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: 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 5% Malbec, 1% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
This blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon with small percentages of the four other Bordeaux varieties is announced by a gallant entry of earth, roasted coffee, and minerality and enhanced by California sunshine. Notes of plum, licorice-coated cassis, and saddle leather are prominent on the midpalate. Dark chocolate and cedar define the determined yet poised finish.
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Wine Enthusiast
Seductive oak spices and a plush mouthfeel come with abundant red and black fruits in this full-bodied, appropriately tannic wine that needs time to reach its full potential. Pine and rosemary accents merge nicely with the blackberries and blueberries. Best from 2028–2038.
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James Suckling
Spiced and creamy character with ripe dark berries and a chocolate and bark undertone. Lots of cassis and floral notes. Medium- to full-bodied, polished and sleek with chalky texture and hints of graphite at the end. Lingering finish.
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Wine Spectator
There's a nice streak of warm earth and singed cedar running in lockstep with the core of cassis and gently mulled plum fruit, with savory and mineral accents checking in. Restrained in feel overall, with judicious toast that lets all the elements play out on the finish. Best from 2025 through 2036.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Clos du Val's 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 5% Malbec and 1% each Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Hints of thyme and sage accent cassis and cherries on the nose, while the medium to full-bodied palate is on the fresher, leaner side of that spectrum, framed by fine-grained tannins and finishing with a strong note of mocha. It's a solid, all-around effort at what is a realistic price for Napa Valley.
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.