Living in today vs. yesterday, we forget how far technology has brought us in wine-making. Some would say it is for the good; some hold that the old ways were better. If you think back fifty years ago, Californian wine-making was at the beginning of modern wine history. Robert Mondavi led the charge with varietal wines; certain areas were discovered that grew different types of grapes better than others by trial and error, and technology in pruning, trellising, fertilizers, and irrigation were being explored. And yet those were the Stone Age compared to today, with automated drones flying above the vines with thermal infrared cameras checking hydration, disease, and pest damage. Or, an optical grape sorter that uses a computer that will blow unwanted grapes off the sorting table with a blast of air. The use of AI is just getting started, already present in the form of mapping vines and sensors that assess soil conditions and water needs for the grapes. As wine lovers, we are always nostalgic for older vintages, the history of vineyards, and the past reputation of wineries. I believe wine producers that will have success in the future are those that can combine a long history of great wine with the foresight to adapt to modern demands of quality through modern technology.

Clos du Val has the history and pedigree. The winery was established in 1972 by an American businessman and prolific patron of the arts, John Goelet. At the time, he owned The Satmar Company, one of Europe’s largest oyster companies, and the inventor of clam farming. But John had wine in his blood. A descendant of Bordeaux’s famed wine merchant, Barton & Guestier, John had a vision of producing Cabernet Sauvignon that would rival the world’s best. So, the Goelet family tasked talented French-born winemaker Bernard Portet with finding vineyard land anywhere in the world capable of producing a world-class Cabernet Sauvignon. Anywhere in the world, except for France, to make Bordeaux-style wines. Bernard was well suited to find the next home for great wine; his father was a technical director at Château Lafite Rothschild. Bernard grew up tasting vintages yearly from this famous winery and other classified Bordeaux.

Two years and five continents later, Bernard found himself exploring Napa Valley for sites suitable for great Bordeaux-style wine. Driving south on the Silverado Trail in a rental with a broken air conditioner, Bernard had the windows down and his arm out the window. He noticed at a certain point the temperature dropped as he drove southward (cooler temperatures he preferred for his style of balanced wines). This was in the southern part of the valley near the site of present-day Clos du Val (small vineyard estate of a small valley), which became the Stags Leap District of Napa Valley, the smallest AVA in the Napa Valley. Perfect daytime weather, cool nights, ideal soils, and maritime influences from the bay that was ideal for growing Cabernet Sauvignon. With Bernard’s guidance, the Goelet family purchased 150 acres of vineyards in the Stags Leap District. It was here that Bernard and John started the now renowned Clos du Val winery, with its first vintage of Cabernet Sauvignon released in 1972. They were bucking the California trend of big forward fruit and high-alcohol wine by making Clos du Val wines in the classic Bordelaise style, balanced, complex, and food-friendly. A style that continues today at Clos du Val.

Clos du Val’s first vintage, 1972, was one of only several Cabernet Sauvignon wines selected for the now historic famous Judgment of Paris tasting of 1976. Although Clos du Val placed 8th among the judges in the first California Cabernet Sauvignon vs. red Bordeaux tasting, of which there were ten entries, 5 of which were from the Napa Valley. Ten years later, in 1986, the same wine, Clos du Val 1972, took first place in a rematch of the original 1976 Judgement of Paris with the same wines, beating out some very famous, expensive wines, including Ridge Monet Bello, Montrose, and Mouton Rothschild.

Today, Clos du Val is still family-owned and run by John’s grandson Olave Goelet. Clos Du Val farms 225 acres of estate vineyards in the Stags Leap District (fun fact: Clos du Val owns 10% of Stags Leap AVA) and Yountville appellations. They continues to craft wines of balance and complexity, showcasing the fruit from the outstanding terroir on which the estate lies. Clos du Val has continued to go through change, all for the better. Revitalization began a few years before the 2014 vintage when Clos du Val began making wines exclusively from its estate vineyards. To make this decision a reality, the winery cut production in half (90,000 cases to 35,000 cases), lowered yields, and focused on vine balance and harvested fruit riper. They renovated the winery, added a small-tank fermentation room, invested in a new barrel program, switched to guaranteed TCA-free corks for all wines and built a stunning new visitor center. They focus on quality to create some of the best wines out of Napa Valley. The bottom line is the wines are guaranteed to be stellar, and the critical reviews reflect that. Clos du Val was created as a wine with pedigree owner and consultants in the best-growing region in Napa, winning international awards. Not to rest on their laurels, they have recently hired winemaker Carmel Greenberg, formally with Cakebread, Buccella, and most recently, Dominus Estate. Clos du Val has an eye on the future by decreasing volume, increasing quality, and taking advantage of innovative wine-making. It can’t get any better than this.

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% Petite Verdot

18 months in French oak, 66% new.

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. Wine Enthusiast 94 pts

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. James Suckling 93 pts

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) is fabulous. Rich and sumptuous to the core, the 2021 will be a very easy wine to drink now and over the next decade or so. Succulent dark cherry/plum, spice, rose petal and mocha are all dialed up. Silky tannins wrap it all together in style. Vinous 92 pts

Clos du Val Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Clos du Val wines are an old friend of Yankee Spirits and, I'm sure, a well-known friend to most of you. It is a major component of any wine list because it is so food-friendly and a beacon of quality since its inception over 50 years ago. My seasoned tasting panel (us old guys) was impressed by how well the wine showed—a dark, inky pour of deep garnet in color. The evolving nose showed soft, deep, dark fruit of blackberry and violets. On the palate, we found layered, complex fruit, plum, blackberry pie, orange pekoe tea, and spice. Great dimension and grip balanced by good acids and fine tannins with a long lingering dark cherry finish. A wine that is a true joy to drink that reminds you of its high-class pedigree. Don't miss this one.

Regular Price: $54.99

*Sale Price is on 3 or more bottles

Wine is packed in a 6-bottle case

*Wine pricing for these wine promotions are held for two weeks after the email offer.

We can hold wines in unpaid reserves for two weeks to allow you time to pick up your wine. If it takes you longer than that to pick up your wines, give us a call, and we can process your wine and move it to paid reserves.

Orders must be done by replying to this email. The reason is that I need to keep control of the inventory in one central spot. Emailing or calling your favorite wine geek at one of our four stores may not get your orders in on time to be counted or processed and this creates a helter-skelter for us to get you the wine. For the same reason, ordering on our online Web Store is linked to our regular price, and this sale price is only offered on the email platform. It is also why it takes me some time to respond due to the deluge of orders that I sometimes get. We haven't reached the efficiency or volume of Amazon yet. Thank you in advance for your patience.

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From our family at Yankee Spirits to your family and friends, we wish you a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and an incredible New Year. Thank you for a fabulous 2023, and we look forward to serving you in 2024.

Cheers!

—John Hannum, Fine & Rare Wine Specialist

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