Featured wine of the month – Clos du Val Cabernet Sauvignon
Rich and full bodied – a wine to enjoy now or to add to your cellar!
One of the earliest wineries in the now famous Stags Leap district, Clos du Val was founded in 1972 by American businessman John Goelet and French-born winemaker Bernard Portet. Bernard’s father had been manager at Chateau Lafite, where he and his brother Dominique (ex Taltarni in Australia) were raised. Clos du Val began life as 150 acres of vineyards on some of the finest land in the Stags Leap district.
What attracted Portet to the sub region was the cool breezes that came through the narrow valley from the nearby San Pablo region. Stags Leap reion is just three miles long and only one mile wide. Those cool breezes mean that the grapes ripen more slowly and retain more acid than the warmer areas of the Napa Valley. The tannins are velvety, the fruit is ripe and the wines have a vibrant acid line that pulls it all together.
Unsurprisingly, this original acreage has now grown but not by much. What has grown hugely, is the reputation for the wines produced here. As well as the Stags Leap region. The Goelet family still own this winery and it has become famed for its high quality wines.
This wine is made from a fine red blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Cabernet Franc and 7% Merlot. Fermented in stainless steel tanks with 2 pumpovers daily. The wine is aged in French and Hungarian oak barrels for 20 months, 65% of which is new oak.
This is one wine that will live very happily in a well managed cellar. Or… you can enjoy its rich lushness now as it is ready to go!
Did you know! We have some other excellent producers & wines from the USA…
Seghesio, Domaine Anderson & Burlesque
About the Clos du Val Cabernet Sauvignon:
Classic Napa Cabernet. The colour is a deep garnet and the wine has aromas of black fruits, cedar wood, dark chocolate and leather. The palate is rich and complex with supple blackcurrant fruits and more complex characters of wood spice and graphite pencil. The texture is focused with well structured tannins and great acidity. A wine that drinks brilliantly now and will age well for the next decade.
Serving suggestions:
Enjoy with roasts, particularly lamb! Alternatively stick with quality British beef, or venison, or a host of other succulent meat roasts. It will also be very good with a juicy steak cooked just how you like it.
Available now for £49.99 click below to purchase!
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