Winemaker Notes
This fresh and vibrant Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is brimming with aromas of blackberry, mulberry, cassis, and violet. On the palate, bright flavors of cranberry, red plum, cherry, and lavender are intertwined with supple tannins, balanced acidity, and a long, smooth finish.
Blend: 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 5% Malbec, 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
A wash of elegant liquid offers a whisper of sleek tannins guided by sweet earth, slate, purple plum, and black olive. Midpoint savory notes of fig, toasted cedar, and black tea meld with heather and blackberry on the well- structured and impeccably balanced palate.
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James Suckling
Fresh and nicely framed aromas of red currants, stone and sweet tobacco. Medium-bodied with open-grained tannins and a creamy finish. Crunchy fruit. A blend of 77% cabernet sauvignon, 12% merlot, 5% malbec, 4% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot. Very drinkable now, but can improve with age.
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Wine Enthusiast
A mix of black fruits spun through with stimulating and flavorful spices fill the mouth with juicy and savory flavors. These are carried by a balance of acidity and fine-grained tannins into a mouthwatering and lengthy finish.
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Decanter
A straightforward, unfussy Napa Cabernet, the 2022 Clos du Val is a juicy, red-and-black-fruited wine framed by graphite and new wood cedar. Medium-bodied, with featherweight tannins, it offers a smooth, easy-drinking texture, balanced by a decent grip on the short finish. This is an accessible, easygoing red, ready to enjoy right at the pull of the cork, with a solid drinking window of 5–7 years.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
One of the more realistically priced Napa Cabs out there, Clos du Val's 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 5% Malbec, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Scents of black and red cherries, hints of violets and vanilla mark the nose, while the medium to full-bodied palate is silky and fresh, streamlined and classic in style.
One of the most prestigious wines of the world capable of great power and grace, Napa Valley Cabernet is a leading force in the world of fine, famous, collectible red wine. Today the Napa Valley and Cabernet Sauvignon are so intrinsically linked that it is difficult to discuss one without the other. But it wasn’t until the 1970s that this marriage came to light; sudden international recognition rained upon Napa with the victory of the Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon in the 1976 Judgement of Paris.
Cabernet Sauvignon undoubtedly dominates Napa Valley today, covering half of the land under vine, commanding the highest prices per ton and earning the most critical acclaim. Cabernet Sauvignon’s structure, acidity, capacity to thrive in multiple environs and ability to express nuances of vintage make it perfect for Napa Valley where incredible soil and geographical diversity are found and the climate is perfect for grape growing. Within the Napa Valley lie many smaller sub-AVAs that express specific characteristics based on situation, slope and soil—as a perfect example, Rutherford’s famous dust or Stags Leap District's tart cherry flavors.