Claret Reserve
⏳ Drinking Window
2023 - 2029
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
roasted prime rib, grilled rosemary lamb chops, aged cheddar cheese
✨ Technical Specifications
Scheid Vineyards' Claret Reserve is a masterful homage to the traditional British term 'claret,' historically used to describe the elegant red wines of Bordeaux. Sourced from select estate blocks in the warmer southern reaches of Monterey County's Salinas Valley, where the daytime heat is tempered by the dramatic evening winds of the Monterey Bay, this reserve bottling showcases the region's ability to produce structured, complex Bordeaux-style blends. The wine is crafted using traditional small-lot fermentation and aged extensively in French oak barrels. This careful elevage coaxes out deep dark fruit characteristics, refined tannins, and a sophisticated oak integration, reflecting both the rugged beauty of Monterey and the elegance of old-world blending traditions.
🍾 About the Producer
Founded in 1972 by Al Scheid, Scheid Vineyards is a pioneering wine estate nestled in the heart of Monterey County's Salinas Valley in California. Over five decades, the family-owned operation has expanded across twelve distinct estate vineyards, leveraging the dramatic maritime cooling of the Monterey Bay to cultivate diverse grape varieties. Committed to forward-thinking stewardship, the winery is entirely powered by renewable wind energy and follows rigorous certified sustainable farming practices. Scheid Vineyards is celebrated for its diverse portfolio of vibrant white, red, and rosé wines, producing acclaimed varietal bottlings such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Albariño, and Barbera, alongside handcrafted cuvées like the Claret Reserve.
🍇 Grape Varieties
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc