A beautiful wine, the 2011 Claret offers up a medium to full-bodied, supple and elegant profile to go with impressive notes of dark berry fruits, spice box, hints of graphite and crushed flowers. A blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc that spent 19 months in 30% new French oak, it-s a serious, seamlessly put together wine that blossoms in the glass, has integrated acidity and fine tannin that emerges on the finish. Due to the cooler year, the blend here was tweaked slightly to include more Merlot, as the Cabernet didn-t achieve the desired level of ripeness. It should drink well for 10 to 12 years, if not longer. Tel. (425) 487-9810; www.matthewscellars.com