One of the historic Napa estates, Clos Du Val was founded by the Goelet family in 1972.That same year Clos Du Val acquired 150 acres of estate vineyards in the Stags Leap District, and made its first wines, including Clos Du Val’s debut 1972 Cabernet Sauvignon—one of only six California Cabernets selected for the famous 1976 Judgment of Paris Tasting, where California defeated some of Bordeaux’s finest. Today, Clos Du Val now owns a 180-acre Grand Val Vineyard in the Carneros appellation of Napa Valley, and the 18-acre State Lane Vineyard in Yountville. These vineyards include 30 different blocks of Cabernet, with a variety of soil types and exposures, dozens of unique clone and rootstock combinations, and an array of vine ages. Head winemaker Ted Henry heads the project, as the estate also relies on consulting winemaker Tony Biagi for their wines.
Clos du Val has impressed with their new release wines. They have gained a wonderful reputation for Chardonnay over the years. If you like the ‘Napaesque’ balance in your Chardonnay, look for the 2015 Clos du Val ‘Estate’ Chardonnay (WWB, 91) which shows beautiful poise and moderate oak influence. The outstanding wine of the collection was the 2014 Clos du Val ‘Stags Leap District’ Cabernet (WWB, 93), a massive wine that shows dense layers and a massive tannic backbone. Learn more about this famed Napa estate at https://www.closduval.com Here are the great new wines by Clos du Val.
2015 Clos du Val 'Estate' Chardonnay- This excellent Chardonnay bottling was aged for 10 months in 28% new French oak. Wonderfully balanced and poised, the wine is currently showcasing ripe flavors of butterscotch, banana, and peach pit with beautiful minerality. Drink 20-7-2023- 91
2015 Clos du Val 'Estate' Pinot Noir- The Pinot Noir wine wed aged for 15 months in 58% new French oak prior to bottling. It is a blend of Dijon clone 667 and Pommard. This wine opens with aromatics of rhubarb, bramble, black cherry and cola. This leads to ripe flavors of black tea, black cherry, crushed mint and strawberry preserves. Drink 2017-2027- 91
2014 Clos du Val 'Estate' Cabernet- This wine is an excellent blend of 93% Cabernet, 3.5% Merlot, 3.5% Cabernet Franc that was aged for 20 months in 40% new French oak prior to bottling in June 2016. The wine begins with aromatics reminiscent of cassis, dried sage, black cherry compote, and coffee grounds. This leads to deep flavors of mocha, green bell pepper, creme de cassis and suggestions of baking spices. Smooth and silky, this has a wonderfully polished mouthfeel. This really needs another year in the bottle for the fruit to fully amalgamate. Drink 2018-2030- 92
2014 Clos du Val 'Stags Leap District' Cabernet- Sourced from the Hirondelle Estate, this wine was aged in 60% new French oak prior to bottling in July 2016. This impressive bottling opens with aromatics of violets, creme de cassis, pine needles and crushed mint. There is wonderful weight and poise on the mid-palate, currently displaying rich flavors of blackberry pie, sagebrush, mocha, blueberry compote and eucalyptus. The tannins suggest this could age one more year. Drink 2018-2030- 93