Clos Du Val

Clos Du Val was among the handful of wineries that put the Stags Leap District on the map in the 1970s, including a famous showing at the 1976 Judgment of Paris where its Cabernet placed in the top group of California wines. Founded in 1972 by French winemaker Bernard Portet, the son of the longtime technical director of Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Clos Du Val brought authentic Bordeaux training to a young Napa Valley wine industry that was still figuring out what it wanted to be. Portet chose the Stags Leap District for its resemblance to the best Bordeaux terroir: well-drained soils, moderate temperatures, and a long growing season.

The estate spans 350 acres across multiple Napa Valley appellations, with the core vineyard in the Stags Leap District providing the fruit for the flagship Cabernets. The district's volcanic soils and the dramatic palisades that trap afternoon warmth create conditions that consistently produce Cabernets of both power and finesse. Additional vineyards in Carneros provide Pinot Noir and Chardonnay fruit, reflecting the estate's commitment to cool-climate varieties alongside its Cabernet program.

Winemaker Ted Henry continues the French-influenced style that Bernard Portet established, producing wines that favor structure and aging potential over immediate accessibility. The Stags Leap District Cabernet is the flagship, a wine that balances the appellation's characteristic richness with firm tannins and savory complexity. The Carneros Pinot Noir shows the delicacy and perfume that the cool appellation is known for. The estate's Cabernet is built for the cellar, with wines from the best vintages aging gracefully for 20 years or more.

The tasting room on the Silverado Trail offers a classic Napa experience with a French accent. The estate grounds are beautifully maintained, with olive trees and formal gardens creating a setting that recalls the French countryside. Tastings range from a standard flight of current releases to an in-depth library tasting that includes older vintages from the winery's deep cellar. The $50 tasting fee is reasonable for wines of this pedigree and history.

Clos Du Val's French heritage gives it a perspective that most Napa Valley wineries lack. While many producers are self-taught or California-trained, Portet brought generations of Bordeaux knowledge to the Stags Leap District, creating wines that bridge the Old World and the New. The estate's participation in the Judgment of Paris cemented its place in wine history, and the wines continue to reflect the elegance and restraint that Portet championed from the beginning.