We had some special friends over for dinner on Thursday.  We prepared short ribs in a French style.  We then compared the 1998 CC (it’s the oldest CC I have) vs. a 1990 Margaux.  One of our guests fancies himself as a French wine kind of guy. I prefer American Cab, but I do appreciate a great Margaux.  Both wines were fantastic, but everyone agreed that  the best was the Clark-Claudon.  It was really obvious.  Thought you should know!! (but then I bet you already did).

— Bob Paluck

We found these relatives through our wine!

Cabernet for Care raises money for Run for a Cure at the Pink Ball in Tokyo.

By the time the last gavel came down on Premiere Napa Valley; a record breaking $3.2 million had been raised!!!  That is 31% higher than last year. Our 2010, five case barrel lot went even higher; 40% higher than the 2011 event!

Held last weekend, Premiere Napa Valley welcomes national and international trades people who come to enjoy Napa Valley hospitality and to taste upcoming wines and unique barrel lots.  The event culminates with an exciting, fast moving auction where the trade bids on the lots they plan to sell to their customers.

The event is always a dependable barometer of how the industry is fairing.  Given the incredible results, Napa Valley is up and Clark~Claudon is way up!

Our family, along with winemaker Frederic Delivert, sat down to the amazing task of reviewing our wines from the inaugural 1993 to the upcoming 2007.

We had three objectives;

1. Facilitate Frederic's in depth knowledge of our wines from vintage to vintage
2. Evaluate where we have been & where we are going
3. Celebrate 15 years of Clark-Claudon history

There was much to celebrate!!!

Year to year these stellar wines were bright, fresh, balanced, beautifully rich & alluringly sexy, while most had the acidity & back bone to assure continued aging. Importantly, they were not only amazingly delicious, but they were also consistently flawless.

Favorites of the Tasting; the 1995, 2005 & the Upcoming 2007
These 3 vintages were unanimous favorites. Each was a perfect example of what you look for in a truly great Cabernet; deep dark color, exquisite aromas, rich full mouth feel, beautiful structure, perfect balance, well integrated tannins & a long sumptuous finish. These are sexy wines that speak of place!