Winemaker Notes
The Clajeux Vineyard is located on a steep volcanic hillside overlooking a secluded valley in the Chalk Hill region of Sonoma County. This geologically complex area is made up of countless ridges and valleys that form the terrain separating Knights Valley to the East from the Russian River Valley to the West. This beautiful and rugged site is surrounded by native oak and madrone trees that, along with the vines, thrive in the combination of well-drained, rocky volcanic soil and cooling afternoon breezes sweeping in from the Russian River Valley below. The vines at Clajeux, formerly called Wild Iris Vineyard, were planted in 1999 by Don and Carolyn Vogt, who saw the amazing potential of this site for growing world-class Cabernet Sauvignon. Since 2003, Arnot-Roberts have worked with the same 14 rows in this vineyard, and have found that this fruit yields their most elegant Cabernet, with incredible depth of color, varietal flavor, and refined, streamlined tannins and acidity. The wines from this site seem the most approachable in their youth out of our three Cabernet vineyards, but still possess the framework for long-term cellaring. Clajeux vineyard has played a central role in their winery for over 15 years and they look forward to growing and learning more from this meaningful site for Cabernet Sauvignon in Sonoma County for years to come.
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.
A Sonoma sub-appellation whose boundaries cover the northeastern corner of the Russian River Valley AVA, the Chalk Hill growing area is named after its unique chalky and white, volcanic ash soils. This terrain has proven successful with white varieties, namely Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc.