2021 Clif Family The Climber Red Wine, Napa Valley
92 Points, Wine Enthusiast
Cabernet aromas of blackberry, blueberry, cedar, and clove fill the glass. The wine has beautiful color with a bright red hue and purple density in the center. There is a gorgeous freshness from the acidity up front, followed by medium-weight tannins in the middle. Merlot fruit flavors carry this wine to a long finish, filled with great tannin and fruit balance.
Vineyard
This wine is made with organically farmed grapes from our Valle Di Sotto Estate Vineyard located in the heart of the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley. The Oak Knoll District is located at the southern end of the Napa Valley where cooling marine influences create a unique micro-climate that helps the grapes maintain bright fruit flavors and retain acidity.
Winemaking
Hand-harvested in the cool morning hours, the fruit is sorted before processing. After a brief cold soak, the juice is inoculated with cultured yeast. During fermentation, temperature and extraction are carefully managed. The wine is then pressed off the skins and placed in French oak barrels for aging.
Specs
Composition: 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot
Appellation: Napa Valley
Vineyard: Valle Di Sotto Estate Vineyard
Harvest Date: September 7th - October 1st, 2021
Oak Program: 16 months in 25% new French Oak
Alcohol: 14.9%
Cases: 788 cases
What’s Included
6-bottles:
6x - 2021 Clif Family The Climber Red Wine, Napa Valley
Case:
12x - 2021 Clif Family The Climber Red Wine, Napa Valley
Clif Family Winery & Farm was founded by Gary Erickson and Kit Crawford, the husband-and-wife team behind Clif Bar, more than 20 years ago, driven by their love for how food and wine bring people together and their commitment to sustainability. By staying family-owned and independent, they’ve kept the freedom to stay true to that original vision — crafting wines and foods that celebrate the connection between a life well-lived and a well-tended planet. The estate spans over 90 acres of vineyards and 10 acres of orchards and olive groves, all certified organic by CCOF, and the vineyards sit in the Howell Mountain and Oak Knoll District AVAs of Napa Valley, also holding Napa Green certification. Winemaking follows a largely hands-off philosophy, letting each grape’s true character shine with minimal intervention.
Beyond the wine itself, Clif Family is built around a broader farm-to-table ethos: what started as a small garden has grown into a working farm supplying its Bruschetteria Food Truck — the first of its kind at a Napa winery — along with the fruit and vegetable preserves it sells. The company is B Corp certified, and partners with organizations like American Forests to support forest restoration
Available States
AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
2021 Clif Family The Climber Red Wine
6 bottles for $149.99 $25/bottle + $1.33/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $269.99 $22.50/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
WOW. Strangely, uncomfortably, pleasantly, (erotically?), really quite suspiciously good. What are you up to Clif Family?
I was a bit conflicted writing this one up. W/o knowing the price, my palate was grading it against the $50-90 bottles it reminded me of, but then I saw the actual price tonight and had to recalibrate. Is this an amazing bargain, or a very solid-but-not-lifechanging wine if I held it to premium pricing? Still not 100% sure, but leaning great bargain.
I’m in a couple of Paso wine clubs, and this tastes like a lot of the bottles I really enjoy from them. The kind of bottles I buy b/c they are so tasty, then never actually open because I’m always saving them for some imaginary “special occasion.” (I know I know, LIFE is the special occasion; ok, I am working on it)
So I was SUPER happy to see the price point on this.
This is a deeper, darker red with a ton of blackberry, dark plum, and black raspberry right up front. There’s some cocoa, pepper, dried herbs, and a really nice savory thing happening underneath the fruit. It’s full-bodied without getting heavy or syrupy, and the acidity keeps it moving.
The thing I really like is that it doesn’t just taste like a big pile of ripe fruit. There’s some tannin, some structure, a little graphite/tapenade (Shout Out Wolf Creek Restaurant *goated tapenade) thing going on, and the finish has that savory/herbal quality that makes you want the perpetual subsequent sip.
For context, I worked in craft beer for about 10 years, so I’m not a wine professional by any stretch, but I know how to taste and evaluate a drink. And this is WAY better than I expected at this price.
Real talk, if you like bigger, deeper reds, but not obliteratingly big, more like medium-big, I’d absolutely grab this. This is one of those bottles where the price makes me suspicious in the best possible way.
