United States · California

Cliff Lede

Cliff Lede Vineyards was established in 2002 when Canadian entrepreneur Cliff Lede acquired the historic S. Anderson estate in the Stags Leap District AVA of Napa Valley. The property covers approximately 60 acres on the famous palisades benchland, with the flagship Poetry Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from blocks 15, 16, and 17 of the home vineyard at elevations up to 400 feet. The Stags Leap District is celebrated for Cabernet that combines structural firmness with distinctively soft, velvety tannins — a function of volcanic soil and the afternoon shadow cast by the Vaca Range. Poetry averages around $200–$250 per bottle at auction in strong vintages, driven by critical scores: the 2013 and 2016 received 96–98 points from Wine Advocate, creating secondary-market demand. Cliff Lede also produces a Claret (Bordeaux blend), single-vineyard Cabernet, and small quantities of Sauvignon Blanc. At auction, the estate averages $210 per bottle across 118 lots, with Poetry driving the upper range and the Claret accounting for more accessible pricing. The domaine's rock-and-roll art program and deep involvement in the Napa arts community add brand identity, though auction buyers are primarily motivated by the Stags Leap terroir and Poetry's track record for aging through the 2020s.