Winemaker Notes
Although 2009 was quite temperate, late October was warm and sunny which allowed the Merlot blocks to achieve our desired level of ripeness and intensity. 2009 is the first vintage that we have incorporated a few barrels of a new block of clone 3 Merlot (named in honor of our vineyard manager David Orozco) into the claret blend, along with the stalwart Lower Mountain Top Merlot (also clone 3) and Rock Arch Cabernet Sauvignon that have traditionally comprised this cuvée. The results are heavenly, with unctuous notes of red plum, currant, coffee, dark chocolate and wild huckleberry. The texture is all silkiness on the palate, building to a crescendo of concentrated fruit and a velvety tannin structure. An authentic claret, this wine is truly more than the sum of its parts.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The Merlot-based 2009 Claret Reserve is gorgeous. Juicy dark cherries, tobacco, smoke and cloves jump out of the glass. The Merlot gives the wine much of its suppleness, while the Cabernet adds the structure and pure mountain tannin. Even with all of its richness, the 2009 remains light on its feet for such a big wine. The 2009 boasts striking balance and tons of harmony. The blend is two-thirds Merlot and one-third Cabernet Sauvignon. Naturally, the Claret doesn't have the personality of the estate's variety wines, but it is c
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Connoisseurs' Guide
63% Merlot; 37% Cabernet Sauvignon. It may be principally comprised of Merlot, and it is, in fact, very long on outgoing, optimally ripened fruit, but this fleshy, full-bodied wine is structured more along sturdy Cabernt lines and is one whose best clearly lies years ahead. Its showy beginnings and obvious richness are reasons enough to believe in its future, but only with time will its tannic toughness abate and all of its many pieces coalesce.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
Reaching up California's coastline and into its valleys north of San Francisco, the North Coast AVA includes six counties: Marin, Solano, Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino and Lake. While Napa and Sonoma enjoy most of the glory, the rest produce no shortage of quality wines in an intriguing and diverse range of styles.
Climbing up the state's rugged coastline, the chilly Marin County, just above the City and most of Sonoma County, as well as Mendocino County on the far north end of the North Coast successfully grow cool-climate varieties like Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and in some spots, Riesling. Inland Lake County, on the other hand, is considerably warmer, and Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Sauvignon Blanc produce some impressive wines with affordable price tags.