Abilene Reporter News (TX)
Recommended
...Is intense, with black cherry and spice aromas, and earthy flavors. This complex wine has good acidity and a long finish. (April 11, 2007)

Wine Review Online
Rating: 90
Despite this wine’s ripeness, the overall impression of this wonderfully balanced wine is one of restrained fruitiness because the tannins lend structure often lacking in California Pinot Noir. Subtle cherry flavors are only one of the several red fruit flavors that come though. It’s reminiscent of a premier cru from the Côte de Beaune. (April 10, 2007)

Washington Examiner
Recommended
The cool climate of the Carneros region produces world-class pinot noir and (winemaker) John (Clews) takes full advantage of this by handling the wine as little as possible in order to let the fruit shine through. After tasting through some 20 different lots of wine, John ages the blend in barrel for about a year. This produces a pinot noir that is rich in flavors of cherry, red plum and black strawberries. Notes of pomegranate float in on the back of the tongue like a welcomed breeze. This would be a wonderful accompaniment to roasted pork loin in hoisin sauce. (April 5, 2007)

Chicago Daily Herald
Recommended
Clos Du Val is one producer that hasn't had to source fruit from lesser regions; it purchased fine Pinot Noir properties long before Pinot was cool. Consistently excellent, this vintage offers the bright cherry and brown spice flavors of California enhanced by the silkiness one expects from Old World Pinot Noir. Delicious to sip on its own and to complement a wide range of dishes: lighter meats, rich seafood, veggies and poultry. Try it with quail with raspberries or turkey with cranberries. (April 4, 2007)

Wine Skinny
Recommended
Pretty, aromatic red cherry and berry flavors stay focused and mouth-filling, without ever getting overripe. Delicate spices and toasty oak accent the lingering finish. Ready to drink now and over the next two or three years. (March/April 2007)

Detroit News
Recommended
I've been reviewing a string of pricy wines recently, but it helps to know what the good stuff tastes like to appreciate the better, inexpensive labels. This Pinot is truly its own ballgame. It's huge, chocolaty, with even some black licorice on the finish. This is California through and through...It trumpets cherry-berry flavors, spice and soft, silky tannins. This is "Sideways" upside-down...Better serve it with a grilled veal chop, a succulent steak or hearty stew. (March 27, 2007)

Press Democrat (CA)
Rating: 4 stars
Edgy. Concentrated flavors of blackberry and sweet plum. Notes of cola and sassafras. Slightly tart. (January 18, 2007)

Durham Independent Weekly (NC)
Rating: 89
Floating plum, cherry skins and sweet beets on the nose. An earth-mother, all-welcoming feel. Luscious cherry, fruit-friendly flavors stick to your palate until the clean lilting finish. Beautiful. (July 12, 2006)

California Grapevine
Rating: Recommended
Medium ruby; pleasant, spicy, slightly flinty, red cherry fruit aroma with hints of tapioca and butterscotch; full body; rich, textured, cedary, black cherry fruit flavors; medium-full to full tannin; lean, slightly tart and rough finish; lingering after-taste. (June / July 2006)

Koeppel on Wine
Excellent
Elegance and balance are the by-words at Clos Du Val, and while those concepts seem to have lost favor in California (and with wine commentators) in the past 10 or 15 years, it’s gratifying to use them in connection with this balanced and elegant pinot noir that manages to be sumptuous and pure at the same time. The color is the entrancing deep yet transparent ruby of a glass of wine in a Dutch still-life painting. The bouquet teems with black cherry and smoke and a hint of cola over an exotic spiced black tea. It’s rich and warm in the mouth, with a lovely satiny texture and a sheen of oak that comes from 11 months aging in French barrels, only 25 percent of which were new. (June 2006)

Wine Skinny
Crushed black cherry and wild raspberry aromas and flavors are laced with exotic spice notes and pretty vanilla. Mouthwatering, elegant, generous finish. Ready to drink now and over the next five or six years. (June 12, 2006)

