Tasting Panel 96:
A wash of elegant liquid offers a whisper of sleek tannins guided by sweet earth, slate, purple plum, and black olive. Midpoint savory notes of fig, toasted cedar, and black tea meld with heather and blackberry on the well- structured and impeccably balanced palate.
And for the Wine Enthusiast, their #26 “Wine of the Year.”:
A mix of black fruits spun through with stimulating and flavorful spices fill the mouth with juicy and savory flavors. These are carried by a balance of acidity and fine-grained tannins into a mouthwatering and lengthy finish.
Outstanding for the Wine Advocate, too:
One of the more realistically priced Napa Cabs out there, Clos du Val's 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 5% Malbec, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Scents of black and red cherries, hints of violets and vanilla mark the nose, while the medium to full-bodied palate is silky and fresh, streamlined and classic in style.
No other top Napa Cabernet from the legendary “Class of ‘72” (Caymus, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, Diamond Creek, Spottswoode, Chateau Montelena, Cakebread, etc.) can still be found at anywhere near this price. And Clos du Val, having won the Judgment of Paris 10-year rematch (when all the wines were at their best) is arguably the most historic of them all!
