The term ‘claret’ was once a common British term for Bordeaux-styled wine blends. Although rarely used today, it once connoted a style of wine that approximated those that came from Left Bank regions such as Pauillac or Margaux.
Now comes Matthews winery of Columbia Valley with a version of Claret that represents the broad spectrum of flavors and aromatic expressions of Cabernet Sauvignon and the panoply of red grape varieties found in the diverse AVAs of Washington State. The resulting wine rivals anything from France.
Matthews’ new winemaking team of Alex Stewart and Hal Iverson worked diligently with their vineyard managers to upgrade viticulture practices. They restricted yields to create small, concentrated berries in the vineyards. Â
Further dedication resulted in the ability to harvest grapes 3-6 weeks later than in previous vintages. This also allowed for the development of the ripe flavor profile of Matthews 2021 Columbia Valley Claret.
The wine is reflective of the superiority of the small vineyard sites within the greater Columbia Valley. Horse Heaven Hills, Red Mountain, White Bluffs and Royal Slope AVAs are among the key vineyard sites. Columbia Valley’s famed Conner Lee vineyard also provided some of the grapes.
Grapes were hand-harvested at first light in late September and early October. Upon arrival at the winery, they were then hand-sorted, de-stemmed and berry-sorted before being cold-soaked for 2 days in stainless steel tanks. The grapes then underwent 14 days of fermentation and an additional 14 days of extended maceration for a total of 32 plus days on the skins for maximum extraction and integrated tannins.
After cellaring for 19 months in 27% new French Oak and 73% in used French Oak, 201 barrels were carefully selected for final blending. Bottling produced only 5,083 cases.
First Impressions are everything. Pungent dark fruit aromas embrace the nose the moment you open the bottle. Rich notes of blackberry jam, dark plums and crushed rose petals envelop the senses.
There is even more dark fruit to be had with the first tastes followed by copious notes of baking spices, Maduro cigar and forest floor are just some of the nuances.
Lingering sensations resonate on the tongue- licorice, cloves, black pepper, and touches of sage and oregano. This is a complete wine that makes a definitive statement.
If you have been harboring a desire to have a Prime Aged Steak, this is the wine to have as an accompaniment. A delicious, aged Gorgonzola would also be a nice prelude, as would a Caesar salad with LOTS of anchovies.
One food pairing suggested by the winemaker’s is Seared Duck Breast with Sauteed Broccoli Rabe and duck fat Roasted Potatoes.
Twenty-two separate clones were included in the final blend. In all, there are grapes from seven Columbia Valley AVAs in Matthews 2021 Columbia Valley Claret.
Made from a blend of 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 30% Cab Franc, 5% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot, Matthews 2021 Columbia Valley Claret is a tribute to the art of winemaking. For more on this exquisite wine, visit matthewswinery.com.