Clark-Claudon’s WeBlog

We are all hearing such down news every day.  But, there are some good stories out there.  I had to blog about this particular one.  Chuck Jenkins, a wine consultant & educator from Houston, Texas was the winner of the etched 2005 3L we raffled off during Premiere Napa Valley. Rather than just say yahoo and take the wine, Chuck wrote; “ 

Categories: Engage, Recent Postings
Tags: Clark Claudon, Estate Cabernet, Premiere Napa Valley, The V Foundation

Prompted by the film Bottle Shock, there is a lot of talk these days about the famous Paris tasting in 1976.  It was then that everyone realized that Napa Valley could compete on a wine world stage.  In 1998 a similar tasting was repeated in San Francisco with some new additions, including the 1995 Clark-Claudon Cabernet. 

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… Read more

Categories: Educate, Recent Postings
Tags: Boutique Wines, Cabernet, Clark Claudon, Eric Asimov, Eric Nolan, Family Business, Napa Valley, New York Times, Published

Wow!  Auction Napa Valley raised over $10,000,000!  Wine is an amazing vehicle for raising money for life changing programs.  Our wine was a great success, but more importantly it is so satisfying to contribute to this amazing event. 

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… 

Categories: Experience, Recent Postings
Tags: Auction Napa Valley 2008, Barrel Auction, Barrel Auction Photos, Clark Claudon

Our community is ready to be the hostess with the mostest as Auction Napa Valley 2008 kicks off.  This four day event, sponsered by Napa Valley Vintners, brings together the entire community to raise money for health, housing and education programs in our county.Click here to learn more about who it helps.  Local, out of state and international attendees come to savor the generosity & bounty that is Napa Valley.  Over its 27 year history, the auction has enabled Napa Valley Vintners to give nearly $78 million to our community.

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!

Categories: Experience, Recent Postings
Tags: Auction Napa Valley, Barrel Auction, Clark Claudon, Napa Valley Vintners

I figure wine enthusiasts fall into at least three categories. There are those who see wine as an expression of art & soul; something much bigger than the bottle in hand. Some are looking for a trophy to admire and enjoy while communicating who they are. While others want an enjoyable beverage to have on its own or to accompany a meal; better yet, if perceived to be a deal.

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… Read more

Categories: Recent Postings
Tags: Clark Claudon, winemaking trends