Here’s one for the cellar. Still youthful, the wine brims with fresh acids and dry tannins that leave behind an astringent finish. Clos du Val Cabernets age well over decades, and this one stays true to the winery’s Medoc-oriented vision, marching to its own beat in an age of drink-me-now wines. Stash until 2009, at least.——S.H.(12/1/2007)—— 90

Seems slightly dry and raisiny, rather than showcasing the opulence of its Stags Leap terroir, but it still shows pleasant notes of cassis, cedar, tobacco and earth. It's a wine that reflects owner Bernard Portet's Bordeaux-influenced sensibilities.——W.E.(9/1/2006)—— 85

Stays true to the CDV style of crafting wines that tend to be tough in their youth, but are solidly built for the long haul. Good, rich blackcurrant fruit is folded into thick tannins. Stick it in your cave and come back to it in a few years.——S.H.(11/15/2003)—— 91