Skip to content

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.

Poetry Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from three designated estate blocks in the Stags Leap District at elevations up to 400 feet, with production typically around 500–800 cases annually.
The 2016 Poetry Cabernet Sauvignon earned 98 points from Wine Advocate, achieving auction prices of $250–$350 per bottle — the estate's highest-recorded secondary-market realization in this database.
Cliff Lede purchased the former S. Anderson estate in 2002, retaining deep limestone caves originally used for sparkling wine aging, now utilized for barrel aging the Cabernet program.
Stags Leap District volcanic benchland soils produce Cabernet Sauvignon with notably soft, round tannins even in youth — a terroir distinction that makes Cliff Lede Poetry more approachable early than Rutherford or Oakville peers.

Auction Lots

1,148

Avg Price / Bottle

$159

Top Vintage

2013

Price Range

$30 – $984

In the Glass

Stags Leap Cabernet character: cassis, dark plum, and violets anchored by the district's soft tannins and signature eucalyptus note. Poetry adds dark chocolate, graphite, and cedar from French oak aging (approximately 18 months, 80–85% new). The Claret is rounder and more approachable, with blackberry fruit and subtle herb. All wines show ripe but structured acidity from the elevated hillside exposures in the Vaca Range shadow.

Portfolio

WineColourAvg PriceLots SoldTop Vintage
Poetry Cabernet SauvignonRed$2104122013
Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet SauvignonRed$1932462013
Cabernet SauvignonRed$821772013
SongBook Cabernet SauvignonRed$1391622013
Cabernet SauvignonRed$80382013
Cabernet SauvignonRed$110302013
Cabernet SauvignonRed$68282015
High FidelityRed$59192016
ClaretRed$41172016
Cinnamon StardustRed$6982013
Cabernet SauvignonRed$9962004
Rhythm Cabernet SauvignonRed$8352021

Top Auction Houses

klwines

583 lots

spectrum

387 lots

hdh

12 lots

winebid

5 lots

acker

4 lots

Cliff Lede is based in the California wine region.

Explore California auction data →

Find Live Cliff Lede Auctions

Search active lots from Sotheby's, Christie's, Acker and 6 more houses.

Search Cliff Lede wines →