Clarissa Vin Rouge 2021

$59.00

Clarissa Vin Rouge is a Meritage — a soft, complex, American Bordeaux-style red crafted to beautifully complement medium to soft, flavor-packed dishes. It’s the perfect pairing for anything from a pizza loaded with toppings to brined pork chops or a beautifully seared New York steak.

Clarissa is an elegant, refined wine with a purity of fruit and perfect balance. Uniquely designed by Bill to accompany foods seasoned with flavors like garlic, brine, tomato, anchovy, and cloves, it lifts and harmonizes with these mid-strength, savory notes without overpowering them.

Whether you’re serving Spaghetti alla Puttanesca, Chicken Marbella, or a pepperoni pizza, Clarissa Vin Rouge is the versatile, go-to red you’ll reach for time and again.

Clarissa opens with a broad, expansive bouquet, offering impressive complexity. Layers of blackberry, cedar, and a hint of mint rise from the glass, inviting you in.

On the palate, it shows vivacity and richness, featuring notes of plum and cassis — those deep, macerated black currants lending a dark-berry depth, beautifully balanced by fine tannins and the tart vibrancy you might associate with fresh-picked blackberries. Subtle, herbal accents of bay leaf, cracked pepper, and mild tobacco weave through the flavors, adding further intrigue.

A little aeration allows the wine to unfurl, revealing even greater nuance and aromatic lift.

The palate is medium-bodied with generous fruit concentration, offering layers of ripe blackberry and boysenberry that evolve into a rich, mouth-coating finish — one that lingers gracefully and seems to last forever.

This is a worthy follow-up to its predecessor vintages dating back to 2005, with the same audacity, bravado, and fresh, racy energy carrying through the finish.

The 2021 vintage was marked by significant drought, with minimal winter rainfall and persistently dry conditions throughout the growing season. As a result, yields were naturally reduced, and berry sizes were notably smaller across all varieties.

These drought conditions also led to an earlier-than-usual harvest throughout the region, with fruit reaching optimal ripeness ahead of schedule. While challenging, the vintage produced wines of exceptional flavor concentration, natural intensity, and impressive ageing potential.

As always, the blend is complex and expressive, comprising, in order of quantity: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. .

French Oak for 22 months, approximately 40% new, 40% one use and the balance neutral.
Only 748 cases produced. No allergens were used in the making of this wine.
Color Red
Vintage 2021
Harvest Date 29th Sep 2021
Style Red Bordeaux
Appellation North Coast
Varietal Bordeaux Blend
Date Bottled 24th Aug 2023
Drinkable 2024 - 2040
Alcohol 14.80%
Bottle Size 750ml

Pairings