--- title: 2018 Reserve Claret date: 2026-06-23T03:52:00-07:00 canonical_url: "https://mwe-matthews.transom.dev/wines/reserve/reserve-claret/2018-reserve-claret" section: Wines --- ![Reserve Claret](https://mercer.sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/matthews/bottleShots/_640x2026_crop_center-center_82_line/OUTSHINERY-Matthews-Reserve_Claret-Columbia-2018_2021-09-21-010629_slnr.png) Sold Out The 2018 Matthews Reserve Claret was crafted from several small vineyard parcels across four AVAs in Washington State: Columbia Valley, Red Mountain, Royal Slope and Walla Walla Valley. Farmed using sustainable practices, the vines were primarily limited to one cluster per shoot or three clusters per spur to create maximum concentration in each cluster. They were hand-harvested in the early morning between September 12th, 2018 – November 1st, 2018. Upon arriving in the winery, each cluster was hand-sorted, berry-sorted, and then fermented in either stainless steel (61%) or concrete (39%) tanks. Using only the free-run wine, it was then moved to 100% custom French oak barrels for 26 months of cellaring with over 40 individual evaluations by our winemaking team. The resulting 18 barrels were bottled, without fining or filtration, on February 2, 2021, producing only 421 cases. Tasting Notes Cassis, currants, plum skin, bloomed baking spices with a whiff of dark fruit, graphite and crème brûlée. Swirling adds some dried herbs and perfumed sweetness. This wine is dense and opulent with unfolding layers of fruit and spice. The palate is composed with dark smoldering black fruit, black tea and additional lingering spices. The texture and tannins are layered and persistent. As a flagship wine, we are thrilled with this new vintage, as we feel it’s one of our finest examples of Reserve Claret to date. Food Pairing Recommendations Hearty beef stew with root vegetables ![Reserve Claret](https://mercer.sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/matthews/bottleShots/_640x2026_crop_center-center_82_line/OUTSHINERY-Matthews-Reserve_Claret-Columbia-2018_2021-09-21-010629_slnr.png) Varietal Composition 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot Vinification Fermented in 61% stainless steel and 39% concrete. Aged for 26 months in 100% new French oak. Alcohol 14.5% Cases Produced 421 Drinkability Now - 2036 Trade Materials - [ Bottle Shot ](https://mercer.sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/matthews/wineTradeAssets/OUTSHINERY-Matthews-Reserve_Claret-Columbia-2018.jpg) - [ Pairing Recipe ](https://mercer.sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/matthews/wineTradeAssets/2018-Matthews-Reserve-Claret-Pairing-Recipe.pdf) - [ Front Label ](https://mercer.sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/matthews/wineTradeAssets/2018_Claret_Res_Front_COLA.jpg) - [ Back Label ](https://mercer.sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/matthews/wineTradeAssets/2018_Claret_Res_Back_COLA.jpg) - [ Tech Sheet ](https://mercer.sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/matthews/wineTradeAssets/2018-Matthews-Reserve-Claret-Reviewer-Tech-Sheet.pdf) ## Awards & Accolades - “The 2018 Claret Reserve combines mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (71%) with smaller portions of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Extracted and brooding in the glass, this well-structured bottling unveils layers of creosote, leather, black currant jelly and suggestions of black tea on the palate. Finishing long, it has the stability and viscosity to cellar well over the next 15-plus years.” \- 92 points, Owen Bargreen, Vinous - ## Vineyards ![Red Mountain](https://mercer.sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/matthews/vineyardMaps/Map-Red-Mountain-3_2_2022-09-20-175138_udmh.svg)### Red Mountain Designated: 2001 Vineyards: 2,382 acres (963 hectares) Top Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc Average Annual Precipitation: 5 inches Soil: Silt, sand, volcanic basalt Average vine age: 22yrs [Learn More](https://mwe-matthews.transom.dev/vineyards/red-mountain) ![Royal Slope](https://mercer.sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/matthews/vineyardMaps/Map-Royal-Slope-AVA-3_2_2022-09-20-182941_opfx.svg) ### Royal Slope Designated: 2020 Vineyards: 1,900 acres (768 hectares) Top Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc Average Annual Precipitation: 6-8 inches Soil: Sandy loam, soil Average Vine Age: 14yrs [Learn More](https://mwe-matthews.transom.dev/vineyards/royal-slope) Past Vintages ## Explore the Reserve Claret Vintages - [2022](https://mwe-matthews.transom.dev/wines/reserve/reserve-claret/2022-reserve-claret) - [2021](https://mwe-matthews.transom.dev/wines/reserve/reserve-claret/2021-reserve-claret) - [2020](https://mwe-matthews.transom.dev/wines/reserve/reserve-claret/2020-reserve-claret) - [2019](https://mwe-matthews.transom.dev/wines/reserve/reserve-claret/2019-reserve-claret) - 2018 - [2017](https://mwe-matthews.transom.dev/wines/reserve/reserve-claret/2017-reserve-claret) - [2016](https://mwe-matthews.transom.dev/wines/reserve/reserve-claret/2016-reserve-claret) - [2015](https://mwe-matthews.transom.dev/wines/reserve/reserve-claret/2015-reserve-claret) - [2014](https://mwe-matthews.transom.dev/wines/reserve/reserve-claret/2014-reserve-claret) - [2013](https://mwe-matthews.transom.dev/wines/reserve/reserve-claret/2013-reserve-claret) - [2012](https://mwe-matthews.transom.dev/wines/reserve/reserve-claret/2012-reserve-claret) - [2011](https://mwe-matthews.transom.dev/wines/reserve/reserve-claret/2011-reserve-claret) - [2010](https://mwe-matthews.transom.dev/wines/reserve/reserve-claret/2010-reserve-claret) ## Related Wines Previous Next - [ ![Claret](https://mercer.sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/matthews/bottleShots/_640x2026_crop_center-center_82_line/OUTSHINERY-Matthews-Claret-2018_2021-09-21-205027_sptf.png) ### Claret ](https://mwe-matthews.transom.dev/wines/columbia-valley/claret/2018-2) - [ ![Reserve Cuvée](https://mercer.sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/matthews/bottleShots/_640x2026_crop_center-center_82_line/OUTSHINERY-Matthews-Reserve_Cuvee-2018_2021-09-23-200110_hpxi.png) ### Reserve Cuvée ](https://mwe-matthews.transom.dev/wines/reserve/reserve/2018-reserve-cuv%C3%A9e) - [ ![Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon](https://mercer.sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/matthews/bottleShots/_640x2026_crop_center-center_82_line/OUTSHINERY-Matthews-Reserve_CabSauv-2018.png) ### Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ](https://mwe-matthews.transom.dev/wines/reserve/reserve-cabernet-sauvignon/2018) [ Back ](https://mwe-matthews.transom.dev/wines)--- Open scroll-to-section menu - [ Overview ](#tech-specs) - [ Accolades ](#accolades) - [ Vineyards ](#vineyards) - [ Related Wines ](#related-wines) ## Scroll To - [ Overview ](#tech-specs) - [ Accolades ](#accolades) - [ Vineyards ](#vineyards) - [ Related Wines ](#related-wines) Close dialog