2022 Linden Vineyards - Claret Virginia (750ml)

Linden Vineyards sits atop the Blue Ridge in northern Virginia, a highly respected producer with annual production of roughly 4,000 cases. Its Claret borrows the old British name for red Bordeaux and is blended each year from all three of its vineyards, with a mix of Bordeaux grapes that shifts with the vintage.

The 2022 Claret draws 80 percent of its fruit from Hardscrabble, high on the Blue Ridge at 1,300 to 1,400 feet, where well-drained mineral soils build tannin structure. Avenius, one mile north, adds 15 percent for acidity and verve, and Boisseau, on a bluff in the Shenandoah Valley, contributes 5 percent for mid-palate volume. The season tested growers, with snow before budbreak and two close-call April frosts. A key stretch of sunny, low-humidity weather in September ripened the crop beautifully.

Classic Linden in character, the wine shows crunchy red fruit and a cleansing acidity that defines the vintage. Blackberry, red currant, and cherry mingle with pepper, tobacco, and anise. Medium-bodied and lively, it has bright acidity, medium tannins, and a long, mouthwatering finish.