Beaulieu Vineyard Bv Georges De Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Product info about Beaulieu Vineyard Bv Georges De Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Beaulieu Vineyard Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 is the flagship Cabernet Sauvignon of Beaulieu Vineyard, released under the Napa Valley appellation. Its identity is closely tied to Rutherford, particularly to the historic BV Ranches No. 1 and No. 2, vineyards associated with Georges de Latour and the early history of the estate.

The 2018 blend is led by Cabernet Sauvignon, with small amounts of Petit Verdot and Malbec. The grapes were grown on well-draining alluvial fan soils on the western bench of Rutherford, then hand-harvested and optically sorted at the winery. Vinification was handled with a clear sense of purpose: part of the wine fermented in new French oak barrels for early oak integration and texture, while stainless steel and concrete were used for the remaining portion to preserve the fruit character. Maturation followed for 22 months in French oak, 95% of it new.

According to the producer, 2018 brought Napa Valley a well-paced growing season, with good winter rainfall, mild conditions and a cool, even, slow harvest. That background helps explain the wine's concentration, colour and acidity, as well as the long ageing potential indicated for this vintage.

At Drankenshop Broekmans, this is the kind of Napa Cabernet we place in front of customers who appreciate pedigree, structure and a wine made with long-term development in mind. Its strong critical recognition adds context, but the real interest lies in the combination of Rutherford fruit, historic vineyard sources and a powerful, carefully built style. With only the last bottles remaining, the 2018 vintage is becoming increasingly limited.

The aromatic profile moves through dark and red fruit: black cherry, blackcurrant, cassis, redcurrant, raspberry and blackberry. Floral notes of violet and rose add lift, followed by mint, sage, bay leaf, juniper berries and thyme.

Oak ageing shows through cedar, vanilla, clove, cinnamon, dark chocolate and espresso, while leather, tobacco leaf, earth and graphite-like, stony nuances bring further depth. The fruit remains concentrated and present throughout.

Full-bodied and firmly structured, the wine combines polished tannins with lively acidity. The tannins are described as having a cocoa-like, velvety texture, linked by the producer to the Rutherford Dust character. The finish is long and persistent.