Beaulieu Vineyard

Energizing tannins and vivid fruit acidity power the massive black fruits and intricate oak spices in this muscular but polished wine. Plump blackberries, baked blueberries, black currants and cedar all add to the compelling flavors. Built to improve and gain complexity with age, this wine should drink best from 2027–2037.

BV Reserve is a new addition to the lineup that some call a mini Georges de Latour. The fruit comes from many of the ranches that made up the history of the Rutherford property for more than 100 years and is mostly all West Bench fruit. Be prepared to be stunned by the quality of a cabernet sauvignon, now selected to be only one-third of its former volume. Unlike the many dead fruit wines that have plagued Napa, this new BV Reserve hums with vibrancy and life on the palate. The mix is 85% cabernet sauvignon, 10% petit verdot, and 5% malbec, delivering a whack of flavour but again with more subtlety than you might expect. Cherries, mulberries, plum jam, an underlying minerality, and a bed of floral notes add length and complexity that doesn't quit. The tannins are dense but ripe and structurally keep the wine somewhat taut through the finish. This is Rutherford in all its glory.