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Clos Du Val Buy Online |
Rating: C
Mar 13th, 2005 |
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5330 Silverado Trail, Napa, CA, 94558 Phone: 707.261.5225 Hours: 10am - 5pm Club/Discounts: 3 clubs to choose from, 25% discount for members Tasting Fees: $5 waived with purchase, free to members We lowered the rating at Clos du Val from C-D to C because the service has been steadily getting worse and worse. We are not sure of the reason why the service has declined, but we have definitely noticed a change. Today we watched one of the servers chase a girl who had left the tasting room because he thought she had taken one of the cheap tasting room glasses; he then brought her back in and accused her falsely in front of a large crowd. Our server was very nice, but was pulled aside by another server when she went to pour us a taste from the 1998 Stags Leap Cabernet - the servers seem to be watched closely and we noticed a certain amount of tension in the tasting room. Generally we would not reduce a rating based on one bad experience, but we have had quite a few lately at Clos du Val.
Normally one of our favorite "one for the road" wineries, but service level has been slipping recently. Beautiful setting (see top photo on right), high ceilings (dungeon like entrance). Spacious tasting room, fun and friendly staff and private and special tastings offered in the wine storage area Great value and good quality wines. Magnums well priced too. Check out the Ronald Searle posters and calendars. An "addicts" must-have. Wine club members are invited to their summer release party which is definitely worth the cost of a local hotel room. |
Sort by : Vintage / Name / Rating
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| 1994 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Magnum) ($199) | Rating: D
Mar 17th, 2004 |
 Best Wine - March, 2004
Smooth and long full flavour, excellent wine |
| 1999 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($95) | Rating: D
Dec 24th, 2005 |
| Too early, lots of potential |
| 1978 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($0) | Rating: C-D
Aug 9th, 2008 |
Best Wine - August, 2008
We tasted the 1977, 1978 and 1979 Reserve Cabernets at the always great Clos du Val release party. The 1978 was easily the winner of the day and was drinking unbelieveably well. Still plenty of fruit and a great silky finish. Very impressed with the ageability of the Clos du Val wines. Could not get a price on the bottle though (I don't think they are for sale). Drank the wine from a 6L bottle which definitely helped the wine age well |
| 1991 Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon ($56) | Rating: C-D
Aug 1st, 2005 |
| Bought as part of a vertical 90-92, favourite of the three with some fruit left along with the tannins and smooth long finish |
| 1996 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($65) | Rating: C-D
May 28th, 2006 |
| Probably my favourite wine of the day (others would pick the 1998 Chateau Montelena Estate Cab). Drinking very well at the moment. Very smooth with a great finish. Excellent.
Previous notes (Oct 05): "An excellent cabernet, good structure and balance. Very smooth and drinking very well right now - has that full mouth feel. Excellent Value. ($35) - C" |
| 1997 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($35) | Rating: C-D
Dec 24th, 2004 |
Best Value Wine - December, 2004
Great value - drinking very well. Best of a horizontal of Napa 1997 Cabs. CDV never fails.
Very hard to find - winery has sold out of this vintage. |
| 1999 Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon ($60) | Rating: C-D
Nov 11th, 2006 |
| Still showing some fruit on the nose, but giving way to tannins with earthy tones and a long chewy finish. This has structure to keep going for many years. |
| 2001 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($62) | Rating: C-D
May 28th, 2006 |
| Wow, another beautiful wine. Almost black in color with a huge amount of fruit. Very well structured - this wine will only get better with time |
| 2002 Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon ($62) | Rating: C-D
Dec 9th, 2006 |
| Fantastic wine. Deep garnet color. Rich and full bodied with big tannins, this wine will only get better with time. Wine Club members get it for under $50 which is an excellent deal for a wine of this quality. |
| 1990 Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon ($56) | Rating: C
Sep 24th, 2006 |
| Bought as part of a vertical 90-92, showing its age, but still has structure and a finish although the fruit has gone |
| 1992 Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon ($56) | Rating: C
Apr 30th, 2006 |
| Bought as part of a vertical 90-92, |
| 1994 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($75) | Rating: C
May 28th, 2006 |
| The bottle had just been opened but the wine was tasting well. Balanced structure with a good finish. Clos du Val consistently make great aging wines - If you can keep them that long! |
| 1997 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($50) | Rating: C
Dec 29th, 2006 |
| Great nose, good fruit with decent tannins - classic CDV taste. |
| 1998 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($24) | Rating: C
