Clos du Val, Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, Napa Valley

This drank great! Aged old school Cali cab. I was thinking it would be done for…

1997 vintage

Had a much younger profile for a 40 year old wine. Would have guessed half that. Dark red, big nose. Still a bit of smooth tannin, but elegantly resolved. Needed 20 minutes to open, but once it did it had forward juicy cherry notes, and a complex, round body.

1985 vintage

One-hour decant through a screened and aerating funnel. Muted cassis aromas during decant. The cork disintegrated, so the screen was especially needed. Some sediment in the screen and affixed in the bottle. Wine was clear; dark ruby bowl lightening slightly to a lighter ruby rim with a very thin clear halo. No amber or orange on the rim. After resting, nose had opened up to a nose of currants, earth and quartz. In the mouth: tannins gone but the wine …

1997 vintage

Appearance: Clear, deep intensity, garnet color, medium (+) garnet tears. Nose: Clean, medium intensity, fully developed. Aromas: Blackcurrant, vanilla, clove, licorice, tobacco, cedar, leather and black pepper. Palate: Dry, medium (+) acidity, medium tannin, medium (+) alcohol, full body, creamy mousse, pronounced flavor intensity. Flavor (see Aromas). Finish: Medium (+). Conclusion: Very good quality, premium price category, ready to drink and drink now or in next couple of years.

2009 vintage

This was a magnum and it held up wonderfully. Still plenty of fruit and the balance was perfect. This was John Clews first vintage as head winemaker and he created a gem with this one.

1999 vintage

1975 cool year until 7-8 November. Still have nice dark fruit. Evolving nice Casis at first and after 30 minutes, tannins over powering. Fruit brighter now after fresh pour. Blackberry. Some earthy notes. Bright.

1975 vintage

Deep purple. Nose of flint, currant, cinnamon. Palette: medium acidity, stewed prunes, dark cherry, fully integrated.

1997 vintage

P&P. great bottle that needed to sit for 10 mins in the glass to sing. Bordeaux structure with California fruit. showed some tertiary notes and good freshness. great now but still a lot of life

1997 vintage

I’m sensitive to the cork so this smelled corked to me (curious if other’s experienced this) after decanting for a few mins but not upon opening the bottle, had scent of cola and blueberry. Taste reminds me a bit of burgundy, light but dry. Fruit notes but subtle. Very muted compared to modern cabs. If I had to blind taste would have gotten it wrong! Would not suggest aging any longer.

1997 vintage

This wine is a deep garnet in color with a high level of intensity. The nose is composed of petrol, black cherries, strawberries, caramel, cedar, coffee grounds, walnut, prune, tar, forest floor, game, dried oregano, meat, and it' nutty. This wine is fully developed and has a pronounced intensity of flavor. The palate is consistent with the nose in every way. The acid is medium(-), tannins are medium(-), ABV is medium, the body is medium(+), and the finish is long. …

1997 vintage

I was waiting for it to lose its bite, but now it seems like an old dog with no teeth.

2001 vintage

Drinking pretty well after a short 30 min decant. Very classic Napa sunshine fruit flavors. Thankfully the wine is not too full flavor or over the top which I feel is a problem some Napa wines from 1997 have. Should have no problem holding for at least 5 more years but I think it is at a good place to drink. For people who are used to drinking young bold Napa Cabs it might feel light but it is quite …

1997 vintage

A simple but solid beautiful aged Napa CAB! Nice floral minimal sediment. Lucious ruby red from a great pedigree.

1997 vintage

Still holding on.

1997 vintage

Earth, minerality, berries. Extraordinary balance. Great subtle tannins. I love this wine. But. $120? Seems a bit too high priced even being so good.

