Clos du Val Wine Co.
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley, California, USA
Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.
Fruity nose and medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with nice complexity.
Showing black cherries, black plums, black currants, light oak, mediterranean spices, light earth, herbs and peppercorn.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.
This is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from Napa Valley. Fruit forward and complex. Elegant and nicely balanced, spicy and entertaining. Feel like a left bank Bordeaux with a touch of Napa.
Still young, but already enjoyable even by itself. Needs a few years in the bottle to mature properly, and will continue to age nicely in the next 15 years. Has good potential to become a 94+ point wine.
Wine Spectator 90 points. Robert Parker 91 points. Wine Enthusiasts 94 points.
A good sipping wine that will also pair nicely with a food.
A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec and 4% Petit Verdot. Aged for 12 months in (30% new) French oak barrels.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$40.
Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.
Fruity nose and medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with nice complexity.
Showing black cherries, black plums, black currants, light oak, mediterranean spices, light earth, herbs and peppercorn.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.
This is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from Napa Valley. Fruit forward and complex. Elegant and nicely balanced, spicy and entertaining. Feel like a left bank Bordeaux with a touch of Napa.
Still young, but already enjoyable even by itself. Needs a few years in the bottle to mature properly, and will continue to age nicely in the next 15 years. Has good potential to become a 94+ point wine.
Wine Spectator 90 points. Robert Parker 91 points. Wine Enthusiasts 94 points.
A good sipping wine that will also pair nicely with a food.
A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec and 4% Petit Verdot. Aged for 12 months in (30% new) French oak barrels.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$40.
To me, this smells and tastes like a late-70s, old school Napa Cab. Very dark color. Nose charges out of the gates with cassis, olives, dark green pungent herbs, gravel, and a little iodine. Approachable (and enjoyable) already on the palate. Sure, it’s a bit tannic but they’re soft, with mouth-coating savory flavors. None of that damn chocolateyness I don’t like (which seems near-ubiquitous now in Napa Cabs), and zero jamminess. What a value (I got it for $39) for a very tasty and true-to-type Napa Cab.
To me, this smells and tastes like a late-70s, old school Napa Cab. Very dark color. Nose charges out of the gates with cassis, olives, dark green pungent herbs, gravel, and a little iodine. Approachable (and enjoyable) already on the palate. Sure, it’s a bit tannic but they’re soft, with mouth-coating savory flavors. None of that damn chocolateyness I don’t like (which seems near-ubiquitous now in Napa Cabs), and zero jamminess. What a value (I got it for $39) for a very tasty and true-to-type Napa Cab.
Sep 1st, 2025
Crushed dark fruit, dry tannins, a bit of eucalyptus.
Crushed dark fruit, dry tannins, a bit of eucalyptus.
Aug 24th, 2025
From mag. Plum and dried herbs. Iron and leather. Still quite fresh and complex. The best of this wine I’ve had by some distance
From mag. Plum and dried herbs. Iron and leather. Still quite fresh and complex. The best of this wine I’ve had by some distance
May 7th, 2025Fresh and sweet. Plum and iron. Lucid and not too hot
Fresh and sweet. Plum and iron. Lucid and not too hot
Oct 11th, 2024
An “intermezzo” as we prepared for the reds flights. This was served blind. The 1978 shows really young for its age. Most at the table, including myself, were convinced that this was classified growth Bordeaux with maybe 20-30 years of age. However at least one of us thought it was Napa…and whoa. The color was dark and handsome though there was some sediment (to expected). The fruit was bright but I felt it was secondary to the dried leaf tobacco, earth and leather notes. There was good acid too. Tannins have integrated. Lots of wows when this was revealed while the Napa holdouts gave a smile. Bravo. This could easily live well for another 10 or so years.
An “intermezzo” as we prepared for the reds flights. This was served blind. The 1978 shows really young for its age. Most at the table, including myself, were convinced that this was classified growth Bordeaux with maybe 20-30 years of age. However at least one of us thought it was Napa…and whoa. The color was dark and handsome though there was some sediment (to expected). The fruit was bright but I felt it was secondary to the dried leaf tobacco, earth and leather notes. There was good acid too. Tannins have integrated. Lots of wows when this was revealed while the Napa holdouts gave a smile. Bravo. This could easily live well for another 10 or so years.
Jun 19th, 2023Popped and poured, no formal notes. This bottle has been stored in my cellar since release. I have always appreciated the restrained expression of Clos du Val however, this was enjoyed after the 2005 “Caravina” and there is a very clear difference in class between the two. The Seavey had a level of energy, sophistication and polish that the CdV just couldn’t match, even though it was 8 years younger. However, there was a subtle charm to it and if enjoyed on its own, would have made more of an impression. The profile was dark, with loads of earth. Structure was firm but in balance with the fruit. Finish was medium. Built for another decade but probably won’t improve.
Popped and poured, no formal notes. This bottle has been stored in my cellar since release. I have always appreciated the restrained expression of Clos du Val however, this was enjoyed after the 2005 “Caravina” and there is a very clear difference in class between the two. The Seavey had a level of energy, sophistication and polish that the CdV just couldn’t match, even though it was 8 years younger. However, there was a subtle charm to it and if enjoyed on its own, would have made more of an impression. The profile was dark, with loads of earth. Structure was firm but in balance with the fruit. Finish was medium. Built for another decade but probably won’t improve.
Deep Ruby with aromas of dark fruits and some herb notes, mostly Cab Sauv with small amounts of Merlot, Cab Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec, aged 16 months in 44% new French oak. On the palate flavors of blackberry and black cherry with sweet spice, cedar and notes of cacao. A consistent wine and a good value. Medium+ finish, fine tannins, well balanced ending with fruit , toasty oak and herb tobacco spice.
Deep Ruby with aromas of dark fruits and some herb notes, mostly Cab Sauv with small amounts of Merlot, Cab Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec, aged 16 months in 44% new French oak. On the palate flavors of blackberry and black cherry with sweet spice, cedar and notes of cacao. A consistent wine and a good value. Medium+ finish, fine tannins, well balanced ending with fruit , toasty oak and herb tobacco spice.
Aug 4th, 2022
Yesterday for the 4th of July we opened the 2019 Clos du Val Cabernet Sauvignon. From Napa, California Napa Valley.
On the nose there was black cherry, blackberry, plum sauce, black currant, spice, graphite and earth.
On the palate there is a black cherry, blackberry, plum, black currant, chocolate, spice, green bell pepper, toasty oak and earth.
This is a full bodied wine with a smooth mouthfeel medium + acidity and medium + grippy tannins that leaves you with a long dark fruit graphite finish. I hope everyone had a blessed 4th of July enjoying family and friends. Please have a wonderful week ahead and stay safe and healthy. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷
Yesterday for the 4th of July we opened the 2019 Clos du Val Cabernet Sauvignon. From Napa, California Napa Valley.
On the nose there was black cherry, blackberry, plum sauce, black currant, spice, graphite and earth.
On the palate there is a black cherry, blackberry, plum, black currant, chocolate, spice, green bell pepper, toasty oak and earth.
This is a full bodied wine with a smooth mouthfeel medium + acidity and medium + grippy tannins that leaves you with a long dark fruit graphite finish. I hope everyone had a blessed 4th of July enjoying family and friends. Please have a wonderful week ahead and stay safe and healthy. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷
Very enjoyable ready to drink. Dark ruby, fruit forward. Very much Napa cab.
Very enjoyable ready to drink. Dark ruby, fruit forward. Very much Napa cab.
Jun 10th, 2022