97pts Wine Enthusiast

Powerful, seamless and saturated with flavor, this giant of a wine goes deep in black currants, black cherries and mint aromas. The dense, rather firm texture holds a tasty mélange of black cherries and black figs shaded by cedar, cocoa, tobacco and espresso. It needs several years to open up. Best from 2028–2040. 

96pts The Wine Independent

The 2021 Rhythm Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, 5% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple in color, it pops from the glass with vibrant notes of wild blueberries, freshly crushed red and black currants, and juicy blackberries giving way to suggestions of cinnamon stick, violets, and cedar chest. The medium to full-bodied palate has electric tension, with firm, finely grained tannins beautifully supporting the mineral-sparked red, black, and blue fruits, finishing with impressive length and energy. 1,364 cases were made. This is the first vintage of this single vineyard wine. "Poetry represents our hillside vineyard, but this is a representation of our valley floor/alluvial fan vineyard around the winery." (LPB)

95pts Decanter

The 2021 Rythym red blend showcases Cliff Lede's sloped estate vineyard in Stags Leap District, planted primarily on gravelly clay soils. Aged in French oak for 21 months, it blends Cabernet Sauvignon with Petit Verdot (7%), Merlot (5%), and Cabernet Franc (2%). An incredibly classic Cabernet nose with natural Bordealais qualities comes from a lovely deep ruby colour. This 2021 is fresh and inviting, with pure black currant and blackberry notes nuanced by graphite and elegant cedarwood. Medium to full-bodied, the palate begins with a rush of excellent robust, cocoa-nib-scented tannins that resolve nicely, revealing a wealth of savoury black olive and walnut husk. The lengthy finish is fruit-driven with black cherry and raspberry emerging through a pop of pretty, rose petal florals. (JC)

95pts Jeb Dunnuck

The inaugural vintage, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Rhythm comes from the Stags Leap District and is 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, 5% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc. Its deep purple-hued, with some serious intensity in its cassis and blueberry fruit as well as notes of smoked tobacco, black olive, iron, and truffle. Concentrated, full-bodied, and velvety textured, it's a ripe, expansive, opulent expression from this appellation that has beautiful tannins and moderate acidity. It's going to evolve for 15 years with ease.

94pts Vinous

Another new wine in this range, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Rhythm shows a more muscular expression of Stags Leap, with firm, insistent tannins that are front and center. Perhaps the recent bottling has played an impact on how this shows. Dark red/purplish fruit, lavender, spice, new leather, licorice and cedar power through. (AG)