2009 vintage

We took this with us to dinner at Bistro Jeanty in Yountville. Had it opened and decanted. Shared a bottle of Montrachet before diving into the Clos Du Val. Was worried about the age. The cork broke. No off aromas, smelled good. Had a taste soon after opening. First taste, lots of fruit. This wine was really interesting. As the dinner progressed it grew from a fruit forward medium finish to a very big long intense tannin finish. I liked …

2001 vintage

very nice wine not a big fruit bomb lie so many CA cabs subtle nose big flavor dark fruit licorice it was a little past its prime which surprised me yet still a nice treat for a 17 year old bottle

2001 vintage

Camphor and plum on the nose. On the palate, black cherry, blackberry, currants, and notes of vanilla and earth, with light tannins and good acidity on the medium finish. This was excellent, and right in its drinking window - the Cellartracker window is much too short. Excellent value at a bit over $50.

1999 vintage

Tasted at Clos Du Val today, nose of blackberry, black cherry, mocha, olive and forest floor, more of the same on the palate, big body, smoothest red wine tasted today, hints of future elegance, tasty but subdued fruit, needs 5 years to peak, very soft tannins in the background, enjoyed for 30 minutes, long, long finish, and it is available in 750 ml bottles instead of magnums for the first time.

2010 vintage

Decanted magnum for New Years Eve. After sitting for an hour the wine was poured. Very velvety, subtle - great aged Bordeaux style, but with a hint of stronger California fruit. Impressed and lived up to our expectations.

1999 vintage

Lovely old Cabernet that kept improving over two hours.

2001 vintage

Stood it up for 24 hours and then opened and immediately decanted. Notes of tobacco, ground stone, milk chocolate and perhaps tar and leather. Let it sit for 2 hours before tasting. Still lots of rd and dark fruit but somewhat difficult to decompose into the individual components IMO, very Bordeaux like with some soft tannins. I think this is close to peaking if not already there. I've had several of these of different vintages over the years no they …

1997 vintage

I was worried about the age of this wine, but it was in the sweet spot for drinking. Very robust.

1997 vintage

The one bottle I had was gifted to me maybe 10 years ago by a friend. It remained in my cellar at 57 degrees Fahrenheit since and I opened it tonight to complement a steak. I had already consumed two glasses of an inexpensive but robust syrah, so my palate had already seen something bold. On opening this bottle I decanted it. Color: deep purple, garnet, no hints of amber at the edges. Nose was profound with hints of tobacco, …

1997 vintage

Power packed but with lifted elegant fruit.

2010 vintage

By the glass selection at Bern in Tampa. Surprisingly still ruby and young in appearance. Very smooth and well rounded. Cherry fruit and a touch of herb and earth. Not overly complex but pleasant to drink.

1985 vintage

Best cab I've had in a long time. Glad I waited.

2001 vintage

Decanted for 1 hour. Very Bordeaux like in its balance of ripe fruit and earth notes. Light on its feet but with a bit of a tannic and acidic grip. This wine will probably not improve from here but could hold and drink fairly well for a number of years.

1999 vintage

Cork was toast, so pushed and filtered. Smelled of game and forest floor initially, but after 90 minutes in the decanter, this started to quickly improve. Enjoyed with a nice filet, and by the end of dinner, the last glass was actually quite good. Perhaps I was not expecting as much (it is a Clos dul Val after all…). Certainly a fine example of a 20-30 year old Napa cab from a solid year.

1985 vintage

Rich and still lively red fruit with fading acidity. Very food friendly with smoothed out tannins.

1997 vintage

Still drinking well, big bodied, soft, almost voluptuous.

1997 vintage

Rich and saucy on the nose, with black cherries, some coffee, pencil shavings and loamy soil. Tart red and black currants on the palate, grippy tannins, medium+ bodied, but an almost crunchy feeling from the tangy fruit and fresh acid. Notes of coffee, pepper and cedar shavings add complexity. Some mushroom, fallen leaves and cherry wood come out with time. Finishes long with notes of loam, granite and toasted oak, but it stays tangy. 100% Cabernet, aged 26 months in …

2010 vintage

Judgement of Chicago (Nomi) : Tasted blind. Classic Bordeaux nose. Would have guessed French. Initial attack was fairly good, but picked up intensity through the mid-palate. Strong black licorice notes. Very exotic. This was the surprise of the night for me. Compared to the rest of the wines and the price points, this was the best value.

