There's a secret that some Napa Valley winemakers don't want you to know about where they get their fruit from, but we're going to let you in on it. That secret source is Lake County, and Dave Ramey is one of the few in Napa who are touting this fantastic region!
The High Valley region of Lake County has very similar soils to parts of the Napa Valley, and include the same soil series as parts of Oakville, St. Helena, and other sections of eastern Napa Valley along the Vaca Range. High Valley is just over 1 hour away from St Helena, and its proximity is enticing to winemakers who want to make a fantastic Cabernet Sauvignon (or Cab-blend) but don't want to charge an arm and a leg for a bottle of delicious wine. Dave Ramey is embracing this up-and-coming wine region, and has now made fruit from High Valley a major component to his Claret bottling!
Claret is a traditional (yet unofficial) term used in Britain to refer to the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blended wines from the Bordeaux region in France. If a producer made a wine that was less tannic, softer, and more approachable in its youth, they might lovingly refer to it as a claret. Dave has done the same; as he makes several Cabernets, but this is his more approachable bottling.
Ramey's 2019 Claret is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, but adds small amounts of Syrah, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. Now with all this talk of High Valley, Dave still blends fruit from Alexander Valley, Knights Valley, and Napa Valley into this wine, and has aged it in French and American oak for 18 months.
Respected wine critic Jeb Dunnuck rated this lovely value at 94 points, and writes this "is a killer value"! Considering the rate at which prices for some Cabernets and blends from the North Coast of California have risen, we think Jeb is right on the money! Come in and grab this while you can, because a wine like this from a noteworthy producer like Ramey won't last for long!
JEB DUNNUCK 94 POINTS - "The 2019 Claret North Coast Red Wine is a killer value, with great lift and freshness throughout. Made from 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Syrah, 9% Malbec, 8% Petit Verdot, 6% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc, the majority of the fruit was sourced from Jericho Canyon. Pouring a youthful purple/red, it is lifted with aromas of graphite, fresh black cherry, cedar, and pine needles. Full-bodied but lifted, it offers ripe tannins, fresh acidity, and notes of fresh red and black fruit, pressed flowers, and turned soil earthiness on the finish. It's drinking well now but is certainly worth cellaring over the next 10 or more years. It’s a great value."
The High Valley region of Lake County has very similar soils to parts of the Napa Valley, and include the same soil series as parts of Oakville, St. Helena, and other sections of eastern Napa Valley along the Vaca Range. High Valley is just over 1 hour away from St Helena, and its proximity is enticing to winemakers who want to make a fantastic Cabernet Sauvignon (or Cab-blend) but don't want to charge an arm and a leg for a bottle of delicious wine. Dave Ramey is embracing this up-and-coming wine region, and has now made fruit from High Valley a major component to his Claret bottling!
Claret is a traditional (yet unofficial) term used in Britain to refer to the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blended wines from the Bordeaux region in France. If a producer made a wine that was less tannic, softer, and more approachable in its youth, they might lovingly refer to it as a claret. Dave has done the same; as he makes several Cabernets, but this is his more approachable bottling.
Ramey's 2019 Claret is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, but adds small amounts of Syrah, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. Now with all this talk of High Valley, Dave still blends fruit from Alexander Valley, Knights Valley, and Napa Valley into this wine, and has aged it in French and American oak for 18 months.
Respected wine critic Jeb Dunnuck rated this lovely value at 94 points, and writes this "is a killer value"! Considering the rate at which prices for some Cabernets and blends from the North Coast of California have risen, we think Jeb is right on the money! Come in and grab this while you can, because a wine like this from a noteworthy producer like Ramey won't last for long!
JEB DUNNUCK 94 POINTS - "The 2019 Claret North Coast Red Wine is a killer value, with great lift and freshness throughout. Made from 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Syrah, 9% Malbec, 8% Petit Verdot, 6% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc, the majority of the fruit was sourced from Jericho Canyon. Pouring a youthful purple/red, it is lifted with aromas of graphite, fresh black cherry, cedar, and pine needles. Full-bodied but lifted, it offers ripe tannins, fresh acidity, and notes of fresh red and black fruit, pressed flowers, and turned soil earthiness on the finish. It's drinking well now but is certainly worth cellaring over the next 10 or more years. It’s a great value."
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