Claret, California Style

2000 Guenoc Victorian Claret, North Coast
$18.99
Jen’s Notes

“Claret” is the English term for Bordeaux. The Victorian Claret is a Bordeaux-style blend (cabernet sauvignon, merlot, petit verdot, cabernet franc and carmenere) from the Guenoc Valley in Lake County, California. The wine exhibits a beautiful, sweet, violet, fruity aroma, and though significantly more fruit-forward than a Bordeaux, it also has defined tannins and balanced acidity. In addition to jammy, berry fruit, the wine exhibits flavors of vanilla, anise and wood smoke. It is silky in the mouth and finishes long. Although I liked this wine quite a bit, it is overpriced at $18.99 but a great deal on the “buy one bottle and get the second bottle for a nickel” special at Beverages and More.