Clos du Val, Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District

This was gorgeous! Smelled and tasted like Bordeaux at first. Decanted for 90 mins but it hit its full stride at close to 2 hours. Lovely nose, plush palate, and nice finish. Tannins are still very present but well integrated. Color suggested more advanced age than the vintage would suggest, but with the decant it did not taste older than expected. Well built old style wine that will reward those who were patient enough to stash it. This can easily …

2006 vintage

Drinking beautifully in 2025. Very smooth. Fruit developing as it opened up. (magnum, purchased from winery direct in 2024)

1984 vintage

cooked

1995 vintage

Toujours bien vivant, typique du cab-sauvignon, texture suave, pas trop de notes d'évolution, il aurait pu se garder un autre 5 ans facile. Excellent (91)

2006 vintage

Loads better than my last bottle! 92-93

1984 vintage

Kind of a let down.... Bought directly from Chateau.. Not bad, just missing a lot of what I was looking for from other old CdV.

1984 vintage

Gorgeous bottle. Still in it's new world style, but definitely beginning that transition towards a more old world style. I'd say it still has 10 years before I would be guessing old world, but still a beautiful bottle. Lots of fruit & tannins still left. Will last 2 more decades, without a doubt.

1994 vintage

Last of my ‘06. Cork broke on opening so I was apprehensive but, while the fruit has faded a little, this is still a special & unique wine. Great nose still. Tart as expected w Clos du Val, & lots of earth notes. A bit of plum & blackberry, dry finish.

2006 vintage

Corked

2004 vintage

I must say, I was definitely let down..... It wasn't bad by any means, and everyone that was there polished the bottle, but it was not what I felt like it should have been, especially coming from such a prestige vintage! My only assumption would be that I possibly caught it in an awkward "transitioning" stage from it's younger new world personality to it's older, old world style. I don't know, I have 2 more and I probably won't revisit …

1994 vintage

Sour

1994 vintage

PNP. Family dinner. Consumed over two hours. Classic nose of coconut, rose pedals and violets. Cherry, cinnamon, cranberry, plum and tobacco. Medium, supple mouthfeel, well-balanced, polished and appealing. Silky smooth, moderately long and soft finish. What I've come to expect from 2014 Napa cabs. Excellent quality and a "tamed" expression that is so approachable now with plenty of life still remaining. Yum!

2014 vintage

Enjoyable overall. Limited fruit left here, lots of nice tertiary flavors as one might expect at almost 30 years. This wine had nice structure for long aging and isn’t quite over the hill but would recommend drinking in the next 3 years.

1995 vintage

Very classic cab. Dark berry, totally integrated tannins, fruit and acidity.leather graphite notes. Still quite fresh. Very delicious pairing with a perfectly cooked NY strip steak and baked potato.

2011 vintage

This was a high shoulder fill bottle and was still fresh though not youthful. Strong color and vibrant fruit. Classic older Napa Cab. Medium finish. Similar on Day 2.

1979 vintage

Impressive. This held up surprisingly well with the fruit mostly intact. A bit of dark fruit and a medium length finish. May last a few years more.

1979 vintage

Still has a lot of life after 29 years. Tasted when opened and it was wonderful with a good amount of fruit. Very little sediment in the bottle. Decanted for 1 hour with little change. Just a great old wine that I wish I had more of.

1994 vintage

Definitely in peak drinking window but likely at the tail end. Drink up. Minimal tannins but lacks some of the silkiness of those better Napa vintages with some age.

2011 vintage

Another find in the cellar! Right to go right now if just a bit to the point where the rich oak is starting to get that Green Bean thing going on. So I should drink 'em up!

2014 vintage

75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot. Medium ruby colour, starting to move to brick at the rim. Medium plus intensity on the nose with dried cherry, dried fruit, mushroom, cedar, blackberry, dried cranberry, mint. Medium plus intensity on the palate. High acidity, high still ripe tannins, full body, high alcohol, long finish. Enjoyable mature Napa Cabernet Sauvignon dominant blend with good intensity, complexity and length.

2006 vintage

Retasting - first tasting was at the winery, this was a bottle we picked up. Medium garnet. Pronounced on the nose with blackcurrant, black cherry, graphite, mint, cedar, vanilla, cloves, cinammon, dried cherry, prune, earth, leather and mushroom. Fully developed. Pronounced and dry on the palate. High acidity, high partly resolved tannins, medium alcohol, full body, long finish. Can drink now but has potential for aging or further aging.

2006 vintage

First night wasn't sure it was still wine, but had half a glass for fun. Kept in fridge, under vacuvin. Second night showed improvement. Then after 48 hours it was gorgeous. Light of course, smooth tannins, Bordeaux claret style at this point, but really impressed by the longevity. Gone now!

1984 vintage

It was fantastic. More like Bordeaux than Cali

1984 vintage

Oh, this wine is just so good. What a surprise from a 1995 to still have fruit, body and that signature Clos du Val aroma and mouth feel. Not over the hill today. Drinking just fine! Wish I had another to try again in a year or so.

