2014 Claret

With the Claret you get more complexity, more fruit, more texture—a little bit more of everything—than you might expect from a wine at this price point. It’s a gently oaked, medium-full bodied wine with great texture and a long, graceful finish. The flavor profile is classic, approachable, and incredibly consistent year after year. Expect to taste plenty of ripe fruit—plum, currant, blackberry, strawberry—with hints of vanilla, clove and tobacco. This wine is designed to be drinkable, now and well into its teenage years.

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"Offers a plush texture, with a solid, focused core, including black cherry, espresso and lead pencil accents that lead to refined tannins. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2022."

92 points - Tim Fish, Wine Spectator

Tasting Notes

Fresh and polished red and black fruits, hints of black tea and vanilla bean open the nose. Swirling adds blackberries, red and blackcurrants and a penetrating floral note, reminiscent of a ripe blackberry bush. The palate is densely fruited with sleek tannins and a vibrant finish. Blackberry, plum skin, dark chocolate and some dried herbs carry all the way through.

Scores & Reviews

"Cabernet Sauvignon (54%) takes the lead on this blend, followed by Merlot (23%), Cabernet Franc (13%), Malbec (6%) and Petit Verdot. Aromas of fresh herb, flower, pencil lead, cherry jam and spice lead to light tart, fresh fruit flavors. The tannins bring a bit of grip and dryness that hopefully smooths out with some additional time in the bottle but it has the stuffing to go the distance."
91 points - Sean Sullivan, Wine Enthusiast

"The 2014 Claret offers more oak, as well as chocolaty dark fruits, licorice and toasted spice. Rich, forward and delicious, drink this chewy, slightly chunky effort over the coming 4-6 years."
90 points - Jeb Dunnuck, Wine Advocate date

Wine Facts

Appellation:

Columbia Valley

Vineyard(s):

Stillwater Creek, Dionysus, Bacchus, Weinbau, Bel’villa, Canyons, Hedges Family Estate, Red Mountain Vineyard, XL Vineyard, Blue Mountain, Pepper Bridge Vineyard

Varietal Composition:

68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc

Aging:

55% used French oak, 45% new French oak for 21 months.

Alcohol:

14.8%

Cases Produced:

3,410

Drinkability:

2017-2024

Trade Materials

Download:

2014 Matthews Claret - Market Tech Sheet

Additional Information about this vintage

Fermentation: 63% concrete and 37% stainless steel tanks.

Vintage Notes: Warm temperatures and an abundant, early crop produced picture-perfect grapes with soft tannins. With no rain, no early freezes and a harvest that was about two weeks ahead of usual, the 2014 vintage was pretty ideal. There were no heat spikes and nighttime temperatures were cool, providing acidity and balance.