A blend of 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 14% Malbec, and the rest a mix of varieties, the 2017 Claret has a bright, edgy bouquet of blue fruits, graphite, toasted spice, and scorched earth. With lots of minerality, some vanilla oak, firm tannins, and medium to full body, it reminds me of a Cabernet from Ridge's Monte Bello Vineyard. It shows the firmer, more linear style of the vintage, so give bottles a year or two and enjoy over the following 7-8 years or so.

The 2017 Claret is a supple, fruity wine to drink now and over the next handful of years. Ripe red cherry, red plum, mocha and dried flowers give this juicy Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot-based blend a good deal of complexity. Floral overtones linger nicely on the finish.