2013 Ramey Claret
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Tasting notes
The 2013 Claret, which is usually a 5,000 to 6,000-case cuvée, is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot and the rest Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. This boasts loads of Christmas fruitcake, cedar wood, baking spices, and black and red currants in a delicious, soft, juicy style. It is exactly what it should be and even holds the promise of aging for 7-8 years.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
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The 2013 Claret is a very pretty, soft, Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine to drink now and over the next few years. Sweet red berry, tobacco, spice and anise are some of the signatures. This is an especially approachable Napa Valley Bordeaux blend long on class. There aren't too many values in Napa Valley these days. This is one of them.
Dark red cherries, plums, smoke and licorice jump from the glass in the 2013 Claret. A bit darker and richer than normal in this vintage, the 2013 Claret is shaping up to be an overachiever. I tasted the 2013 from tank just prior to bottling. In 2013, the Cabernet Sauvignon is down to about 55% of the blend, while Merlot is higher than normal, a decision that I imagine was made to give the wine its customary early appeal in a vintage in which Bordeaux-styled wines are quite imposing.