Production Notes
| Grape Source: |
17 acres, Napa Valley, Hillside, Single Vineyard, Certified Sustainable |
| Varietal Content: |
Estate Cabernet |
| Fermentation: |
14.7% |
| Aging: |
Barrel fermented & aged for 2 years in 80% new French Oak |
| Winemaking Team: |
Jean Hoefliger |
| Vineyard Management: |
Tom Clark & Josh Clark; Clark Vineyard Management |
| GM & Marketing: |
Laurie Claudon |
| Photography/Special Projects: |
Briana Clark Forgie |
| Production (cases): |
125 |
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2017 arrived with abundant winter rains that refreshed the groundwater supplies and filed our reservoir to overflowing. The cool, gentle spring that followed assured readiness for the warm temperatures and occasional heat events of the summer. 2017 again taught us that “picture perfect” is determined by the end- product not just what the season has to offer. With Tom and Josh Clark managing the vineyard, winemaker Jean Hoefliger in the winery and wine in barrel by mid-September, we were celebrating another exciting vintage.
TASTING NOTES
Opulent in every way beginning with a dark garnet-purple color & abundant dark fruit, cassis & chocolate on the nose. Following is mouth filling texture and depth as layers of aromas and expansive flavors of dark and blue fruit unfold with hints of black olives & tobacco all wrapped in chocolate notes. The 2017 Estate is a dance on your palate that ends with a long satisfying finish. This medium to full bodied wine has the richness, concentration and backbone to assure a long, beautiful life!
REVIEWS
"Deep garnet-purple colored…features gregarious crème de cassis, blueberry preserves and chocolate box notes with suggestions of black olives, tree bark and tobacco plus a hint of charcoal. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is tightly knit and expressive, with bags of black and blue fruits and firm, ripe, grainy tannins, finishing with lovely freshness and great length. " 91 pts. — Wine Advocate
"All from hillside fruit… beautiful, outstanding effort… With medium to full-bodied richness, plenty of mid-palate depth and concentration and a great finish. It’s ideal for drinking any time over the coming 10-15 years." 91 pts. — Jeb Dunnuck
The two reds from this estate are brilliant. The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon comes all from the estate vineyard on the east side of Howell Mountain and was barrel fermented and aged in 80% new French oak. It has a beautiful nose of black cherries, blackberries, pine forest, and dried flowers. This carries to a medium to full-bodied, balanced, nicely concentrated Cabernet that has loads of fruit, good density, and enough ripe tannins to keep it going strong for 15+ years. — Jeb Dunnuck
Bacchus & Beery Wine Blog
A consistently exciting 100% Howell Mountain Estate Cabernet with intense red color and a bouquet of dark fruit, plum, black cherry, spice and saddle leather. The palate will be intrigued with flavors of blackberry, black cherry and dark spice. Solid yet approachable tannins with balanced acidity and a long finish of dark chocolate with hints of espresso. Give it an hour to open in the decanter for the full experience
Robert M. Parker's Wine Advocate # 204 Dec 2012
Plums, menthol and spices are some of the notes that emerge from Clark-Claudon’s 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon. This is an especially soft, supple Cabernet that appears best suited for drinking over the next few years. Sweet, silky tannins frame an attractive, floral-infused finish. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2017.
Robert M. Parker's Wine Advocate # 198 Dec 2011
The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon is an attractive wine laced with sweet grilled herbs, dark cherries, plums, espresso and tobacco. It shows plenty of nuance and delineation. The mid-weight structure suggests it is best enjoyed over the next handful of years. The 2008 spent two years in French oak, 65% new. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2018.
Vintage 2008 was not an easy one for Clark-Caudon. The estate lost 50% of their crop during the spring frost. The resulting wine, though, is fabulous.
Just broke open your 2008 Estate Cab...nothing short of spectacular! It's very seldom you find this level of mastery in a 100% Cab varietal...that you're able to extract such wonderous complexity from it is a testimony to your passion and incredible skill. Bravo gentlemen! I am your eternal advocate from here on out! :)
— Robert Ruffin, Georgia
Bacchus & Beery Wine Blog
Just an excellent Cabernet from Clark-Claudon Vineyards and the winemaking team of Frederic Delivert and Jean Hoefliger (Alpha Omega Winery). A medium-bodied and elegant Howell Mountain wine from a tough growing year where a late spring frost claimed 50% of the fruit. The wine opens with a rich nose of black cherry enhanced with notes of cedar. The palate is caressed with black cherry, blackberry, cedar and ripe plum supported by integrated tannins and food friendly acidity. Give this lovely a couple of hours to fully express her depth as the notes of cedar give way to softer flavors of chocolate, espresso and cigar box.
Robert M. Parker's Wine Advocate # 192 Dec 2010
This estate's super-impressive Cabernet Sauvignons seemed to go through a listless, but brief period, but the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate marks a resurrection in quality. Its dense ruby/purple color is accompanied by notes of grilled herbs, wood, creme de cassis, chocolate and espresso. This full-bodied effort cuts a hedonistic as well as velvety swath across the palate. With terrific texture, density and length, it is the best wine they have made in a long time, perhaps the best ever.
Robert M. Parker's Wine Advocate # 186 Dec 2009
This family-owned vineyard in the northeast mountains of Napa Valley has produced a sensational 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate. Its dense ruby/purple hue is followed by a Pauillac-like perfume of spice box, cedar, black currants, and subtle background oak. The wine is full-bodied with sweet but noticeable tannins, and a savory, expansive mouthfeel. Drink this beauty now and over the next 15-20 years.
IntoWine
This is a fantastic wine. A Napa cab has to be really good for me to like it and Clark-Claudon hits the mark. This wine was sent to me as part of my California Wine Club Signature Series shipment and kudos to them for including such a fantastic, small-lot producer like Clark-Claudon in their club. This wine runs about $50-$75 and later vintages are in the $80 range so it is not inexpensive by any means. Part of the price is due to the so-called "Napa premium" as wines from Napa tend to garner premium prices because of the region's reputation for superior vineyards and winemaking. But if you want to try a fine Napa cabernet and are willing to splurge a bit, Clark-Claudon is worth checking out.
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