2019 Clos Du Val - Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Estate HALF BOTTLE (375ml)

Clos Du Val was founded in 1972 in the Stags Leap District by John and Henrietta Goelet, who partnered with French-born winemaker Bernard Portet to bring old-world sensibility to Napa Valley. Their debut Cabernet Sauvignon became one of only six California wines selected for the legendary 1976 Judgment of Paris, a tasting that put Napa on the world stage. Still family-owned today, the estate farms vineyards across Stags Leap District, Yountville, and Carneros, continuing a style built on balance rather than sheer power.

The Estate Cabernet Sauvignon blends small amounts of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec into the Cabernet base, aged sixteen months in forty-four percent new French oak. The 2019 growing season followed a wet winter, and the resulting mild summer allowed grapes to hang longer on the vine, developing flavor gradually while preserving natural acidity. That extended ripening gave the wine both depth and a sense of freshness uncommon in a warmer vintage.

Aromas of ripe dark and blue fruit mingle with a leafy edge, joined by spice, cedar, and walnut on the nose. The palate is medium to full-bodied, with firm, polished tannins wrapped around cassis, cherry, and a hint of sage. It pairs well with braised short ribs, grilled portobello mushrooms, or a wedge of aged manchego.