2021 Matthews Winery Claret, Columbia Valley, USA (750ml)

WINEMAKER'S NOTES: 

The 2021 Matthews Winery Claret is comprised of several small vineyards, namely Conner Lee vineyard, as well as key sites in Horse Heaven Hills, White Bluffs, and Royal Slope AVAs. This wine truly represents the broad flavor and aromatic expressions of a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant blend from the diverse terroirs of Washington State.

Blend: 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec, 2% Petit Verdot

TASTING NOTES: 

The 2021 Claret is based on 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc, 29% Merlot, 5% Malbec.I think it's a touch better than the Columbia Valley Cuvee and has gorgeous notes of red and black fruits, bay leaf/bouquet garni, mint, and violets, with some background chocolaty oak. It's another medium to full-bodied, richly textured, velvety beauty that brings the fruit and texture.

- Jeb Dunnuck, 93 pts. 

A delightfully ripe blackberry aroma joins notes of grilled portobello mushrooms, mint and wood smoke in an effort to convince you to break out the backyard grill. The flavors are similar, with blackberries and blueberries laced with traces of vanilla and a caffè mocha. Pair this claret with a fire in the fireplace.

- Wine Enthusiast, 93 pts. 

A handsome blend that's generous and structured, with dynamic black cherry and plum flavors highlighted by green tea and toasted spice flavors, finishing with polished tannins. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot.

- Wine Spectator, 93 pts. 

Very concentrated, focused and trim, this blend of 34% cabernet sauvignon, 30% cabernet franc, 29% merlot, 5% malbec and 2% petit verdot comes off as sleek, elegant and balanced. Fresh black and blue fruit, subtle oak spices and moderate tannins.

- James Suckling, 92 pts. 

The 2021 Claret Columbia Valley, a blend of 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc, 29% Merlot, 5% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot, is dark and floral, with a black raspberry core embellished by sweet herbs and hints of dark chocolate. It washes across the palate with a lifted and feminine feel, showing sleek red berry fruits elevated by rosy inner florals. Classically dry, this tapers off with medium length, leaving hints of licorice and traces of grippy tannin. The Claret has a very approachable character yet remains wonderfully complex.

- Vinous, 92 pts. 

A blend of 65% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Franc and 8% Malbec, the 2021 Columbia Valley Cuvée opens to a dusty, red-fruited profile with hints of a softly herbal essence. The wine has a fresh and still tannic character that will mellow over time, maintaining its food-friendly nature for years. Dense and spicy, the wine exhibits a chewy mid-palate with considerable weight. Since its inception years ago, this bottling has consistently grown in quality over the vintages, and the 2021 Cuvée lives up to expectations with its juicy, plummy and softly volatile finish. The wine aged for 19 months in 40% new French oak.

- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 91 pts.