Only 1590 cases of Cliff Lede Vineyards’ new “rock block series” wine was made in 2019, which is a shame because we would love to have more of it! Each year the music-loving winery crafts a blend of the best fruit from various vineyard blocks throughout its Stags Leap District AVA vineyards. Each vineyard block is named for one of owner Cliff Lede’s favorite songs, bands, albums, etc. This year brings together fruit from the blocks named after the song “Roundabout” from Yes in the Twin Peaks vineyard and Eric Clapton’s “After Midnight” in the hilly Poetry vineyard.

Roundabout Midnight ($110) is a fleshy, robust Cabernet Sauvignon dominant blend that is concentrated and dense, with bold tannins that are nicely integrated, creating beautiful structure and lively character. The aromatic wine opens with aromas of ripe blackberry and fresh violets and wildflowers, leading to flavors of black and blue fruit, black licorice, dusty leather, and toasted cedar. Aged 21 months in 74% new French oak, the wine is a bold option for summer drinking, but a perfect paring with a hearty ribeye steak or grilled bone-in pork chops, just drink it in the air conditioning. #Cheers