“A stunner with this new release…” – The Tasting Panel

…aaaand they’re back!

A Napa Valley OG! Found in 1972, this powerhouse joined with Chateau Montelena and other California wineries to dominate the Frenchies at the Judgement of Paris just a few years later. (BTW, it’s the 50th Anniversary next month, time flies, right?!)

They are, quite simply, one of the most reliable and trusted Napa producers. And this utterly drinkable Napa Cab is just another feather in their cap, which looks more like a peacock’s plumage by now. Did you know they can have up to 175 feathers? Me neither - but Clos du Val probably has a similar amount of highly rated wines.

Including this 96-point banger. With the going price hitting north of $100 these days, you’re getting a very real throwback price from your trusty Agents of Wine. At $45, it’s hard to find anything as reliable and trustworthy anywhere in the valley as this.

They are “one of the grande dames of the Napa Valley,” according to the San Francisco Chronicle, which noted the recent return “to its roots, focusing on what it does best and making smaller amounts of better-quality wines.”

With decades of recognition and consistency, you already know what to expect here. But are you fully prepared for this fresh drop from this epic vintage?

Vinous recently caught up with the modern-day developments at the iconic winery: “I was very impressed with the wines I tasted on my most recent visit to Clos du Val. Proprietor Olav Goelet and Winemaker Carmel Greenberg are making all the right moves, lowering volumes and increasingly focusing on quality. That comes through in wines that impress from top to bottom. The 2023s are every bit as excellent as they were from barrel.”

Clos du Val indeed is on a roll, and this might be one of the best Napa Cab values we have witnessed in recent memory. “Seriously beautiful from start to finish” per Vinous, who are we to say otherwise?

With a modest percent of new French oak, the fruit shines front and center with dark cherry and blackberry. Violets and cedar mingle with bittersweet chocolate, and a fresh acidity sweeps it along. If you’re a fan of Napa Cab (and we know most of you are), you just cannot go wrong here!

The floodgates are open, and no doubt this one will FLY! Make your move before it’s too late…

96 Points – The Tasting Panel “A stunner with this new release, grapes are sourced from Yountville, Stags Leap District, and other prestigious Napa sites. Aromas of just-baked blueberry pie waft from the glass. The satin mouthfeel is lined with dark chocolate-violet graininess. With a perfection of balanced ripeness, the wine demonstrates structure along with a vivid acidity.”

94 Points – James Suckling “Refined and earth-driven, showing tightly wound black-fruit aromas with underlying notes of graphite, bitter chocolate and cured meats. The palate is focused and pure with finely tuned tannins and a generous yet precise palate.”