56
Signature Wines and Wineries of Coastal California
CLARET
gourmet pairings
Enjoy with smoked beef
tenderloin, Yukon gold potato
crisp, and shaved horseradish.
tasting notes
"Claret" is the British term for a Bordeaux blended wine that
dates back to the 13th century. The Claret tradition is kept
alive by blending the five predominant Bordeaux varietals:
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet
Franc. This fruit-forward wine greets the drinker with blueberry
cobbler and ripe plum, while Rainier cherries infuse with bright
raspberries. Cranberry acidity lingers on the palate, with delicate
mocha and hazelnut oak profiles.
winemaker's insight
Based on the vintage, the exact vineyard blocks and the varietal
compositions change slightly, but the aim is always to produce
the best possible blends from the estate vineyard as possible.
The Cabernet Sauvignon and the Cabernet Franc berries are
fermented in small open-top fermenters, while Malbec, Merlot,
and Petit Verdot are fermented whole berry in static stainless
tanks. All varietals and blocks are kept separate for over 14
months, until base blending begins. Once the base blend is
made, the wine will age another eight to 10 months in oak.
awarDs & DistinCtions
91 Points – Wine Enthusiast
APPELLATION: Paicines/Central Coast
COMPOSITION: 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 10% Malbec,
6% Petit Verdot, 4% Cab Franc (depending on vintage)
MATURATION: Aged 24-26 months in Medium Plus oak barrels, which
adds toasted nuances of mocha and coffee to the blend. The wood is
sourced from French, Eastern European, and American forests.
CELLARING: Drinkable on release, but has a cellaring potential of five-
ten years.
TECHNICAL DATA
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