Wines - 2021 Cliff Lede Crossfade, Napa Valley

The Cabernet Franc in this wine hails from our prestigious Poetry Vineyard and acclaimed viticulturist David Abreu’s Madrona Ranch Vineyard. Our beloved estate vineyard in Calistoga provides most of the Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. The vineyards are farmed with meticulous attention to detail, maintaining yields at sparse levels—ranging from two to three tons per acre. The wine is composed of just a few of our best lots from these most cherished sites.

Grapes were picked in the darkness of the early morning hours. The freshly-harvested fruit immediately underwent rigorous selection by our three-tiered sorting process, which included our cutting-edge optical sorter. Whole berries were gently delivered by gravity to tank using our crane system, minimizing disruption of berry integrity. Cold soaks lasted approximately seven days, and fermentations were managed via a combination of délestage, pumpovers, and punchdowns. Extended maceration ranging from four to five weeks fine-tuned our tannin profiles, allowing us to perfect mouth feel and wine complexity. The wine was aged in French oak barrels, 73% of which were new, for twenty-two months.

Intellectual charm and curiosity define the 2021 Crossfade and its youthful exuberance will excite the taster, as well. The Cabernet Franc leads the aromas with a procession of fresh tobacco leaves, white chocolate, fig paste, and black cherries. Close behind are the silky Cabernet Sauvignon’s melted licorice, black currants, and mulberry aromas. Aromatically complex and complete, the bouquet notes are echoed on the palate and the wine finishes with velvety and remarkably fine tannin. – Christopher Tynan, Director of Winemaking