2018 Cliff Lede Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley 750 ml

When you hear about a 100-point winemaker crafting an under-$30 Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc, you pay very close attention. When you hear it’s from iconic producer Cliff Lede and vintner Chris Tynan, you drop what you’re doing. 

Cliff Lede’s lively, succulent, floral-perfumed Sauvignon Blanc boasts some of our highest customer ratings among Napa whites, and even among the wave of new releases coming out of Napa this season, the mouthwatering 2018 is one of the best Sauvignon Blancs we’ve tasted in years.

Robert Parker called Cliff Lede “one of the best-run wineries in Napa Valley,” one that’s “surged into the top hierarchy of quality in a relatively short period of time.” With fruit drawn from Calistoga and an old-vine Rutherford site, the 2018 is a particular value champion. 

We’ve had the pleasure of tasting this release with Jason Lede, owner Cliff Lede’s son, through multiple vintages, and the 2018 left us marveling at its vibrancy and precise tropical and citrus fruit notes—especially at this bargain price point. Intense aromatics of jasmine and white flowers resolve into fresh-cut pineapple, lemon peel, and guava on the palate, coming to a cleansing, effusive finish.

Star winemaker Chris Tynan, whose 100-point résumé boasts a stint at Colgin Cellars, employed three aging methods—French oak barrels, stainless steel tanks, and concrete eggs—to craft the 2018 Sauvignon Blanc. The wine’s liveliness, length, and rich, full-bodied texture reflects all of this rigorous craftsmanship—and belies the bargain price.

When owner Cliff Lede founded his eponymous winery in 2002, his vision included pulling out all the stops and attending to every little detail in order to make the most from the extraordinary 60-acre estate. His search for excellence eventually led him to winemaker Chris Tynan, whom he met through the legendary viticulturist David Abreu. 

At the time, Tynan was working as assistant winemaker at Colgin Cellars, where he contributed to a slew of 100-point wines. In 2012, Tynan came on board at Cliff Lede, bringing the expansive knowledge and deft touch he learned at Colgin, as well as the experience gained from starting his own label, Chris Tynan Wines, under which he crafted the 100-point Meleagris Gallopavo Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. Tynan has continued the 100-point trend at Cliff Lede, and produced countless wines rated 96-99 points by Robert Parker. 

Tynan once again demonstrated his flair in making the 2018 Sauvignon Blanc. We absolutely love the result and you will too.