Flowers, leaves, dry earth and bark were intoxicating while impressionistic images of trees and scrub zipped by and billowy cloud formations peaked here and there through the top of the canopies created by majestic, towering trees; the fiercely beating heart started to melt away, and the struggles to keep up a fast pace left the body like heavy shackles dropping to the ground as an overall feeling of euphoria created a sense of levitation – a man who owns a successful construction business has the run of his life within the stunning natural beauty that is part of the paradise that is known as Napa Valley. Originally from Canada, this devoted runner was overwhelmed by the gorgeous surroundings, and it says something that he was elevated by such natural wonders coming from a country that some may argue has the most breathtaking landscapes on Earth. But it was not just Mother Nature who wooed him, as the wines, the restaurants and the tight-knit community of passionate people from all over the world made Cliff Lede fall head over heels in love with Napa, especially since he had been collecting Bordeaux wines since his 20s.
In 2002, he founded Cliff Lede Vineyards after purchasing 60 acres in the Stags Leap District of Napa Valley and he brought in top experts to replant and manage most of the estate with an emphasis on using the ideal grape variety clones for the soil and aspect of various plots. Being a man of many passions, Cliff named blocks after some of his favorite music albums and rock songs, such as ‘Dark Side of the Moon.’ Cliff Lede Vineyards has produced many top red wines that are focused on a micro-specific expression of sense of place, and their ‘Poetry Vineyard’ has won several 100-point scores from top wine critics as it is a fantastic, steep property with volcanic and fractured shale soils that produced very concentrated fruit that delivers a complexity and richness that is always jaw-dropping in its ‘wow’ factor.
Yet, Cliff Lede Vineyards, which has only had one white wine in their lineup until a few years ago, has released a new white wine bottling that aims to create a top white wine with long aging potential, such as those legendary Bordeaux estates that make some of the most collectible white wines, such as Château Haut-Brion, yet with a terroir expression that is uniquely its own.
Napa Valley Blanc
Jason Lede, general manager and Cliff Lede’s son, talked about how they, as a wine producer, are becoming much more plot-specific with their wines, and so, they are always searching for a parcel that is outstanding and utterly harmonious on its own. Yet, they want to make sure each vineyard bottling lives up to an extremely high standard as the bar is already high with their Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant ‘Poetry Vineyard.’ They just released another Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant single vineyard bottling called ‘Rhythm,’ a vineyard from gravelly loam soil. Of course, their ultra-premium white wine is called ‘Marla,’ which they call a Napa Valley Blanc as it aspires to Bordeaux fine wine expectations.
The ‘Marla’ Napa Valley Blanc is a barrel selection of their best white wine plots from the estate and growers, and the 2022 includes Sémillon old vines sourced from Calistoga to give multifaceted aromas and depth of flavor combined with estate-grown Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon and Sauvignon Musqué from younger vines from their properties in the Stags Leap District, Carneros and Calistoga to add crisp acidity, juicy fruit and overall vitality. Jason noted that they are aiming for a stellar white wine that can greatly improve with age for 10-15 years.
Point in Life
The wine is named after Jason’s sister Marla, who wasn’t living in Napa at the time as she was still back in Canada. But right after Covid, Jason, his father and his sister sat down to talk about the future of Cliff Lede Vineyards and doing everything in their power to make sure both Jason and Marla’s kids, who are now four, six and nine, will feel a connection to the winery and vineyards where they hope to continue a multi-generational ownership of Cliff Lede Vineyards, which is all about passion and community. Yes, financial planning has to be carefully considered and implemented to protect their kids and Cliff’s grandkids, but there would have to be another major decision considered, as the vineyards and community need to be an integral part of these kids’ lives.
So Marla decided to move her family to Napa with her husband being able to work remotely, as she not only raises two kids but is going back to school to get her MBA and learns the ins and outs of the winery from her dad’s right-hand woman. So from the first bottling, which was only a minuscule amount that was made in 2018, with 2019 skipped and no wine for Cliff Lede being made for 2020 due to smoke issues from fires to 2022, a lot has changed in the lives of the Lede family.
Cousins will be able to grow up together with many of their key childhood milestones connected to the winery and vineyards their grandfather had painstakingly established, with only the best for all facets of this precious family business being considered. All those years ago, taking a run in Napa Valley during a business retreat, Cliff could have never imagined that he would find a place to bring his family that would have the same reverence for nature and hardwork as his first community in Canada yet while being one of the greatest wine regions worldwide. He knows that this is only possible through continuing the multi-generational commitment that his son and daughter are also driving…