Clos du Val

Clos du Val was founded in 1972 when a young French winemaker went looking through Napa Valley for the right piece of ground and stopped in the cool, rugged Stags Leap District. Olav Goelet is the third-generation owner, and the family thread has held through everything that has changed since.

The house line is old-world traditions bound by the limits of human scale, which in practice means wines built for the table rather than the scoresheet. Vibrant and elegant is how they describe the aim. Michael scores ambiance, wine and staff all at 7, an unusually even result that suggests a consistently good visit rather than one standout element. Walk-ins are accommodated at 5330 Silverado Trail, and there is an events programme plus the Yettalil farming project. An easy anchor for a southern Napa day.