A new wine classic wins Decanter Best in Show for 2024
When Clos du Val Founding Winemaker Bernard Portet was hired by John Goelet, the American descendant of the Guestier wine merchant family of Bordeaux, the assignment was to find a wine growing region outside of France that would rival the vineyards of Bordeaux. The assignment turned into a journey around the globe that lasted for several years.
Traveling to Australia, South Africa, North Africa and parts of North America, Portet finally settled upon Napa Valley’s Stags Leap District, Napa Valley. This was well before the Napa Valley was recognized as one of the world’s premiere wine growing regions.
In 1972, Clos du Val winery was born. With its entry into Steven Spurrier’s famed Judgment of Paris in 1976, Clos du Val earned global recognition. The “small vineyard estate of a small valley,” which is the literal French translation of the winery’s name, had become an indelible part of winemaking history.
Today, Clos du Val is still a family-owned winery with two estate vineyards.
With Olav Goelet as the Third-Generation Owner, Carmel Greenburg has led the Clos du Val winemaking team since 2018. She released their new flagship wine, 2021 Yettalil ($200), a classic Bordeaux blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc, 10% Malbec, 7% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot.
A new wine classic has been born. Yettalil is named for the woman who has inspired generations of the Goelet family.
Its founding matriarch, Henrietta Goelet, was lovingly nicknamed by her husband, John, as “Yettalil.” Her grace, elegance and subtle strength mimic the characteristics of this superb wine.
Clos du Val 2021 Yettalil Stags Leap District, Napa Valley, received 97 points and a “Best in Show” award at the 2024 Decanter World Wine Awards. It was the only U.S. wine to be so named. DWWA is one of the most comprehensive and authoritative sources for wine recommendations worldwide.
A DWWA medal on a bottle signifies that the wine has been judged top tier in a blind tasting by the best wine experts.
Yettalil is sleek and graceful like the pedigree of the vineyards from which it comes.
Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are from Estate Vineyards located within the Stags Leap District. The majestic mountain range along the eastern part of the valley is its most prominent feature. Its rich volcanic soils are the distinguishing factor in Cabernet. It is the reason why wine lovers prize the wines from which they are made.
The Estate Vineyard is divided into separate blocks according to soil type. Grapes are planted in a particular block because of its unique characteristics.
Yettalil wine is aged for 17 months in the finest French oak barrels, with 40% under new oak. This long, careful aging creates the fullest expression of Clos du Val’s Estate Vineyard wines.
Lush aromas and flavors of black cherries, dark wild raspberries and hints of fresh thyme and shaved nutmeg give way to flecks of dark chocolate and black tea leaves.
Lovers of Bordeaux wines will think they’ve suddenly awakened in the middle of the Medoc.
Cooking with and pairing dishes with this wine is one of life’s distinct pleasures. Summer takes it right out to the grill for a hearty steak or herb-stuffed whole salmon (yes, I do eat more flavorful, fatty fishes with a red wine!). Roasted vegetables are also a natural.
With this wine, you don’t want to get bogged down with fancy sauces or complex seasonings. The simpler a dish is, the better. It allows the wine to speak for itself.
A cheese course with an array of Aged Cheddars, Smoked Gouda and a soft Stilton or Gorgonzola topped with a fresh fruit preserve and an assortment of nuts are a nice way to while away the time, watching a dramatic sunset.
Sorbet paired with a peach or raspberry tart will go nicely with the final dregs of the wine, ending the meal with an elegant flourish.
I kept staring at the design on the label of Clos du Val wine. The sketched figures reminded me of a painting I once saw of the great American dancer Isadora Duncan, considered the pioneer of modern contemporary dance.
Her dances were characterized by freedom of unfettered movement. This is the same spirit that emboldens Clos du Val 2021 Yettalil. For more, visit closduval.com.
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