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2018 Claret Reserve
90 Points- Wine Enthusiast

2018 Claret Reserve
Wine Specs
Vintage
2018
Varietal
Claret Reserve
Appellation
Monterey
pH
3.63
Aging
63% French, 25% Hungarian, 12% American, 37% new 30 Months
Bottling Date
Apr 22, 2021
Alcohol %
14.8
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In Stock
Add To Cart
$90.00
 
SKU: 18SVICL7RMONNA2
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Although we love all the wines we craft, we hold a special place in our hearts for the Scheid Reserve Claret. Our Bordeaux blend receives an inordinate amount of attention, from the specially selected vineyard rows to the careful sorting of the hand-harvested fruit to the finest oak barrels. Blending noble Bordeaux varieties, it is an opportunity for Winemaker Dave Nagengast to use the tools of a vintage to craft a full-bodied, richly flavored wine that is integrated in perfect harmony. Dave has total freedom to choose the best of the best, influenced only by the unique characteristics of the vintage.

Our 2018 Claret is a sophisticated assemblage characterized by concentrated aromas of blackberry, elderberry, date and ripe plum with hints of fresh tarragon and tobacco. The dense flavors and balanced tannins of this full-bodied wine unfold into a long, layered black fruit finish. Drinking beautifully now, the 2018 is built for cellaring and will continue to develop over the next decade or more.

Wine Specs
Vintage
2018
Varietal
Claret Reserve
Appellation
Monterey
pH
3.63
Aging
63% French, 25% Hungarian, 12% American, 37% new 30 Months
Bottling Date
Apr 22, 2021
Alcohol %
14.8
Download
Wine Profile
Vineyard
The vineyard rows for each of the varieties are chosen and marked at the beginning of the farm year, but we hedge our bets by designating far more for the Claret program then we actually need. These rows are given first-class attention throughout the growing season. Each variety is handpicked at optimum ripeness and maturity and several different lots of each variety are made, often from different vineyards. This gives us a range of options and the luxury of choosing only the very best for inclusion in the final Reserve Claret.
Varietal Composition
50% Cabernet Sauvignon 14% Merlot 13% Petit Verdot 12% Cabernet Franc 11% Malbec
Winemaking
Upon delivery to the winery, the grapes were destemmed, crushed, and fermented in small lots in open top fermenters. Over the next two weeks, the firm cap of skins and seeds that bubble up and form on the surface during red fermentation was gently punched down three times a day, allowing the color and the phenols from the skins to be transferred to the wine, resulting in rich and complex tannins. The varietals were barreled separately into small oak barrels and aged 30 months. Throughout the aging process, each barrel was checked weekly and only the most highly rated barrels made it into the finished blend.
Cases Produced
296