controlled conditions at our shop until the moment of dispatch.

Returns & Exchanges

We stand behind every bottle we sell.

  • If the wine is less than 10 years old and it is corked, you may return it to us for a full refund or exchange within 60 days of purchase. You must show us proof of purchase. We understand that you may not live near a shop and that it is difficult to ship open bottles of wine to us, so if there's any problem feel free to Contact Us and we'll work it out.
  • For wines older than 10 years, the consumer bears the risk of a faulty cork, but we accept returns of older bottles if the wine is faulty as a result of improper storage. Please come by the store or Contact Us if there is a problem.
  • We may, at our discretion and to the extent permitted by law, accept returns of unopened wines within 30 days of purchase if they were properly stored by the purchaser, subject to a 15% re-stocking fee.

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Have Questions?

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Hours

Monday - Friday: 11am - 8pm

Saturday: 12pm - 5pm

CLOSED SUNDAYS

Email: help@flatiron-wines.com
Phone: (415) 780-1405


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Antonio Galloni

96 points

"The 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Rhythm is a gorgeous wine from estate vineyards in Stags Leap. Crème de cassis, pencil shavings, violet, plum, chocolate, menthol, licorice and cloves fill out the layers. This is another dense, full-bodied offering from Cliff Lede and longtime winemaker Chris Tynan. This is very Stags Leap." —Antonio Galloni

Robert Parker

93 points

"Cliff Lede's 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Rhythm shows the remarkable consistency the winery is able to obtain off this section of estate vineyard near the winery. Black cherries and cassis are joined by vaguely herbal elements in this medium- to full-bodied wine. Expansive on the palate without being high in alcohol (it's labeled at 13.6%), it boasts a richly silky texture, ample concentration and plenty of length on the finish." —Joe Czerwinski

Decanter

96 points

"This wine is extremely bold, with blue fruit, graphite, violets, and sagebrush, alongside ripe cassis and iron-like minerality. These notes emerge across the medium- to full-bodied palate, building incredible depth around that rocky, volcanic core. Savoury nuances of wild herbs weave through the fleshy dark berry fruit and supple tannins, adding further complexity. Production is increasing – a surprise to the winemaking team, who are keen to ensure it remains distinct from Poetry, their flagship. Consumers, however, are embracing the wine, and quality continues to rise. All fruit is sourced from the Rhythm Vineyard on the slopes of the winery’s Stags Leap District estate. Jason Lede envisioned this as a pure expression of the rocky soils beneath the vines, planted to a mix of clonal selections and rootstocks. His aim was to showcase the site’s character, offering a true snapshot of its terroir in the bottle. The vineyard spans 15 hectares, though only the best fruit from select blocks makes it into this wine. Aged for 21 months in 83% new French oak." —Jonathan Cristaldi

Wine Enthusiast

95 points

"Rose and violet aromas join flavors of black plum, cassis, and spice with graphite and earth accents. Tannins are refined and well balanced, carrying a generous Cabernet that manages both concentration and poise with energy." —Elaine Chukan Brown

More about

Wine Details

  • Grape Variety

    Cabernet Sauvignon

  • Vintage

    2023

  • Size

    750ml

  • Farming Practice

    Sustainable

  • Style

    Rich

  • Sweetness

    Dry

  • Body

    Full Bodied

Flatiron's Take

From the Importer

Tasting Notes & Food Pairings

Perfect Pairings

Dry-aged ribeye with truffle butter; braised short ribs with an ancho chile glaze; grilled lamb chops rubbed with cardamom and black pepper; wild mushroom and black truffle risotto.

Tasting Profile

Expect the classic Stags Leap District Cabernet profile: ripe blackcurrant and black cherry with notes of cedar, vanilla and baking spice from long ageing in mostly new French oak. It's typically full-bodied and plush, with the district's famously supple, velvety tannins and fresh acidity, and a long, dry finish. Think Napa power with a softer, more polished touch.

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