tasted at Raspirav 2024
tropical fruit, light bubbles very airy
delicate floral quality, orange blossom and jasmine flower
cloudy with a fresh finish — a month ago
100% Chardonnay bubbly from just outside Chablis
Deep lemon / gold color
Golden Delicious Apple, Pear, Chalky minerality with slight brioche
Dry, high acidity, creamy mousse
Spontaneously fermented, no dosage added — 2 months ago
The 1976 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate from Clos du Val is the most interesting of all the wines. The estate was founded by John and Henrietta Goelet in the early Seventies when the couple challenged recently graduated winemaker Bernard Portet to create a Bordeaux-inspired estate in Napa. Clos du Val attained global recognition when its inaugural 1972 Cabernet Sauvignon was one of the wines poured blind by Steven Spurrier at the epochal The Judgement of Paris, so this bottle of 1976 was one of their earliest bottlings that, incidentally, came directly from Clos de Val’s apparently meager reserves. It is very elegant and perfumed on the nose, typical old school, classic Napa Cabernet in all its unfettered glory, beautifully defined with wilted rose petals and a light fish scale element. Supple, very pliant tannins define the palate. There remains ample freshness and poise, a fine silver thread of acidity and a clove-tinged, rounded, exquisitely balanced finish that would surpass practically every other Bordeaux from this vintage. Outstanding. (Neal Martin, Vinous, April 2024)
— 22 days ago
A great Chardonnay! It could make a Chardonnay drinker out of me. Wonderful floral aromas. Flavors of peach, honeysuckle and apple blossom. — a month ago
Great every single time — 2 days ago
En magnum, mine — 12 days ago
Now this is what I’m talking about! Best of this Bouchard haul. I wonder how much vintage played a role. Dense and intense, yet so chiselled. Aromas of pears, peaches, brioche, white flowers, spices, and even a touch of jackfruit were just bursting out of the glass. Super dense, precise, and long on the palate. Has a really interesting plummy mid-palate note, and lovely salinity. Loved it! — 2 months ago
Sipping Fine Wine
Pale lemon gold color with aromas of bright citrus and tropical fruit with floral notes. On the palate flavors of melon, apple and lemon citrus fruit, some honeysuckle tones with lively acidity. Medium finish ending with fruit, grapefruit citrus, herb baking spice and crisp chalky mineral notes. — 18 days ago