C.L.R.T. may look like an acronym found in a spy novel, but it’s really Matt Smith’s way of reviving CLARET, the word that, for centuries, referred to the red wine of Bordeaux. Like the clarets of old, C.L.R.T. is a Bordeaux-styled Napa Valley wine meant for the table, for supporting the meal, the occasion, and conversation. The 2023 is a blend of 97% Cabernet and 3% Merlot that delights with layers of black cherry, dark chocolate and notes of tobacco, cinnamon, and vanilla. While over-extraction, high alcohol, and high prices are the complaints one hears about (some) Napa Valley Cabs, Blacksmith’s C.L.R.T. stands far apart from that trend!