Skip to the main content

2014Reserve Claret

Get early access and a peek behind the scenes

Join Our Mailing List

2014Reserve Claret

Sold Out

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.

Tasting Notes

Smoky raspberry, spice and vanilla bean over plum skin, black currant and strawberry puree. Dense and tightly wound with impeccable purity and presence. The palate is ripe fresh with compacted tannins restraining the dark fruit. This long and elegantly compressed with hints of red berries and kola nut carrying through the finish. Allow this wine to breathe in its youth or give it a few years for full enjoyment.

Food Pairing Recommendations

Ribeye, coq au vin, duck, braised lamb, cassoulet, steak frites or Alaskan Salmon.

Varietal Composition

68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc

Alcohol

15.0%

Cases Produced

678

Drinkability

Now-2023

Awards & Accolades

"Balanced and precise in focus, with plum and sandalwood aromas and complex currant and spice flavors that build tannins toward a polished finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2023. 678 cases made."

91 points, Tim Fish, Wine Spectator

"A step up over the straight Claret release, the 2014 Reserve Claret (68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc) has more finesse and elegance, with lots of blackcurrants, plum, licorice, toasted spice and graphite aromas and flavors. Rich, full-bodied, fresh and elegant, with terrific purity and length, it's going to keep for 15+ years."

93 points, Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate

"Bright ruby-red. Musky dark chocolate complements aromas of cassis and licorice. Like the Cabernet Sauvignon, this is densely packed but a bit youthfully compressed in the early going (Morell mentioned the rather cool maximum fermentation temperature of 80 degrees F.) But this tight, backward blend boasts terrific precision that presages a graceful evolution in bottle. And even today there's nothing hard about it."

93 points, Stephen Tanzer, Vinous

"The black-olive and dark-berry character is impressive with an understated rust and tile character. Full body, firm tannins and a juicy finish."

92 points, James Suckling, jamessuckling.com

AVAs

Red Mountain

Map Red Mountain 3 2
Designated
2001
Vineyards
2,382 acres (963 hectares)
Top Varieties
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Average Annual Precipitation
5 inches
Soil
Silt, sand, volcanic basalt
Average vine age
22yrs
Learn More

Past VintagesExplore the Reserve Claret Vintages

Left Arrow