Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Clajeux Vineyard comes from vines planted in 1999, and the grapes were harvested on September 3. Matured for 22 months in used French oak, it has pure, nuanced aromas of red and black cherries and currants, mint chocolate, tobacco, violet and garrigue. The palate is light-bodied and delicately styled. It offers concentrated, perfumed flavors despite its modest, 12% alcohol. It’s structured by silky tannins and bright, juicy acidity and has a long, fragrant finish.
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Vinous
The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Clajeux Vineyard is so appealing. Medium in body and perfumed, the 2022 is aromatically expressive and nicely layered. Blue/purplish fruit, spice, lavender, mocha and gravel all build in the glass. The Clajeux is a bit lighter than most years, but the signatures are there. This is very nicely done.
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.