Houston Chronicle
Rating: 4 stars
Fairly dark in color but not heavy; pretty fair aromatics and flavor, with hints of ginger, pepper and cinnamon. (April 5, 2006)

KCBS - Narsai David's Food News
Medium red color with a pronounced aroma of violets and a dense forest underbrush. Very appealing classic touch of the smokiness of Pinot Noir. The same character continues onto the palate. Fine backnote of tannins for balance. This wine will age beautifully as it gains complexity.Very nicely priced. (April 3, 2006)

Moody's Weekly Wine Review
From mostly new plantings started in 1997 at the Carneros property, which was purchased in the early ‘70s. New clones and old Davis clones were planted in the best locations of the 180-acre vineyard. The winemaker says that all these clonal choices for him are like being a chef with twice the selection of condiments to work with.

The Clos Du Val Pinot Noir is thus becoming more concentrated and complex, consistent with balance, alcohol kept in check and firm acidity. Lovely Pinot Noir with ripe flavors of black cherries and a hint of vanilla in the long finish. (March 30, 2006)

Decanter
Rating: 4 stars (very good to excellent); 100 Great Wines
Packed with bright, summer fruits. Elegant but vibrant. Up to 3 years. (March 2006)

Country Living
Thanksgiving Guide
Red wine complements autumn's savory foods. Serve Clos Du Val Pinot Noir. (November 2005)

Bon AppEtit
Starters – Hooray for Half-Bottles
The eminently portable, picnic-perfect half-bottle is better than ever, with more producers issuing their vintages in the 375ml size. A few of our faves are Clos Du Val Carneros Pinot Noir ($12) and Chardonnay ($11) from California… (August 2005)

Food & Wine
Pairs quite nicely with Keller's smoky grilled chicken with its gloss of smoky oak. (August 2005)

Wine Skinny
A tasting favorite, with bright cherry and strawberry flavors laced with soft vanilla and toasty oak and warm spices, all with an appealing racy character. A nice balance between soft and velvety versus plenty of zip. Ready to drink now and over the next couple of years. (June/July 2005)

Wine Spectator
Rating: 87
Focused on a beam of earthy sour cherry and plumy fruit, this is an elegant, well-crafted wine supported by firm tannins that have a slight stemmy edge. Drink now through 2008. (June 15, 2005)

Ventura County Star
It's hard to think of a dish that this wine could not pair with nicely. Extremely pleasant and well-balanced. (May 18, 2005)

New York Newsday
Recommended. (May 17, 2005)

Durham Independent Weekly
Rating: 89
Velvety, plump bouquet with delicious herbal, lavender and earthy fruits in harmony. Striking. Supple, clingy mouth texture with good length. (May 11, 2005)

The Register-Guard (OR)
The vanilla and black fruit aroma encouraged me to relax and leisurely enjoy the black cherry and strawberry flavors. This is a rich, complex wine that needs a few minutes in your glass to show off its softness and long finish. (May 4, 2005)

California Grapevine
Rating: 87
Medium-light to medium ruby; pleasant, subdued, slightly stemmy, cherry and raspberry fruit aroma with a touch of clove and vanilla; medium-full body; slightly rich, plummy, ripe cherry and raspberry fruit flavors with firm acidity; well balanced; medium-full tannin; lingering aftertaste. Highly recommended. (April/May 2005)

Wine Lovers Page – Bucko’s New Releases
Aromas of black cherries, leather, cedar and earth swirl from the glass. Elegant on the entry, the aromas do an encore in the mouth. Tannins firm up on the finish. (May 1, 2005)

Gayot
Recommended as one of the top ten wines for Mother’s Day. (April 18, 2005)

Daily News Tribune (MA)
At barely $5 a glass, this Clos Du Val is a tremendous bargain that's flexible with food. You could serve this pinot with everything from pork or chicken to salmon and tuna, and even lean beef. (March 11, 2005)

Wine Enthusiast Buying Guide
Recommended as one of America’s great Pinot Noir producers. (2005)