2020Royal Slope Claret
2020Royal Slope Claret
The 2020 Matthews Royal Slope Claret comes from Solaksen vineyard within the Royal Slope AVA. After hand-harvesting in the early fall mornings, the fruit was hand-sorted and fermented using both stainless-steel tanks and French oak barrels. The free-run juice was aged in French oak (40% new) for 20 months. Bottling took place in June of 2022, resulting in only 568 cases.
This Cabernet Sauvignon dominant blend possesses a dark ruby color and aromas of crushed blueberry, vanilla bean, boxwood and clay. The palate shows dark fruit flavors of black currant, balanced by a blood orange brightness. The mouthfeel is full bodied with good structure. On the finish, river rock, coffee grounds and cassis linger.
60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Cabernet Franc, 12% Malbec, 8% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot
Awards & Accolades
"The outstanding 2020 Matthews ‘Royal Slope Claret’ Red Wine combines 60% Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parts Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Soft and round on the mouth, this delivers bulls blood and iodine tones that combine with cedar, chocolate and copious dark fruit flavors. Really good now, with refined tannins and good underlying freshness, enjoy over the next ten plus years. Drink 2022-2032."
-93 points, Owen Bargreen, owenbargreen.com
AVAs
Royal Slope
Royal Slope
- Designated
- 2020
- Vineyards
- 1,900 acres (768 hectares)
- Top Varieties
- Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc
- Average Annual Precipitation
- 6-8 inches
- Soil
- Sandy loam, soil
- Average Vine Age
- 14yrs