2001 vintage

Excellent Wine. Dark Purple no discoloration or signs of age. Slight sediment and cork was still perfect. Oak/Dust and dark fruit on the nose. Well integrated wine with slight tannins and acidity still left but overall the fruit was still present and did was full of rich dark fruit. Glad we waited to open this one.

2001 vintage

- Brick color and aromas of black currant and tobacco and has flavours of black currant and tobacco with a medium/full body. Satin-Like texture with a long finish.

1997 vintage

From magnum. Decanted two hours and consumed over the next two. This was a little closed at first but benefited from aeration. Medium-light rosewood color, not showing any bricking. Bordelais nose of oil, leather, black fruit and thyme. On the palate this is perfectly mature, with a graceful mix of fruit, wood and spice flavors. The tannins have totally softened. If only all California Cabernets aged like this for 30 years! This is drinking wonderfully right now and probably won't …

1985 vintage

At Clos Du Val, nose of cassis, dark fruit, and earth, more of the same on the palate, medium soft tannins on the mid palate, very smooth and supple, medium body, long finish, should improve.

2009 vintage

Intense nose and still full of ripe fruit and herbal notes. The tannins and acidity have softened, but there is still plenty going on to make this a perfect bottle to celebrate a special occasion. Everyone loved it. That said, drink soon. This has already peaked and will not get any better with additional time in the bottle.

1999 vintage

Tasted at the winery, nose of rich dark fruit, more of the same on the palate, touch of bitters and tannin, very smooth and supple while tasting, medium body, long finish, needs three years in the cellar to peak.

2009 vintage

Great bottle - enjoyed it very much. Have one left and will hold onto it for a bit more to see what happens.

2001 vintage

Tasted at Clos Du Val today, the $120 price is a bummer, nose of rich earth, mocha, dark fruit, and Sumatra Coffee, more of the same on the palate, structured, well balanced, almost elegant, peaks in 2 years and last for twenty years, very tasty, easy to sip and enjoy, long/long finish.

2009 vintage

Sampled at the winery. Very good, but I think the 2009 Stag's Leap District Cab was better, and less expensive! Comprised on 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, and 4% Merlot. Richy textured blackberry, coffee, cherry, and earthy flavors. Sweet tannins. Nice finish.

2009 vintage

with fred's steak, still has life, but i would drink it now, as it is waning. nice acid

2001 vintage

Nothing formal but tend to agree with the others, great nose and very silky smooth. This wine is not at the end of it's time and is still very fresh.

1997 vintage

Dark ruby color. An abundance of herbs, earth, cocoa, oak and cherry. Long finish. Seems to have aged nicely and could probably go a few more years but is very good right now. Solid!

2001 vintage

Remarkable for it's age. Decanted 3 hours. Found it still very flavorful. Distinctive fruit flavors. Bordeaux like. Even better overnight.x

1997 vintage

Went up against an '02 Malescot and barely edged it out. This wine didn't taste french to me like so many people have mentioned as well as the winery itself. I wouldn't say it's a great wine either, except for the dark fruit that hits you. Kinda reminded like a Howell Mtn wine. Can go a few more years.

2001 vintage

Remarkable nose. Leather, spice and dark berries. Decanted needed time to open. Not a pop and pour. Developed a complex palate.

1997 vintage

Very light in flavor. Little fruit left. Some blackberry. Holding its color. Probably 5+ years past its prime. Still fun for the price.

1997 vintage

Rounder and smooth silky. Very Montrose like with nice red berries and superb length. Young and fresh. Superbly round

1985 vintage

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Clos du Val, Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, Napa Valley

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