Reserve Claret

2012
Reserve Claret

A heady mixture of smoke, fresh red berries, plum skin, Asian spices, and a wisp of mint and sage. A gorgeous perfume leads to a fleshy wine with fine tannins, a firm but fresh profile, and a tremendous amount of restraint. This wine is meant for ageing but has loads of fruit and would drink great early from a decanter.

Vintages

Varietal(s)

78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc, 11% Merlot

Vinification

Aged in 67% new and 33% once used French oak

Alcohol

14.5%

Cases Produced

225

Vintage Notes

The Reserve Claret is blended form a small subset of our most select barrels (Cabernet, Merlot and Cab Franc only). It undergoes a slightly cooler, slightly longer fermentation to achieve more compression, more density, more complexity. It also spends a little more time in barrel—19-21 months—to achieve the profile we’re looking for.

Expert Reviews & Scores

Jeb Dunnuck, Wine Advocate

93 / 100

I think more balanced than the Claret, the 210-case 2012 Columbia Valley Reserve checks in as a blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc and 11% Merlot that saw 20 months in 67% new French oak. It’s full-bodied, elegant and seamless, with lively notes of cassis, leafy herbs, spring flowers and licorice all showing in the bouquet. I love the purity of fruit here, and this is a classic Washington State Bordeaux blend that will have 15-20 years of longevity.

Harvey Steinman, Wine Spectator

91 / 100

Firm, focused, generous and expressive, layering cherry and red plum flavors with mineral and smoky earth notes, coming together with refinement on the solidly built finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Best after 2017. 225 cases made.

Sean Sullivan, Wine Enthusiast

90 / 100

This wine is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (78%), with the rest equal parts Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Aromas of barrel spice, cedar, green herbs and black fruit are followed by tightly coiled fruit and barrel flavors that need some time to settle in.

Trade Materials