For me, I’d go half case vs full, BUT that is just because I am bursting at the seams with wine and I have been on a light & bright kick.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations)
2021 Clif Family The Climber Red Wine - $30 = 10.00%
Wow…Labor Day weekend…
…that WE review…92 points. A bright, tangy aspect on the palate gives this berry- and cherry-laden wine a lift of acidity to balance the very deep and concentrated fruit flavors. Tannins are moderate, letting the wine’s vibrancy and freshness shine through. Made from organic grapes. — Jim Gordon 12/31/23
The Wine Independent…94+ points. The 2021 Red Blend, composed of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc, 6% Malbec, and 5% Petit Verdot, is deep garnet-purple in color. After a swirl or two, note of black raspberries, mulberries, and baked blackcurrants emerge from the glass, plus nuances of tapenade, black truffles, and star anise. The full-bodied palate has bright acidity and gently chewy tannins to support the vibrant black fruits, finishing with an herbal lift. Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Clif Family The Climber Red Wine
2021 Clif Family The Climber Red Wine, Napa Valley
92 Points, Wine Enthusiast
Vineyard
Winemaking
Specs
What’s Included
6-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
not for sale on winery website, $504/case MSRP
About The Winery
Available States
AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Sep 28 - Wednesday, Sep 30
2021 Clif Family The Climber Red Wine
6 bottles for $149.99 $25/bottle + $1.33/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $269.99 $22.50/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
WOW. Strangely, uncomfortably, pleasantly, (
erotically?), really quite suspiciously good. What are you up to Clif Family?I was a bit conflicted writing this one up. W/o knowing the price, my palate was grading it against the $50-90 bottles it reminded me of, but then I saw the actual price tonight and had to recalibrate. Is this an amazing bargain, or a very solid-but-not-lifechanging wine if I held it to premium pricing? Still not 100% sure, but leaning great bargain.
I’m in a couple of Paso wine clubs, and this tastes like a lot of the bottles I really enjoy from them. The kind of bottles I buy b/c they are so tasty, then never actually open because I’m always saving them for some imaginary “special occasion.” (I know I know, LIFE is the special occasion; ok, I am working on it)
So I was SUPER happy to see the price point on this.
This is a deeper, darker red with a ton of blackberry, dark plum, and black raspberry right up front. There’s some cocoa, pepper, dried herbs, and a really nice savory thing happening underneath the fruit. It’s full-bodied without getting heavy or syrupy, and the acidity keeps it moving.
The thing I really like is that it doesn’t just taste like a big pile of ripe fruit. There’s some tannin, some structure, a little graphite/tapenade (Shout Out Wolf Creek Restaurant *goated tapenade) thing going on, and the finish has that savory/herbal quality that makes you want the perpetual subsequent sip.
For context, I worked in craft beer for about 10 years, so I’m not a wine professional by any stretch, but I know how to taste and evaluate a drink. And this is WAY better than I expected at this price.
Real talk, if you like bigger, deeper reds, but not obliteratingly big, more like medium-big, I’d absolutely grab this. This is one of those bottles where the price makes me suspicious in the best possible way.
For me, I’d go half case vs full, BUT that is just because I am bursting at the seams with wine and I have been on a light & bright kick.
Really solid bottle.
TYYYY WCC team. I am ALWAYS happy to be of service
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations)
2021 Clif Family The Climber Red Wine - $30 = 10.00%
Wow…Labor Day weekend…
…that WE review…92 points. A bright, tangy aspect on the palate gives this berry- and cherry-laden wine a lift of acidity to balance the very deep and concentrated fruit flavors. Tannins are moderate, letting the wine’s vibrancy and freshness shine through. Made from organic grapes. — Jim Gordon 12/31/23
The Wine Independent…94+ points. The 2021 Red Blend, composed of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc, 6% Malbec, and 5% Petit Verdot, is deep garnet-purple in color. After a swirl or two, note of black raspberries, mulberries, and baked blackcurrants emerge from the glass, plus nuances of tapenade, black truffles, and star anise. The full-bodied palate has bright acidity and gently chewy tannins to support the vibrant black fruits, finishing with an herbal lift. Lisa Perrotti-Brown
fwiw
