Dec 30, 2022
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Clos Du Val Winery
| Owner(s) | Goelet Wine Estates |
| Web site | www.closduval.com |
| Link to this site |
Located in the Stag's Leap District of Napa Valley, Clos Du Val dates to 1970 when American businessman John Goelet enlisted French-born winemaker Bernard Portet to find a territory for producing world-class wines. Portet recommended Napa Valley and Goelet acquired 150 acres of land, founding Clos Du Val ("small estate of a small valley") in 1972. The following year, Clos Du Val became one of the first wineries to stake a claim in Carneros, purchasing 180 acres. Bernard Portet was Vice Chairman and was joined by Chief Operating Officer, John Clews.
Clews reinvented the Pinot Noir program when he joined the winery in 1999, directing the replanting of Carneros vineyards using new clones and rootstocks and instituting sustainable agriculture and viticultural techniques.
Cos du Val has continued to go through change. The winery in 2017 is guided by President and CEO Steve Tamburelli and Director of Operations Jon-Mark Chappellet (both formerly of Chappellet Winery) and Winemaker Ted Henry. Revitalization began a few years prior to 2014 and continued in the 2014 vintage, when Clos du Val began exclusively making wines from its own estate vineyards. To make this decision a reality, the winery cut production in half, lowered yields and focused on vine balance, harvested fruit riper, renovated the winery adding a small-tank fermentation room, invested in a new barrel program, switched to guaranteed TCA-free corks for all wines and built a stunning new visitor center.
The winery focuses on estate grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
The tasting room is open daily and offers a reserve tasting of limited and library wines. Tours are by appointment (707-261-5212). The wines are available online.
Articles About Clos Du Val Winery
Reviewed Wines
2015 Clos du Val Estate Grown Carneros Napa Valley Chardonnay
13.5% alc., pH 3.50, TA 0.69, $32. 100% estate
Chardonnay from vines that range in age from 11 to 29 years.
Barrel fermented, 20% malolactic fermentation. Aged 10
months in French oak barrels, 28% new.
·
Moderate golden
yellow color in the glass. A richly styled offering, with aromas of
lemon, grilled pineapple, peach, herbs and oak vanillin. Soft
and creamy in the mouth, with flavors of Fuji apple, lychee, pineapple,
spice and white corn, supported by admirable balancing acidity. Even
more enjoyable when tasted the following day from a previously opened
and re-corked bottle.
Score: 92.
Reviewed April 19, 2017
ARTICLE »
2015 Clos du Val Gran Val Vineyard Estate Carneros Napa Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., pH 3.60, TA 0.55,
800 cases, $60. Sourced from the winery’s Gran Val Vineyard in Carneros that the winery has farmed since
1973. The vineyard adjoins Brown Ranch and Hyde Vineyard and features 41 acres and 10 clones of Pinot
Noir with vine age between 12 to 18 years. This wine is from a prized block planted to Dijon 667 and Pommard.
Aged 15 months in French oak barrels, 58% new. Bottled unfiltered.
·
Moderately dark garnet color in the glass.
Very complex nose offering an array of aromas that dance in and out including blackberry, black grape, oak
spice, mushroom and maple. The attack of blue and purple berry fruits is rich yet noticeably vibrant. The
succulent fruit core is accented with notes of black tea and vanilla along with the typical Carneros earthiness,
bay leaf and mushroom tone. The tannins are nicely proportioned, there is adroit oak management, and the
wine finishes in pleasant fashion.
Score: 91.
Reviewed April 19, 2017
ARTICLE »
2015 Clos du Val Estate Grown Carneros Napa Valley Chardonnay
13.5% alc., pH 3.50, TA 0.69, $32. 100% estate Chardonnay from vines that range in age from 11 to 29 years. Barrel fermented, 20% malolactic fermentation. Aged 10 months in French oak barrels, 28% new. · Moderate golden yellow color in the glass. A richly styled offering, with aromas of lemon, grilled pineapple, peach, herbs and oak vanillin. Soft and creamy in the mouth, with flavors of Fuji apple, lychee, pineapple, spice and white corn, supported by admirable balancing acidity. Even more enjoyable when tasted the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. Score: 92. Reviewed April 19, 2017 ARTICLE »
2015 Clos du Val Gran Val Vineyard Estate Carneros Napa Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., pH 3.60, TA 0.55, 800 cases, $60. Sourced from the winery’s Gran Val Vineyard in Carneros that the winery has farmed since 1973. The vineyard adjoins Brown Ranch and Hyde Vineyard and features 41 acres and 10 clones of Pinot Noir with vine age between 12 to 18 years. This wine is from a prized block planted to Dijon 667 and Pommard. Aged 15 months in French oak barrels, 58% new. Bottled unfiltered. · Moderately dark garnet color in the glass. Very complex nose offering an array of aromas that dance in and out including blackberry, black grape, oak spice, mushroom and maple. The attack of blue and purple berry fruits is rich yet noticeably vibrant. The succulent fruit core is accented with notes of black tea and vanilla along with the typical Carneros earthiness, bay leaf and mushroom tone. The tannins are nicely proportioned, there is adroit oak management, and the wine finishes in pleasant fashion. Score: 91. Reviewed April 19, 2017 ARTICLE »