2013 Clos du Val Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Showing dense ruby/purple color, good, sweet blackcurrant fruit and black cherries with background oak, Clos du Val’s 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon offers more texture and richness than older vintages tended to possess. It has excellent purity, character and good upside. This wine should age nicely for 15-20 years.

The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon is striking. Powerful and dense in the glass, with utterly mesmerizing balance, the 2013 hits all the right spots. Graphite, smoke, grilled herbs, black cherries and incense form a tapestry of aromas and flavors that simply dazzles. The 2013 needs time in bottle for the tannins to soften, but it is a real head-turner. The combination of intense tannin and opulent fruit is classic 2013. In 2013, Clos du Val made 33,800 cases (405,600 bottles) of their Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, which is a significant amount of wine. Clos du Val bottled the 2013 over a two week period. The passage of time has resulted in some amount of bottle variation, which readers should be aware of. For the money, the 2013 is still a terrific value in Napa Valley Cabernet, but the bottom line is that there is also a noticeable amount of bottle variation. Editor's Note: This review is for the Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, and not one of the other Cabernet Sauvignon bottlings Clos du Val has made over the years. Last updated: November 5. 2015.