Quite a surprising tasting to me.
2004 Reserve Pinot Noir. What a nice surprise. Ruby color (as should be). Very California Pinot on the nose-good Pinosity. The palette, though...this definitely fits into my top ten (if not top five) of California Pinots. Yum! Earth and mushroom and savory character, along with the very nice fruit. 4*+ Not cheap ($46), but I would much rather buy this than, say, the Merry Edwards or the Etude Heritage at twice the price!
2005 Reserve Chardonnay. Another very nice wine. Some smoothness from the oak, but lots of nice fruit and again some earthy herbal notes that add just that little something extra. Another 4* wine.
2001 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. Wow. What a TANNIC monster. Teeth coating tannins and acidity. Nice fruit, though. Lotsa nice fruit! Too early for savory secondary notes, really (their regular bottling is more approachable earlier). I'm thinking this will be pretty nice in ten-15 years? 4*??? (upside potential rating).
2003 Oak Vineyard. Nice fruit-forward Cabernet, showing more of that 2003 green-pepper-ness so prominent in the California vintage. Still a very nice wine. 3* I might invest in the 2001.
1998 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. Still more fruit driven. Even though another cool year, less green bell pepper than the 2003. Very nice, but QPR more questionable here. 3*
Nice experience, too. Not cheap ($20), but a lot of wineries are beginning to charge that for mediocre regular tastings. At least Clos Du Val has well-trained, personnable staff that talk to you about the wines. Sure, it's part of the sales process, but....better this way than some wineries' indifference or lack of knowledge.
When I reevaluate my wine clubs, I will probably put Clos Du Val on the list. 25% discounts and good wines.