2022 Clos Du Val - Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Estate (750ml)

Clos du Val was founded in 1972 by French winemaker Bernard Portet, who spent years traveling the world in search of a site capable of rivaling the great Bordeaux estates before settling on a parcel in the Stags Leap District. He named the property Clos du Val, meaning small vineyard estate of a small valley, and quickly put it on the map when the winery's Cabernet Sauvignon placed in the famed 1976 Judgment of Paris tasting. Still family-owned today, the estate farms 350 acres across the Stags Leap District, Carneros, and Yountville appellations, continuing Portet's original vision of balanced, age-worthy, Bordeaux-inspired wines.

This bottling blends Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot sourced from the estate's Napa Valley vineyards. The 2022 growing season began dry with a mild spring and summer, then saw a late September heatwave followed by timely rain that helped the vines finish ripening fully by late October, producing fruit with good concentration and balance. The wine was crafted in the winery's signature restrained style, favoring freshness and structure over heavy extraction.

Aromas of blackberry, mulberry, cassis, and violet lead into a palate of cranberry, red plum, cherry, and lavender, framed by supple tannins and bright acidity through a long, smooth finish. It pairs nicely with grilled lamb, roasted duck breast, or a wedge of aged gouda.