Clos du Val is among Napa Valley's elite wineries producing textbook California Cabernets from the heralded Stag's Leap District. Fellow members of this hallowed group include Pine Ridge, Silverado, Shafer, and Stag's Leap Cellars. Clos du Val crafts age-worthy Cabernet from 150 acres of prime vineyards situated in the district that yielded top Cabernet in the now immortalized Paris Tasting of 1976. At a recent re-staging of this historic moment, Clos du Val's 1972 Cabernet took top honors. This bottling is loaded with black currant and cedar aromas bolstered by fine tannins and a rich, chewy finish. While the wine is rich, it unwinds in the glass and becomes quite approachable after a few minutes in the glass. We suggest matching it up with a lean gruyere-burger or a tastefully appointed rib eye.