Dec 30th, 2006 |
| Still showing good balance on the palate with a reasonable finish. |
| 1999 Napa Valley Merlot ($38) | Rating: C
Jan 18th, 2005 |
Best Value Wine - January, 2005
Lovely merlot, having had time to age, this wine is showing good structure and finish although some of the initial fruit has faded |
| 2000 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($65) | Rating: C
Mar 22nd, 2008 |
| Good nose, beautiful colour, looks younger than it is. Still tasting berries - a well rounded wine that may soften over time. |
| 2001 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($50) | Rating: C
Dec 31st, 2006 |
| Looks like a cab, smells like a cab, tastes like a cab. Exactly what I expect from a CDV napa cab |
| 2001 Reserve Zinfandel ($41) | Rating: C
Jun 30th, 2006 |
| Balanced flavours - not too peppery that fills the mouth with fruit flavours and a balanced finish. |
| 2001 Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon ($46) | Rating: C
Jan 28th, 2005 |
| Full of flavour, good body and lovely finish. Another excellent SLD cab from CDV. |
| 2001 Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon ($75) | Rating: C
Feb 17th, 2008 |
| Dark dark red. Big fruit, good tannins with a very long finish that will last years. |
| 2002 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($21) | Rating: C
Feb 28th, 2007 |
| Good cabernet tastes, classic nose and finish for a CDV cabernet |
| 2004 Napa Valley Merlot ($26) | Rating: C
Feb 17th, 2008 |
Best Value Wine - February, 2008
Great price merlot - excellent tannins and fruit. |
| 2004 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($105) | Rating: C
Feb 13th, 2009 |
| big nose, lots of structure and fruit. fills the mouth with dark berries, will be nice to see this one age. |
| 2004 Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon ($70) | Rating: C
Jul 11th, 2008 |
| Good nose, medium fruit, excellent structure. A well finished wine, will improve and grow over time. |
| 2005 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($25) | Rating: C
Jul 11th, 2008 |
| Mmmm - really nice. Good fruit, good balance and lovely finish - classic napa cab from cdv. Izzy snelt shrimp again, but she may be drunk. |
| 1995 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($48) | Rating: B-C
Jul 1st, 2007 |
| Very smooth, opens with rich fruit flavours. An easy drinker, not as big as the 1994 or 1996, but still very drinkable
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| 1998 Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon ($50) | Rating: B-C
Dec 9th, 2006 |
| Classic SLD Cab, but lighter in colour and taste than the 2002 which overpowered this wine. But very approachable, and probably at its peak from drinking right now. |
| 2000 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($21) | Rating: B-C
Nov 11th, 2004 |
| Tasty Cabernet with medium finish, classic CDV taste |
| 2000 Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon ($60) | Rating: B-C
May 26th, 2008 |
| Classic CDV SLD - a little softer than other years, but same great dark fruit that fill the mouth and a smooth transition to a pleasing finish. |
| 2003 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($20) | Rating: B-C
Nov 12th, 2006 |
| Great value wine for $20. Plenty of fruit, good tannins. Will get better after a few years - consistent CDV Napa cab. |
| 2003 Napa Valley Pinot Noir ($18) | Rating: B-C
Dec 30th, 2006 |
| Good pinot nose, nice light berry flavours and a medium finish |
| 2004 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($32) | Rating: B-C
Feb 17th, 2008 |
| Good price Cabernet. Softer than the Merlot and previous year Cabernets, but a nice midweek drinker. |
| 2005 Merlot ($22) | Rating: B-C
Jul 11th, 2008 |
| Smooth and fruity - good drinker. A real tasty wine - better than the pinot. |
| 2005 Reserve Carneros Chardonnay ($42) | Rating: B-C
Feb 17th, 2008 |
| Flavours of caramel, but not heavy butter. french Style - nice drinking wne. |
| 2005 Reserve Pinot Noir ($50) | Rating: B-C
Feb 13th, 2009 |
| very robust nose, with balanced acidic and fruit flavours with a good finish - should last a good few years. |
| 2001 Napa Valley Merlot ($19) | Rating: B
Dec 26th, 2006 |
| Softer than other CDV Merlots, a good midweek drinker |
| 2001 Reserve Cabernet Franc ($85) | Rating: B
May 28th, 2006 |
| I found it difficult to rate this wine next to the stunning 1996 and 2001 Cabs. It is a nice wine but I could not justify the price |
| 2002 Napa Valley Pinot Noir ($25) | Rating: B
Sep 3rd, 2007 |
| Oaky pinot smell on the nose, A little tannin and chewy finish with a little fruit left. Nice pinot finish. |
| 2004 Carneros Pinot Noir ($18) | Rating: B
Mar 22nd, 2008 |
| Nice and light, easily drinkable. |
| 2005 Carneros Chardonnay ($22) | Rating: B
Feb 17th, 2008 |
| Light and crisp. |
| 2005 Carneros Pinot Noir ($18) | Rating: B
Feb 17th, 2008 |
| Not much fruit - an ok Pinot. |
| 2000 Ariadne ($18) | Rating: A-B
Feb 17th, 2008 |
| Ian smells tomatoes - an interesting wine. Semillion and Sauvignon Blanc blend. |
| 2006 Pinot Noir ($18) | Rating: A-B
Jul 11th, 2008 |
| A little fizzy on the tongue - not a huge fan. |
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