Claret

2011
Claret

Elegant mixture of currants, strawberries and spice. Plums and plum skin weave underneath giving great depth. Red flowers creep in creating a soft plushness to the profile. The palate is round and soft with great texture and presence. Hints of chocolate and red berries resonate at the finish. Extremely silky and polished.

Vintages

Varietal(s)

68% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Malbec, 3% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc

Vinification

Fermented in 38% new and 62% used French oak for 19 months

Alcohol

14.4%

Cases Produced

1,522

Expert Reviews & Scores

  • Harvey Steinman, Wine Spectator

    90 / 100

    Bright and spicy, bristling with fine tannins around a zippy core of cherry, raspberry and clove flavors. A tobacco note adds interest to the finish. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2016 through 2019. 1,522 cases made.

    Sean Sullivan, Wine Enthusiast

    90 / 100

    The oak shows prominently on this blend of Merlot (68%), Cabernet Sauvignon (21%), Malbec (7%), Petit Verdot (3%) and Cabernet Franc. It leads with notes of barrel spices, green herbs and blackberry. The palate is full and rich, with dry tannins that need time to stretch their legs.

    Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate

    90 / 100

    A beautiful wine, the 2011 Claret offers up a medium to full-bodied, supple and elegant profile to go with impressive notes of dark berry fruits, spice box, hints of graphite and crushed flowers. A blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc that spent 19 months in 30% new French oak, it’s a serious, seamlessly put together wine that blossoms in the glass, has integrated acidity and fine tannin that emerges on the finish. Due to the cooler year, the blend here was tweaked slightly to include more Merlot, as the Cabernet didn’t achieve the desired level of ripeness. It should drink well for 10 to 12 years, if not longer.

  • Stephen Tanzer, Vinous

    90 / 100

    Full, bright, deep red. Sexy aromas of black raspberry, mocha, licorice, tar and tobacco. At once smooth and tight-grained, with intense black fruit-dominated flavors showing very good grip. Carries nicely on the finish, which features broad tannins, firm acidity and suave oak treatment. I like this style.

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