Muscular tannins pair with rich fruit in this cellar-worthy wine, offering notes of red currant and cherry accented by crushed stone, dusty mocha and spice. Best from 2018 through 2028. 450 cases made.

–TF

Close to perfection is the 2013 Reserve Claret, a blend of 62% Merlot, 37% Cabernet and 1% Petit Verdot, aged 22 months in 20% new French oak. There are 450 cases of this big boy (14.8% alcohol). This is a 30-year wine and a spectacular effort, with 14% coming from the Napa side of the property and 86% from the Sonoma County side. Dense opaque purple, with a glorious nose of chocolate, and espresso intermixed with mulberry fruit, blueberry and blackberry, it is fleshy, succulent, full-bodied, opulent and impressively structured. In fact, the 2013 tannic profile is alive in this wine, and thus I suggest 3-5 years of bottle age. Drink it over the following three decades.
- Robert M. Parker, Jr. (October, 2016)

Richness and ripeness are the usual calling cards of Pride’s ambitious red wines, and, if there is no shortage of either here, the latest Reserve Claret stands out equally for its structured solidity and ageworthy balance. It is a deep and dense effort with a wealth of well-extracted black cherry and currant-like fruit, but it is not one that should be poured before it has had the chance to grow out of its moderately astringent youth and into its very considerable best, and, if it will become more approachable in four or five years, it is certain to improve for a good many more.

2013 Pride Mountain Vineyards, “Reserve Claret,” 86% Sonoma County and 14% Napa County ($140) – Mediumdark ruby color; attractive, fragrant, spicy, black cherry, dark currant, and blackberry fruit aroma with hints of dried herbs, leather, mocha, and graphite; full body; rich, fleshy, well balanced, elegantly styled, red and black fruit flavors with firm acidity and a pleasing mouthfeel; medium-full to full tannin; lingering aftertaste. Very approachable and appealing to drink now, and also has potential for further development with bottle aging. Very highly recommended. 14.8% alcohol; 450 cases; blend of 62% Merlot, 37% Cabernet Sauvignon (CS), and 1% Petit Verdot (PV); released March 2016. (Group Score: 16.6 of 20 points, 2 of 11 first-place votes/3 seconds/0 thirds; My Score: 17 [92 of 100 points], first place)