The word Claret, derived from the French term “Clairet”, is an old British term for Bordeaux blends. Many of you are well familiar with our Petit Pompadour, another Bordeaux blend we produce. What is the difference between the two? While our Petit Pompadour tends to be more Cabernet Franc focused, our Claret blends lean more on the Malbec grape for its foundation. The 2022 Claret is blended with Merlot, another of the wonderful Bordeaux varieties that thrive in the varied terroirs of our Rogue Valley.
Rich and plush, the 2022 Claret has notes of blackberry, ripe plum and hints of stewed cherries. The tannins are present, as they should be with a young Bordeaux blend, but are even now beginning to mellow. This wine will continue to develop for many years to come.
Malbec - Egan Vineyard is located in Talent, about 6 miles from the winery. The vineyard sits at 1758 feet above sea level and gently slopes to the east. The soil profile is mostly from the Colman series of clay, common for the micro-geological unit where the vineyard is located.
Merlot - Valley View Vineyard, located in Ruch, Oregon sits at an elevation of 1508 feet. Originally planted in the early 1970s by Frank Wisnovsky, the vineyard was one of the first John Weisinger visited when he moved to Southern Oregon in 1978. That visit was also the inspiration for John to plant his own vineyard. Today, Valley View Winery and Weisinger Family Winery are two of the oldest wineries in Southern Oregon and continue to collaborate.
