The tasting was organized by Gordon Getty in conjunction with the Headlands Foundation Wine Auction.  A stellar panel of wine gurus blind tasted 42 wines including each French First Growth & every California Cult Cabernet.  In addition, a number of up and coming wineries were included. 

We were pleased just to be invited to participate.  That pleasure turned to pure thrill when we heard that our 1995 Estate Cabernet took a very strong first place.  Again, a Napa Cabernet won the tasting, but not just any Napa Cab, it was ours! 

If that tasting was repeated again today I wonder what the outcome would be.  As Eric Asimov deftly discussed on August 19th; New York Times, The Pour, “The prevailing style of Napa Cabernet today emphasizes power, weight and extravagance.” A very different animal from the wines that won in ‘76 or our 1995 Cabernet that won in 1998.  Yet, he goes on to say, “…a small but significant number of Cabernet producers form a kind of alternate Napa universe. They are making wines of balance and restraint that are a direct link to Napa’s past, when wines…forged the region’s reputation as a source of great Cabernet Sauvignon.”  Asimov then named Clark-Claudon as one of those, “alternate universe” producers.

On August 7th, in the Long Beach, CA Press Telegram, staff writer Eric Nolan writes, “There are many merchants and restaurant sommeliers who believe California’s vintners have strayed off course…Finding wines made in styles similar to the classics of ‘76 is the tricky part.  It means gravitating to winemakers who don’t follow rating chasing fads. For Cabernet purism, Stromer of the Woodland Hills Wine Company suggests Clark-Claudon.” 

I appreciated Azimov’s, Nolan’s & Stromer’s views. Finally the pendulum is beginning to swing back again.

Napa Chardonnay went through a similar evolution about 10 tears ago.  The extravagent wines being produced at first dazzled and then diminished its popularity.  Chardonnay sales took years to recover as people sought out varitals that were lighter in style with food friendly balance. Thankfully, though you can still find those huge Chards, today there are many lovely alternatives available.

Napa Cabernet is going through the same growing pains.  The bigger is better logic has prevailed for a number of years.  Yet, many previous Cab drinkers have switched to Pinot, a wine much lighter in style.  Still the fruit bomb Cabs tend to get the very high scores.  In a blind tasting they jump out of the glass always attracting attention.  But, we trust that the pendullum will continue the swing that has begun, back to more complex, nuanced Cabernets that speak from where they come.

I believe the ideal Cabernet combines the best of both the old and the new world.  We strive to produce a wine that is elegant, nuanced & balanced with beautiful varietal fruit character; a wine that is invitingly seductive rather than obtuse; a wine that is delicious upon release, but also worthy of aging.  Most importantly, we want our wines to represent their origin rather than score seeking, over ripe fruit & manipulation in the winery.  If that makes me old fashoned, I guess I will happily own it!

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Thanks to the NV Vintners staff.  They are even more amazing!!!

People lining up to taste our barrel lot

Making new friends…

Re-connecting with old friends… 

Tom & I will be pouring our 2006 vintage from barrel during the Taste Napa Valley Barrel Auction on Friday.  With a history of being in the top tier of barrel lots, we are looking foreward to sharing this vintage while raising a good chunk of change. Clark-Claudon wines will also be part of the Welcome Wagon lot being auctioned off during the main event on Saturday evening. 

If you are attending please come by our barrel for a taste!

I imagine that many of us fall into all of these categories depending on the moment and the wine. None is more, “noble” than another, but I do wonder if the emphasis on trophy wines & their accompaning scores has taken away from plain ordinary enjoyment and/or a realization of the hard work and wonder that goes into making a beautiful wine.

In other words, is the emphasis on scores and consequent perceived worth driving the soul out of winemaking? Or worse, is it motivating winemakers to use the, “score formula” rather than working with the season and the vineyard to define each wine. Is wine a product of nature; a story of place, one season and all the hard working hands & hearts that make it or is it all about manipulation in the winery, marketing bluster & dazzle. I know it is not as black and white as this, but I hope the historical soul of wine making isn’t lost to “modernization”, the need to drive sales or the ever present ego.

Your thoughts?

50 cyclists ventured off from the Clark Claudon Ranch to enjoy a 15 to 50 mile ride.  The wild flowers were beautiful & the weather was perfect! Following the ride the cyclists joined with an equal number of picnicers.  All enjoyed Clark-Claudon Wild Iris Sauvignon Blanc & Three Stones Cabernet paired with an awesome lunch prepared by chef Adam Goldring.

The wondeful day resulted in a generous donatinon to Clinica Verde.  Thanks to all of our fantastic participants and the Clif Bar family for their contribution of energy treats.

 We look forward to more Clark-Claudon Escapes!

We hope you will be able to visit us and/or enjoy some of our events. Until then, this is a way for you to experience our world, share in a conversation or continue one that has already begun. So, check back regularily, add your comments and enjoy some beautiful photography.