Elevation: 400
Clone/Selection: 7
Soils: Felta Series, gravelly loam, mixed volcanic
Vine Density: 4x8
Farming: Certified Organic
Planted: 1999
The Clajeux Vineyard is located on a steep volcanic hillside overlooking a secluded valley in the Chalk Hill region of Sonoma County. This geologically complex area is made up of countless ridges and valleys that form the terrain separating Knights Valley to the East from the Russian River Valley to the West. This beautiful and rugged site is surrounded by native oak and madrone trees that, along with the vines, thrive in the combination of well-drained, rocky volcanic soil and cooling afternoon breezes sweeping in from the Russian River Valley below. The vines at Clajeux, formerly called Wild Iris Vineyard, were planted in 1999 by Don and Carolyn Vogt, who saw the amazing potential of this site for growing world-class Cabernet Sauvignon. Since 2003, we have worked with the same 14 rows in this vineyard, and have found that this fruit yields our most elegant Cabernet, with incredible depth of color, varietal flavor, and refined, streamlined tannins and acidity. The wines from this site seem the most approachable in their youth out of our three Cabernet vineyards, but still possess the framework for long-term cellaring.
