2021 Matthews Royal Slope Claret

The term “Claret” derives from the Old French “clairet,” meaning “clear” or “light-colored,” originally referring to pale red or rosé-style wines from Bordeaux in medieval times. The name gained prominence after Eleanor of Aquitaine’s 1152 marriage to Henry II brought Bordeaux under English control for three centuries. During this period, vast quantities of Bordeaux wine were shipped to England, and the English anglicized “clairet” to “Claret,” making it their preferred term for these wines. Over time, as winemaking techniques evolved, the wines became darker and fuller-bodied, but the English continued using “Claret” to refer to red Bordeaux, the style we know today.

Though “Claret” traditionally refers to red wines from Bordeaux, the term has been adopted by premium New World producers to denote Bordeaux-style blends that honor this winemaking tradition. Matthews Claret reflects this heritage as a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant blend from Washington’s Columbia Valley, a region renowned for producing exceptional Bordeaux varietals. By using the name “Claret,” Matthews connects its wine to centuries of winemaking excellence while celebrating the Columbia Valley’s ability to craft world-class wines in the classic Bordeaux style.

These Cabernet Sauvignon–dominant blends are among the most beloved wines in the world. The classic combination of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot has long anchored the greatest cellars and restaurant lists. The style surged in Tuscany in the 1970s and in Napa during the 1990s for good reason. In the right hands, these varietals create texture, harmony, and depth that feel otherworldly.

The Columbia Valley is a gift to this tradition. Our region ripens each of these grapes in balance year after year. Its unique attributes reward winemaking teams who lean into creativity at the blending table. At Matthews, we are fortunate to work with these varietals across three of our most iconic AVAs, and the 2021 vintage proved nearly perfect for our flagship blend.

The 2021 Matthews Royal Slope Claret is a carefully composed expression of the Royal Slope AVA, drawing from several distinct vineyard parcels to highlight the depth, purity, and precision that define this growing region. Sourced from Solaksen, Stillwater Creek, and Scarline Vineyards, this Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant blend captures the diverse aromatic and structural range that Royal Slope fruit can deliver. These elevated, wind-influenced sites offer generous sunlight, well-drained soils, and natural concentration, allowing the blend to reflect both the power and finesse that are hallmarks of the AVA.

Vintage Weather Overview

The 2021 vintage across Washington State was marked by intensity and extremes. Winter provided below-average precipitation, leading to an early bud break in late March. Bloom arrived moderately early, unfolding under hot, windy conditions in late May and early June and resulting in small berries, compact clusters, and naturally low yields.

Veraison began ahead of schedule but completed on a more typical timeline. The defining event of the vintage, however, was the historic heat dome of late June, which shattered temperature records across every major growing region. These high temperatures accelerated sugar accumulation while delaying flavor and phenolic development, and acidity levels were lower than average throughout much of the season.

For those who waited, the fall rewarded patience. Cooler temperatures allowed flavors to deepen and mature while sugar accumulation plateaued, creating ideal conditions for balanced, concentrated red wines. Ultimately, the 2021 vintage produced red wines with strong varietal typicity, immense concentration, and exceptional structural integrity, a legacy that is distinctly evident in this Claret.

Harvest and Farming Practices

The vineyard parcels contributing to the 2021 Matthews Royal Slope Claret faced significant weather-related challenges during bloom, resulting in substantial shatter and even lower yields than anticipated. Despite this, the vines demonstrated remarkable resilience. Growers responded to the heat dome event with strategic canopy management, leaving increased leaf cover to shield clusters from extreme temperatures, and applying continuous drip irrigation to keep vines hydrated under severe stress.

Thanks to these efforts, the fruit that reached the winery was healthy and vibrant, with notable intensity due to the small berry size and reduced crop load. The winemaking team extended hang time at each site, pushing harvest well into October to allow full phenolic development. All fruit was hand-harvested during the cool early morning hours and hand-sorted upon arrival, ensuring that only pristine berries were used in the final wine.

Vinification

Each vineyard lot was treated individually to preserve its character and allow for maximum blending flexibility. After meticulous cluster sorting, destemming, and berry sorting, the fruit underwent a 48-hour cold soak to build color, enhance early structure, and develop aromatic complexity. Fermentation began with an initial inoculation using non-Saccharomyces yeast to increase texture and dimension, followed by the addition of a selected Saccharomyces yeast strain to complete fermentation under closely monitored temperatures.

Cap management was tailored to each lot, employing pump-overs, punch-downs, pulsed air, or a combination of all three techniques to achieve polished tannins and balanced extraction. Primary fermentation lasted about two weeks, after which each lot remained on skins for a full 30-day extended maceration to deepen texture and integrate tannins.

The wine was then transferred to 100 percent new French oak barrels sourced from a handful of prized cooperages. Once in barrel, the wine completed malolactic fermentation, softening the natural acidity and enhancing mouthfeel. After 21 months of cellaring, 13 barrels were selected for the final blend, representing eight clones across four Bordeaux varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon clones 2, 4, 191, and 337, Cabernet Franc clones 214 and 327, Malbec clone 4, and Merlot clone 15.

The wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered, preserving its purity, vibrancy, and intensity. Only 315 cases were produced.

Winemaker Tasting Note

“Concentrated garnet with aromatics of mountain blackberry, graphite, and gingersnap lead to flavors of cocoa, cherries, and chaparral. Lucious, palate-coating tannins combine with lengthy acidity on the long finish of cedar and aromatic bitters.” -Alex Stewart, Winemaker

PRAISE FOR THE 2021 MATTHEWS ROYAL SLOPE CLARET

“The amazing 2021 Matthews ‘Royal Slope Claret’ Red Wine is already drinking beautifully despite its youth. It comes off layered aromatically with baking spices, cocoa powder and shades of boysenberry puree on the nose. The palate is refined and smooth, showing good flavor density and solid underlying finesse. Flavors mocha, tar and black currants all meld together, finishing long with minerals, dark fruits and chocolate. Drink 2023-2036.”

95 points, Owen Bargreen, owenbargreen.com

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