1995 vintage

From glass. Alongside 2002, much more advanced, more caramels and brown notes on the nose. On the palate, sleek. Meat char, browner fruits, getting close to sherry notes of sandalwood; savory; at one point roasted cabbage (?). Ultimately seductive. Would recommend for fans of late-mature and post-mature Bordeaux. I liked it.

2006 vintage

OK Cab from Napa. Not a typical jammy Cab; nor a typical complex Bordeaux. Red and black berries, hint of alcohol on the nose. Medium body, not much complexity. Still balanced. The price being considered, not recommended.

2014 vintage

Lovely. Withstood the test of time very well.

1979 vintage

Perfectly aged cab from a classic Napa producer. Plenty of room to run, well stored bottles could go another 5-10 years. Red currant, forest floor and floral components are persistent. A bit stern with the wall of tannin, but it calms with air there's plenty of fruit and acidity to balance things out.

2006 vintage

Drinking really well now. Still a lot of dark red fruit, full bodied, cassis, pencil and spice. Tannins are rounden well of. good intensity, long finsih. Needs decanting and a couple of hours of air.. will still age nicely I guess, if a had more bottles I would try one again in 4-6 years. Paired with deer, porcini with cream and rootveg.

2004 vintage

Was hoping it had evolved into a hedonistic monster. It really hasn't. Sold, and great drinking, my expectations were just too high.

2014 vintage

2014 needs some time, but it is so good after 2h. Dark fruit, black currants that are so sourly fruity, nice balance between tannins and acid, the fruit grows over time. A good Cab quite simply. Drink or hold

2014 vintage

This just gets better. Sadly I only have one bottle left after this. A true blend of Old World winemaking with New World terroir. A favourite of mine in Napa, or should I say Stags Leap, as I have followed it for nigh on fifty years. The elegant longevity of these wines is stunning, no fruit bombs here! Echoes, I see, the comments of others about this wine. Blend: 85% CS, 6% CF, 5% M, 4% PV. Notable as it …

2006 vintage

When I had initially purchased it I was a bit afraid that I may have been over the hill but to my surprise it was drinking relatively well. A bit muddy initially but quickly opened up with soft perfumed fruits, notes of soil coupled with acidity and tannins that balanced well with the strength of the fruit. I wouldn't say the wine is at its prime but for those who enjoy their wines with more tertiary flavors this wine could …

1985 vintage

Drinking very well right now, nicely balanced and integrated at 14.5% alcohol. Red fruit, hints of black fruit, baking spice, hints of bell pepper. Very good wine, but good value at the $80+ price point. This wine is a great example is why I typically steer clear of Napa at this point, QPR is just off compared to almost every other wine region.

2014 vintage

This 2006 Cab held up very well. Wish I still had a few more bottles.

2006 vintage

Blackberry fruit on the nose on the fruit and palate. In the GdL glass its very open.

2014 vintage

Nice wine had with spaghetti and meatballs

2011 vintage

Black cherry, black raspberry, a near teriyaki sweetness, Chinese 5 spice and cedar on the nose with hints of fresh lavender and thyme. Lovely silky texture on the palate with exuberant red currant, Cassis and cherry flavors accented by cedar wood and dried savory spices. The floral notes persist and there is a lovely dance back and forth between tannin and acid. A sensual, pretty Franc with mere hints of green that add rather than detract.

2014 vintage

A well cared for bottle still has years to go.

1992 vintage

This needed an hour to open up a blow off some metallic notes. Once it had some air, this was a lovely aged cabernet. Gentle cherry fruit, medium body, ruby red. Elegant and enjoyable.

1979 vintage

While the fruit is starting to fade, this is still drinking nicely. Dark fruit, pine and earth, w soft tannins.

2004 vintage

Dark in color with a nose of red and black fruit. Taste very similar on the palate with cassis and earth tones complementing the fruit very well. It has a nice backbone of acidity and silky tannin. This has some real verve and energy to it and is outstanding for it's price point. Upon initial opening it's a bit bigger and there was a slight bite in the finish but one hour in the decanter brought everything together. This is …

2014 vintage

Wine was properly stored from purchase upon release until consumed. Bouquet immediately open and elegant. Berries and cherries in the bouquet, some walnuts. Paired with New York Strip, it beautifully complimented the meal. Began to fade after 30 minutes. Enjoy it now.

1985 vintage

Nice Cabernet had with pizza

2011 vintage

Attractive if not subtle.

1985 vintage

14’s are drinking nicely now. Needs a good hour + in a decanter but opens into a beautiful Napa Cab. Nice finish.

2014 vintage

Stood it up in my cellar some weeks ago and kind of forgot about it. Soft cork, needed the Ah So to open. Light garnet, some bricking, tea, cherry and menthol on the nose. Very smooth, slightly sweet, and just a touch porty, tannins fully resolved. Overall quite good.

1996 vintage

Had for the first time today. Decent tasting cabernet but not long on finish. Not sure it was worth the $25 paid for the bottle.

2014 vintage

Very good for the money. Not the most complex but great drinking and well balanced. Never disappoints

2011 vintage

Needs to lay down longer

2014 vintage

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Clos du Val, Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District

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